Biography:
An acclaimed actor, producer, director and community activist, Olmos has spent the last 25 years of his professional career redefining the Hollywood stereotype of a Latino actor. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Olmos first found acclaim on Broadway, earning a 1978 Tony nomination for his role of El Pachuco in the musical drama Zoot Suit. He recreated the role in the 1981 film adaptation, and also appeared that year with Albert Finney in the horror film Wolfen.

The rest of the 1980s found Olmos increasing his stature through a collection of finely honed performances in versatile roles. In 1982, he co-starred with Harrison Ford and Daryl Hannah in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and headlined Robert M. Young's The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. He became a household name in 1984, playing the laconic Sgt. Martin Castillo on NBC's smash "Miami Vice," a role that also earned him two Golden Globe nominations and one win. The decade's end brought Olmos his greatest acclaim, playing dedicated educator Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver, a role that won him the Independent Spirit Award as well as an Academy Award® nomination for Lead Actor.

Of late, Olmos has divided his time between acting and activism. In addition to starring in Talent for the Game (1991), My Family/Mi Familia (1995), Selena (1997) and voicing Chief in The Road to El Dorado (2000), Olmos went behind the camera in 1992 to direct and produce American Me. He continues to contribute to television as well, appearing in "12 Angry Men" (1997), a remake of "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1998) and "Steve Martini's The Judge" (2001).

Olmos is currently the United States Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF; the national spokesperson for Voter Registration, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the AIDS Awareness Foundation; and sits on the boards of Recruiting New Teachers, Twentieth Century Fund, UCLA Mentoring Program and the National Council on Adoption, among others.
(courtesy PBS, 2002)

Television Credits:
American Family as Jess Gonzalez (2002)
Steve Martini's The Judge as Judge Armando Acosta (2000)(mini-series)
The West Wing as Judge Roberto Mendoza in episode: "Celestial Navigation" (02/16/2000)
The West Wing as Judge Roberto Mendoza" in episode: "The Short List " (11/24/1999)
The Princess and the Barrio Boy as Nestor Garcia (2000)(made-for-tv-movie)
Bonanno: A Godfather's Story as Salvatore Maranzano (1999)(made-for-tv-movie)
Touched by an Angel as Victor" in episode: "God and Country" (03/15/1998)
12 Angry Men as Juror #11(1997)(made-for-cable-movie)
Dead Man's Walk as Captain Salazar (1996)(mini-series)
Slave of Dreams as Potiphar (1995)(made-for-tv-movie)
The Burning Season as Wilson Pinheiro (1994) (made-for-tv-movie)
Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills as Jose Menendez (1994)(made-for-tv-movie)
The Fortunate Pilgrim as Frank Corbo (1988)(mini-series)
Miami Vice as Sgt. Martin Castillo
Hill Street Blues as Judge Cruz in episode: "Parting is Such Sweep Sorrow" (02/16/1984)
Hill Street Blues as Joe Gustimonte in episode: "Zen and the Art of Law Enforcement" (02/18/1982)
Hill Street Blues as Joe Gustimonte" in episode: "Of Mouse and Man" (02/11/1982)
Three Hundred Miles for Stephanie as Art Vela (1981)(made-for-tv-movie)
CHiPs as Henry in episode "Flashback!" (04/01/1978)
Hawaii Five-O as Dancer in episode: "Ready...Aim..." (01/20/1977)
Starsky and Hutch as Julio Gutierez in episode: "The Psychic" (01/15/1977)
Kojak as Paco in episode: "How Cruel the Frost, How Bright the Stars" (12/21/1975)
Cannon in episode: "The Exchange" (10/23/1974)