Edward James Olmos
Known for
Edward James Olmos is a pioneer of Latino representation in Hollywood and the owner of one of its most weathered, expressive faces. Born in East Los Angeles in 1947, he was the enigmatic Gaff in 'Blade Runner' (1982), a role he reprised in 'Blade Runner 2049' (2017), and won an Emmy as the stoic Lieutenant Castillo in 'Miami Vice' (1984-1989). His real-life math teacher in 'Stand and Deliver' (1988) brought him an Oscar nomination, still rare for a Mexican-American lead. A new generation reveres him as Admiral Adama in 'Battlestar Galactica' (2004-2009) and Selena's father in 'Selena' (1997). Craggy, principled authority defines him.
Edward James Olmos
50 Movies
30 Series
Edward James Olmos is a pioneer of Latino representation in Hollywood and the owner of one of its most weathered, expressive faces. Born in East Los Angeles in 1947, he was the enigmatic Gaff in 'Blade Runner' (1982), a role he reprised in 'Blade Runner 2049' (2017), and won an Emmy as the stoic Lieutenant Castillo in 'Miami Vice' (1984-1989). His real-life math teacher in 'Stand and Deliver' (1988) brought him an Oscar nomination, still rare for a Mexican-American lead. A new generation reveres him as Admiral Adama in 'Battlestar Galactica' (2004-2009) and Selena's father in 'Selena' (1997). Craggy, principled authority defines him.
Movies
Plays Chicharrón (voice)
Coco
2017
Plays Gaff
Blade Runner 2049
2017
Plays Gaff
Blade Runner
1982
Plays Captain Jack Cruz
Office Romance
2026
Plays Chief (voice)
The Road to El Dorado
2000
Plays Axel
A Dog's Way Home
2019
Plays Michael Axford
The Green Hornet
2011
Plays Abel
One Fast Move
2024
Plays Papi Greco
2 Guns
2013
Plays Edward James Olmos
I'm Still Here
2010
Plays Diablo (voice)
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
2008
Director
Plays Montoya Santana
American Me
1992
Plays Jaime A. Escalante
Stand and Deliver
1988
Plays Eddie Holt
Wolfen
1981
Plays Captain Lopez
Virus
1980
Plays Abraham Quintanilla
Selena
1997
Plays Gypsy
Triumph of the Spirit
1989
Plays Detective Curtis
Gossip
2000
Plays Gaff (voice)
Blade Runner: Black Out 2022
2017
Plays Paco
My Family
1995
Plays Gregorio Cortez
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
1983
Plays Joe
Caught
1996
Director
Plays Santiago
The Devil Has a Name
2019
Plays Ossie
Outlaw Posse
2024
Plays Salvatore Maranzano
Bonanno: A Godfather's Story
1999
Plays Chicano #1
Aloha Bobby and Rose
1975
Plays El Pachuco
Zoot Suit
1981
Plays Captain garcia
Splinter
2006
Plays Vamanos
The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
1998
Plays Gayo (voice)
Americano
2016
Plays Roberto Lozano
Death in Granada
1996
Plays The Angel
A Million to Juan
1994
Plays Ciolino
Saving Grace
1986
Plays Virgil Sweet
Talent for the Game
1991
Producer
Plays Freddy Suárez
Go for Sisters
2013
Plays Stan Navarro, Sr.
Hollywood Confidential
1997
Plays Mr. Irving
America
2011
Plays Joe Amable-Amo
Walking with Herb
2021
Plays Hospicio
Imprisoned
2019
Plays 1st Drunk
Alambrista!
1977
Plays Balthazar
Windows on the World
2019
Plays Luis
Chasing Wonders
2021
Plays Matteo Juarez
Mirage
1995
Producer
Plays Leandro
Filly Brown
2013
Plays Gallo Morales
Roosters
1993
TV Shows
Director
Plays Martin Castillo
Miami Vice
1984
Plays Felipe Reyes
Mayans M.C.
2018
Director
Battlestar Galactica
2004
Plays Jess Gonzalez
American Family
2002
Plays Prof. James Gellar
Dexter
2006
Plays Robert Gonzales
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
2013
Plays Captain Salazar
Dead Man's Walk
1996
Plays Roberto Mendoza
The West Wing
1999
Plays Molecule Man (voice)
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
2023
Plays Frank Corbo
The Fortunate Pilgrim
1988
Plays Angelo
Evening in Byzantium
1978
Plays Julio Gutierez
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Plays Dancer
Hawaii Five-O
1968
Plays Chief Rojas (voice)
The Batman
2004
Plays Mr. Vega
George Lopez
2002
Plays Paco
Kojak
1973
Plays Prime Minister
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
Plays Don Vasquez
The Fitzpatricks
1977
Plays Clemente (as Ed Olmos)
The Blue Knight
1975
Plays First sled dog
Eureka
2006
Plays Priest
Greetings from Tucson
2002
Plays Mr. Ramon (voice)
The Magic School Bus
1994
Plays Rey Emiliano (voice)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
Plays Edward James Olmos
Portlandia
2011
Plays Pit Master (voice)
The Simpsons
1989
Plays Randy
Bless This Mess
2019
Plays Col. Victor Walls
Touched by an Angel
1994
Plays Lorenzo Batista
Blue Bloods
2010
Plays Isaac Rojas
M.I.A.
2026
Plays General Santa Anna
American Playhouse
1982
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
Full Filmography
Office Romance
Captain Jack Cruz
2026
Film
Mami Está Aquí
Mr. Jimenez
2026
Film
M.I.A.
Isaac Rojas · 1 episode
2026–
TV
One Fast Move
Abel
2024
Film
Outlaw Posse
Ossie
2024
Film
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Molecule Man (voice) · 2 episodes
2023–
TV
Chasing Wonders
Luis
2021
Film
Walking with Herb
Joe Amable-Amo
2021
Film
Imprisoned
Hospicio
2019
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Edward James Olmos and where are they from?
Edward James Olmos is 79 years old, born on February 24, 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Edward James Olmos?
Edward James Olmos is best known for roles in Coco, Blade Runner 2049, Blade Runner.
How many movies has Edward James Olmos been in?
Over a 51-year career (since 1975), Edward James Olmos has appeared in 50 movies and 30 TV shows.
What was Edward James Olmos's first movie?
The career of Edward James Olmos began with Aloha Bobby and Rose (1975).
What is Edward James Olmos's most recent movie or series?
Edward James Olmos's most recent release is American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, which premiered on July 17, 2026.
What TV shows has Edward James Olmos appeared in?
On television, Edward James Olmos has appeared in The Simpsons, Dexter, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Battlestar Galactica.
Edward James Olmos
1947-02-24 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in Miami Vice (1984–1989), actor in and director of American Me (1992), William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009), teacher Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1988), and Detective Gaff in Blade Runner (1982), and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017). In 2018, he played the father of two members of an outlaw motorcycle club in the FX series Mayans MC.
For his work in Miami Vice, Olmos won the 1985 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. For his performance in Stand and Deliver, Olmos was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
He is also known for his roles as patriarch Abraham Quintanilla in the film Selena, narrator El Pachuco in both the stage and film versions of Zoot Suit, and the voice of Chicharrón in Coco.
Over the course of his career, Olmos has been a pioneer for more diversified roles and images of Hispanics in the U.S. media. His notable direction, production, and starring roles for films, made-for-TV movies, and TV shows include Wolfen, Triumph of the Spirit, Talent for the Game, American Me, The Burning Season, My Family/Mi Familia, Caught, 12 Angry Men, The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca, Walkout, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, American Family, and Dexter. Edward James Olmos, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.