What is Edward James Olmos’ Net Worth?
Edward James Olmos, an American actor and director, has a net worth of $10 million. He is well-known for his memorable television and film roles, including William Adama on “Battlestar Galactica” (2003–2009), Lt. Martin Castillo on “Miami Vice” (1984–1990), and Jaime Escalante in “Stand and Deliver” (1988).
Olmos has acted in over 120 productions, including the films “Blade Runner” (1982) and “Selena” (1997) and the television series “Dexter” (2011) and “Mayans M.C.” (2018–present). He has also directed several episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” and the films “American Me” (1992), “Jack and Marilyn” (2002), and “The Devil Has a Name” (2019).
Early Life and Career
Edward James Olmos was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1947. His parents divorced when he was 7, and he was raised by his great-grandparents. Olmos began his career as a baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system but later left to pursue music. He attended Montebello High School and later took acting classes at East Los Angeles College.
As a teenager, Olmos was the lead vocalist for the band Pacific Ocean, which performed at clubs around L.A. and released the record “Purgatory” in 1968.
Edward James Olmos: From Broadway to Hollywood
In the late 1960s, Olmos began his acting career in theatrical productions before making his Broadway debut in Luis Valdez’s “Zoot Suit” in 1979, earning a Theatre World Award and a Tony nomination. He appeared in several films and TV shows in the following years, including “Blade Runner” (1981) and “Miami Vice” (1984-1989), before earning a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his role in “Stand and Deliver” (1988).
Olmos continued to act in films and TV shows, including directing and producing “American Me” (1992) and playing Commander William Adama on “Battlestar Galactica” (2003-2009). He also voiced Chicharrón in Disney’s “Coco” (2017) and played Felipe Reyes on “Mayans M.C.” (2018-present).
Throughout his career, Olmos has received numerous accolades for his work and has been recognized for his significance in American culture.
Edward James Olmos’ Philanthropic Work
Edward James Olmos co-founded the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and the charitable organization Latino Literacy Now in 1997. The following year, he launched Latino Public Broadcasting. Olmos also participated in the Navy-Vieques protests in 2001, for which he spent 20 days in jail. He has served as an international ambassador for UNICEF and has spoken to at-risk teenagers at detention centers and juvenile halls several times.
Marriages, Children, and Controversies
Edward James Olmos married Kaija Keel in 1971 and had two sons, Mico and Bodie, before their divorce in 1992. He also adopted four children: Michael, Daniela, Brandon, and Tamiko. Olmos married Lorraine Bracco in 1994, but they divorced in 2002. Later that year, he wed actress Lymari Nadal, but they separated in 2013.
In 1992, Olmos was accused of inappropriately touching a woman while watching TV together. He denied the allegations but paid the woman $150,000. In 1997, he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in South Carolina.
Olmos received his Mexican nationality in 2007 after completing a seven-year process.
Awards and Honors
Edward James Olmos has won numerous awards throughout his career in the entertainment industry. He won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance on “Miami Vice,” and also received a Golden Globe for “The Burning Season.” His role in “Stand and Deliver” earned him nominations from the Academy Awards and Golden Globes as well as the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.
For his work on “Battlestar Galactica,” Edward won three ALMA Awards and a Saturn Award. He also received ALMA Awards for his roles in “12 Angry Men,” “Selena,” “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” and “Filly Brown.” Additionally, he received an ALMA Award for directing “Walkout.”
Olmos has also received several honorary degrees, including a Doctorate of Fine Arts from California State University, Fresno, and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Whittier College. In 2016, he was honored with the Mary Pickford Award from the Satellite Awards for “Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the Entertainment Industry.”
Other awards and honors include a Legacy Award from the African-American Film Critics Association, a Black Reel Award for directing “Walkout,” a Humanitarian Award from the Houston Film Critics Society Awards and Women in Film Crystal Awards, and a Prize of the City of Huelva from the Huelva Latin American Film Festival. Edward also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992.
