Lou Diamond Phillips
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- February 17, 1962 in Subic Bay Naval Base, Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines
- Active Years
- 1982–2026 (45 Years)
- Total Credits
- 194 credits in database
Biography
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film and television actor who also works as a director and writer. He was born on February 17, 1962, at Subic Bay Naval Base in Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines. Phillips gained breakthrough recognition portraying Ritchie Valens in La Bamba. Notable film roles include Jose Chavez y Chavez in Young Guns I and II, Angel Guzman in Stand and Deliver (for which he received a supporting‑actor Golden Globe nomination), Hank Storm in Renegades, Jesse Rainfeather Goldman in Sioux City (where he also directed), Staff Sergeant John Monfriez in Courage Under Fire, Roy Knox in Brokedown Palace, and Wanda in Hollywood Homicide. On television he is known for Lt. Gil Arroyo on Prodigal Son and Henry Standin. He has appeared in many TV movies.
Career overview
Lou Diamond Phillips, born on February 17 1962 at Subic Bay Naval Base in Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines, is an American actor whose career spans film, television and stage. He first gained widespread attention with his breakthrough performance as Ritchie Valens in the biographical musical La Bamba. Following that success he appeared as the outlaw Jose Chavez y Chavez in both Young Guns I and II, and earned a supporting‑actor Golden Globe nomination for his role as Angel Guzman in Stand and Deliver. Phillips continued to build a varied film résumé, portraying Hank Storm in Renegades, Staff Sergeant John Monfriez in Courage Under Fire, Roy Knox in Brokedown Palace, and Wanda in Hollywood Homicide. He also wrote and directed the feature Sioux City, in which he played Jesse Rainfeather Goldman.
In television, Phillips has been featured in numerous TV movies and is recognized for recurring roles such as Lieutenant Gil Arroyo on the series Prodigal Son and the character Henry Standin. Across his career he has accumulated more than 180 credited performances, demonstrating a versatility that has kept him active in the entertainment industry for several decades. His body of work reflects a consistent presence in both leading and supporting roles across a range of genres.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
194 titles- Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (2026) as Daniel Fischer (voice)
- Casa Grande (2026)
- Stranger Things: Tales from '85 Theatrical Preview (2026) as Daniel Fischer (voice)
- American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026) as Self
- The Chair Company (2025) as Jeff Levjman
- Gangland (2025) as Teddy Sharpe
- Gangland (2025) Executive Producer
- Et Tu (2025) as Brent Barrymore
- Aguadilla (2025) as Benicio
- Werewolves (2024) as Dr. Aranda
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One (2024) as The Spectre / Owlman (voice)
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Three (2024) as The Spectre (voice)
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two (2024) as The Spectre (voice)
- Get Fast (2024) as The Cowboy
- The Cleaning Lady (2022) as Joe Fabroa
- The Legend of Vox Machina (2022) as Gentry (voice)
- Quantum Leap (2022) as Shepherd Barnes
- DC Showcase - Constantine: The House of Mystery (2022) as Spectre (voice)
- Easter Sunday (2022) as Lou Diamond Phillips
- Trese (2021) as Mayor Sancho Santamaria (voice)
- The Eisen Hour (2021) as Self - Guest
- Adverse (2021) as Dr. Cruz
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Mantis
- Prodigal Son (2019) as Gil Arroyo
- Prodigal Son (2019) Director
- Big Kill (2019) as Johnny Kane
- The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (2018) as Self - Special Guest
- Urban Country (2018) as Warden Tono
- Cop and a Half: New Recruit (2017) as Detective Simmons
- Avenge the Crows (2017) as Casper
- Created Equal (2017) as Monsignor Renzulli
- Quest (2017) as Gus
- Elena of Avalor: Realm of the Jaquins (2017) as Victor Delgado (voice)
- The Last Train (2017) as Gunner
- Goliath (2016) as Oscar Suarez
- Bull (2016) as Colonel Victor Taggert
- Bull (2016) Director
- Elena of Avalor (2016) as Victor Delgado (voice)
- Search Party (2016) as John
- The Ranch (2016) as Clint
- Graves (2016)
- The Night Stalker (2016) as Richard Ramirez
- Sky (2016)
- Fear the Walking Dead (2015) Director
- Blindspot (2015) as Saúl Guerrero
- Another Period (2015) as Langundo
- The 33 (2015) as Luis Urzua 'Don Lucho'
- The Wiggles - Rock and Roll Preschool (2015) as Himself
- NCIS: New Orleans (2014) as Cedric Gossett
- You're the Worst (2014) as Himself
- Sequoia (2014) as Colin
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) as Jeff Romero
- Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013) Director
- Ironside (2013) as Stuart White
- Filly Brown (2013) as Jose Tonorio
- Sanitarium (2013) as James Silo
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamond (2013) as Lou Diamond Phillips
- Longmire (2012) as Henry Standing Bear
- Metal Tornado (2011) as Michael Edwards
- Hawaii Five-0 (2010) as Wes Lincoln
- Blue Bloods (2010) as Louis Delgado
- Takedown (2010) as David
- The Invited (2010) as Garrett
- Southland (2009) as Officer Danny Ferguson
- Cougar Town (2009) as Lou Diamond Phillips
- Stargate Universe (2009) as David Telford
- The Beast (2009) as Capone
- Angel and the Badman (2009) as Quirt Evans
- Love Takes Wing (2009) as Ray Russell
- Love Takes Wing (2009) Director
- Carny (2009) as Sheriff Atlas
- Che: Part Two (2008) as Mario Monje
- Naked Movie (2008) as Self
- Death Toll (2008) as Mayor Padial
- Lone Rider (2008) as Bobby Hattaway
- Never Forget (2008) as Frank Hill
- Chuck (2007) as Augusto Gaez
- Termination Point (2007) as Dr. Daniel Winter
- Backyards & Bullets (2007)
- Psych (2006) as Lars Ewing
- Aquaman (2006) as Tom Curry
- Aquaman (2006) as Tom Curry
- Fingerprints (2006) as Doug
- El Cortez (2006) as Manny DeSilva
- Striking Range (2006) as Eugene "Vash" Vasher
- One for the Money: The Birth of Rock & Roll (2006)
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Sheriff Clifford Mason
- American Dad! (2005) as Rusty (voice)
- Numb3rs (2005) as Agent Ian Edgerton
- Hell's Kitchen (2005) as Self - Restaurant Patron
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- The Triangle (2005) as Meeno Paloma
- Gone But Not Forgotten (2005) as Alan Page
- Murder at the Presidio (2005) as CWO James Chandler
- Alien Express (2005) as Vic Holden
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self
- Jack & Bobby (2004)
- The Trail to Hope Rose (2004) as Keenan Deerfield
- Stunt C*cks (2004) as Self
- Grandpa's Place (2004) as Self
- The Handler (2003)
- Hollywood Homicide (2003) as Wanda
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2003) as Self
- Absolon (2003) as Walters
- Red Water (2003) as John Sanders
- Celebrities Uncensored (2003) as Self
- The Twilight Zone (2002) as Ritchie Almarez
- The Twilight Zone (2002) Director
- George Lopez (2002) as George L.
