Lou Diamond Phillips' Thoughts On Acting, His Role In "La Bamba" And His 35 Years Long Career

Feb 08, 2022 by apost team

Lou Diamond Phillips is an actor and film director who has been gracing Hollywood for almost 40 years. He has starred in a handful of films and Broadway performances, as well as some television series over the course of his long career. Many people have grown to love the star for his personality and charming ways. Fans and critics alike seem to all enjoy Phillips and his presence, resulting in the actor being nominated for a handful of awards over the years.

Phillips was born on Feb. 17, 1962, at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines. He was raised in Texas, graduating from high school in Corpus Christi in 1980 before going on to obtain a degree in drama from the University of Texas at Arlington. It's clear that Phillips' hard work and efforts he put into his education paid off, as he went on to achieve stardom shortly after graduating.

Some of his more accomplished roles include "Young Guns," "Courage Under Fire" and "Stand and Deliver." He also appeared on a handful of television series – some scripted and others belonging to the competition genre.

By far Phillips' most recognizable role was as Ritche Valens in the biographical drama film "La Bamba" from 1987. This was Phillips' breakthrough role and it instantly projected him to stardom. Nowadays, Phillips is able to reflect on his time in the spotlight, celebrating the 35th film anniversary of "La Bamba," and has even been able to act alongside his daughter Gracie. Read on to find out more about his life and career.

His Career Trajectory

With his breakthrough role from "La Bamba" in 1987, Phillips has since gone on to experience a life full of fame and success. The biographical film was written and directed by Luis Valdez, following the life and career of Valens. "La Bamba" has been recognized as a cultural phenomenon, being praised for its cultural and historical significance, and was even added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress on its 30th anniversary in 2017. 

The plot follows the life and career of Valens, who released three consecutive hits in less than a year: "Come On, Let's Go," "Donna" and "La Bamba." According to Yahoo News, Valens was killed at the age of 17 in a plane crash while on tour with Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who also died in the crash.

Now, Phillips is celebrating the 35th anniversary of "La Bamba." According to Yahoo News, the actor was working on local commercials and underground film projects while teaching acting on the side in Arlington when he first received a call from his agent about being cast in the movie. Phillips was then flown to Los Angeles for a screen test, where Valdez originally wanted to cast him as the main character's brother, but ultimately cast him as the leading role. 

Phillips recalled:

"The night that I switched from Bob to Ritchie, I remember walking down Pico Boulevard and going, 'Oh God, now I gotta play Ritchie.' And I thought, 'Oh, I am Ritchie. An unknown kid from the sticks with a big dream to become an actor in film and television.' I thought, 'This is me translated through the lens of the 1950s and rock 'n' roll as opposed to movies.'"

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Roles That Matter

Phillips enjoyed the role so much that he became close with Valens' family. According to Yahoo News, they even called him "Ritchie" during production and several years afterward. Many others appreciated Phillips' work, including the director's brother Daniel. Phillips recalled what Daniel told him the night before the film's premiere: "He goes, 'We're about to hand you the keys to the candy store.' I remember that to this day.'"

Since first rising to fame with "La Bamba," Phillips has gone on to appear in a variety of films and television shows. NPR reported that the actor has continued to search for an array of characters, keeping an open mind and willingness to learn as he embraces new roles. Some of his more recent appearances were in "The Night Stalker," "Prodigal Son" and "Elena of Avalor."

Phillips has also made sure to spend time with his family along with having such a busy career. In fact, he even acted alongside his daughter Gracie during a guest appearance on "The Cleaning Lady." According to a MYX report from February 2022, this was the first time the pair acted together. "It was just so wonderful," Phillips said. "I had no doubt that we would have instant chemistry and a shorthand to work with." The father-daughter duo also explained that it was "incredibly natural" to act together.

Phillips has made sure to pick up roles that matter to him throughout the almost 40 years of his career, and is now able to look back at a long list of accomplishments, celebrating a milestone of one of his biggest films and a bright future ahead.

What do you think about Lou Diamond Phillips' illustrious career? Were you surprised to hear it's been 35 years since "La Bamba" was released? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your loved ones, too.