Lou Diamond Phillips Movies and Career Information

Lou Diamond Phillips (born Lou Diamond Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Stand and Deliver and a Tony Award nomination for his role in The King and I. Outside of acting, he has become notable for finishing 186th in the 2009 World Series of Poker World Championships "No Limit Texas hold 'em" main event. Phillips was born as Lou Diamond Upchurch at the Subic Bay US Naval Station in Zambales, Philippines, the son of Lucita Aranas and Gerald Upchurch, an officer in the United States Navy. His father was an American of Scots-Irish and one-quarter Cherokee descent, and his mother, a native of Candelaria, is a Filipino of Spanish, Chinese, Hawaiian and Japanese descent. Phillips was named after Marine legend Lou Diamond. He was adopted by his stepfather and took his surname "Phillips". He was raised in Texas, where he attended Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a BFA in Drama. The first low-budget film he starred in was called Trespasses. Phillips' big break came with the starring role in 1987's La