- Stark Raving Mad (2002) as Gregory
- Malevolent (2002) as Jack Lucas
- Lone Hero (2002) as Bart
- An Untold Triumph: America's Filipino Soldiers (2002) as Narrator (voice)
- 24 (2001) as Mark DeSalvo
- Night Visions (2001) as Tom Fallor (segment "Dead Air")
- Wolf Lake (2001) as John Kanin
- Route 666 (2001) as Jack La Roca
- A Better Way to Die (2001) as William Dexter
- Hangman (2001) as Detective Nick Roos
- Knight Club (2001) as Dirk Gueron
- Supernova (2000) as Yerzy Penalosa
- Picking Up the Pieces (2000) as Officer Alfonso
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Victor Paul Gitano
- Family Guy (1999) as Tribe Leader (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self
- Brokedown Palace (1999) as Roy Knox
- In a Class of His Own (1999) as Ricardo 'Rich' Donato
- Bats (1999) as Sheriff Emmett Kimsey
- "Bats" Abound (1999) as Self
- Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died (1999) as Self
- The Big Hit (1998) as Cisco
- Another Day in Paradise (1998) as Jewels (uncredited)
- The Trial of Adolf Eichmann (1997) as Abba Kovner / Eliahu Rosenberg (voices)
- Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (1997) as Self
- Hourglass (1997) as uncredited
- Smoke Alarm: The Unfiltered Truth About Cigarettes (1997) as Camel
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Spin City (1996) as Nate
- Spin City (1996) as Nate (archive footage)
- Arli$$ (1996) as Gillis Limoges
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- Courage Under Fire (1996) as Staff Sergeant John Monfriez
- The Wharf Rat (1996) as Petey Martin
- Undertow (1996) as Jack Ketchum
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Captain Cotter McCoy
- The Outer Limits (1995) Director
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Coatl (voice)
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- Dangerous Touch (1995) as Mick Burroughs
- Dangerous Touch (1995) Director
- Dangerous Touch (1995) Writer
- Boulevard (1994) as Hassan
- Teresa's Tattoo (1994) as Wheeler
- Sioux City (1994) as Jesse Rainfeather Goldman
- Sioux City (1994) Director
- Override (1994) as Cal
- Extreme Justice (1993) as Jeff Powers
- Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration (1993) as Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
- Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O (1993) as Self
- Wind in the Wire (1993)
- Shadow of the Wolf (1992) as Agaguk
- The Panama Deception (1992) as English Voice-over
- The Dark Wind (1992) as Officer Jim Chee
- The General Motors Playwrights Theater (1991) as Clash
- Ambition (1991) as Mitchell Osgood
- Ambition (1991) Screenplay
- Harley (1991) as Harley
- Young Guns II (1990) as Jose Chavez y Chavez
- The First Power (1990) as Det. Russell Logan
- A Show of Force (1990) as Jesus Fuentes
- Demon Wind (1990) as Demon
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Jerry
- Disorganized Crime (1989) as Ray Forgy
- Renegades (1989) as Hank Storm
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Young Guns (1988) as Chavez y Chavez
- Stand and Deliver (1988) as Angel Guzman
- Dakota (1988) as John Dakota
- Dakota (1988) Associate Producer
- La Bamba (1987) as Ritchie Valens
- The Three Kings (1987) as Tag
- Trespasses (1986) as Drifter
- Interface (1985) as Punk no. 1
- Miami Vice (1984) as Detective Bobby Diaz
- Time Bomb (1984) as Terrorist
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- American Playhouse (1982) as Angel Guzman
- Widow
- Young Guns III as Chavez
- One in a Million
- Drowning as Tommy Nuts
- City Kid as Harley
- The Ambulance Chaser
- The Ambulance Chaser Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lou Diamond Phillips best known for?
Lou Diamond Phillips is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (2026), Casa Grande (2026), American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026), The Chair Company (2025).
When and where was Lou Diamond Phillips born?
Lou Diamond Phillips was born on February 17, 1962 in Subic Bay Naval Base, Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines.
How many credits does Lou Diamond Phillips have?
Lou Diamond Phillips has accumulated over 194 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1982 to 2026.
What is Lou Diamond Phillips's background in cinema and television?
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film and television actor who also works as a director and writer. He was born on February 17, 1962, at Subic Bay Naval Base in Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines. Phillips gained breakthrough recognition portraying Ritchie Valens in La Bamba. Notable film roles include Jose Chavez...
Lou Diamond Phillips by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Sheriff Clifford Mason — aged about 43
- The Legend of Vox Machina (2022) as Gentry (voice) — aged about 60
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) as Jeff Romero — aged about 51
- Prodigal Son (2019) as Gil Arroyo — aged about 57
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Victor Paul Gitano — aged about 37
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Jerry — aged about 27
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