(Edward James Olmos, US 1992, 125 min., 35mm)
Emmy Award-winning, Tony-nominated, and Academy Award-nominated actor Edward James Olmos was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California to Mexican immigrants. His acting career began on stage where he received a Tony nomination for his performance as the narrator in the Broadway production of Zoot Suit, a play about World War II-era rioting in Los Angeles. He shot to international fame for his portrayal of Martin Castillo in the television series Miami Vice (1984-1989), for which he earned his first two of three Emmy nominations, and earned an Academy Award nomination for his lead role as Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver (1987). He used this new-found Hollywood clout to produce, direct, and star in American Me (1992), the story of a Mexican-American kingpin who becomes disillusioned with his life of crime. Loosely based on the life of Rodolfo Cadena, it was a passion project for Olmos.
35mm collection print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive.