6th Grade Culture Project

Edward James Olmos:  Actor (b.1947)  The son of immigrants, Edward James Olmos grew up in Los Angles.  After his parents’ divorce, Edward was raised by his Mexican-American mother.  Edward and his friend Rusty Johnson started a rock band, but Rusty suggested Edward try acting because they both agreed that he couldn’t sing very well!  Edward played small parts for many years until he finally landed a major role in the Broadway play “Zoot Suit.”  He earned a Tony Award nomination and Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance!  In 1985, Edward won an Emmy Award for his dramatic performance on “Miami Vice.”  Edward tries to direct, produce, and act in films that send positive messages about social issues.  In “Stand and Deliver”, he played Jaime Escalante who taught advanced math to urban teenagers in a rough high school.  Some of his best films include “American Me,” “Selena,” and “My Family.”  Edward supports many charities and has worked with UNICEF, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, children’s hospitals n Miami and Los Angeles, and the Hazard Education Project.

Marsh, Carole, The Best Book of Hispanic Biographies.,Galopade Interational:  2003 p.18.       

Helpful sites:

http://www.gale.com/free_resources/chh/bio/olmos_e.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_James_Olmos

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0761824.html

http://maroon.uchicago.edu/news/articles/2005/04/19/edward_james_olmos_c.php