Lou Diamond Phillips Biography: Net Worth, Wife, Height, Age, Kids, Movies, Awards, TV Shows

Lou Diamond Phillips is a prominent American actor, director, and singer known for his charismatic performances in film and television.

He rose to fame in the 1980s with breakout roles in La Bamba as Ritchie Valens and Stand and Deliver as Angel Guzman, establishing himself as a versatile leading man in drama, action, and musical projects. His career spans decades with notable work in Young Guns, Courage Under Fire, Prodigal Son, and Longmire.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Louis Diamond Phillips
• Stage Name: Lou Diamond Phillips
• Born: February 17, 1962
• Age: 64 years old
• Birthplace: Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Mixed
• Occupation: Actor, Director, Singer
• Height: 183 cm
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Gerald Amon Upchurch and Lucita Umayam Aranas
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Yvonne Boismier Phillips
• Children: Four
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $8 million USD

Early Life and Education

Lou Diamond Phillips was born on February 17, 1962, in Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines. He was brought up by his parents, Gerald Amon Upchurch, an American naval officer of Cherokee and Scots-Irish descent, and Lucita Umayam Aranas, a Filipina who worked as a teacher and later in real estate. His father died in a helicopter crash when Lou was very young, and his mother remarried to a stepfather who helped raise him.

He grew up in Texas after the family relocated, primarily in Richardson and Arlington. He attended Moody High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he excelled in theater and football. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in drama. His ethnicity is mixed with Filipino, Cherokee, Scots-Irish, Spanish, and Hawaiian roots, and his religion is unknown.

Career

Lou Diamond Phillips began his acting career in regional theater and small films in the early 1980s. He achieved major success with his starring role as Ritchie Valens in La Bamba (1987), earning a Golden Globe nomination.

He followed with Stand and Deliver (1988) as Angel Guzman, Young Guns (1988) as Chavez y Chavez, and its sequel Young Guns II (1990). He starred in Courage Under Fire (1996) opposite Denzel Washington and appeared in films like The Big Hit (1998), Brokedown Palace (1999), and Che (2008).

He played Henry Standing Bear in Longmire (2012–2017) and Malcolm Bright’s father in Prodigal Son (2019–2021). He has directed episodes of Longmire and other series.

Other notable works include The 33 (2015), created the role of The Engineer in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon, and appeared in Prodigal Son, Wolf Lake, and recent projects like The Cleaning Lady (2022–2024). His accolades include a Golden Globe nomination (La Bamba), Independent Spirit Award nomination (Stand and Deliver), and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast (The 33).

Awards and Nominations

• Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (La Bamba, 1988)
• Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male (Stand and Deliver, 1989)
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (The 33)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @louiamondphillips

Personal Life

Lou Diamond Phillips is 64 years old and his height is 183 cm. He is married to Yvonne Boismier Phillips since 2007. They have one daughter together.

He was previously married to Julie Phillips from 1987 to 1990 (divorced) and to makeup artist Kelly Phillips from 1994 to 2007 (divorced), with whom he has three daughters. He has four daughters in total and prioritizes family time. No other past relationships are widely publicly detailed. He maintains a family-focused life, often sharing moments with his wife and daughters.

Net Worth

Lou Diamond Phillips‘s net worth is estimated at $8 million USD. His income primarily comes from acting roles in films such as La Bamba, Stand and Deliver, Young Guns, and The 33; long-running television series including Longmire and Prodigal Son; residuals and royalties from streaming platforms and syndication; Broadway and theater performances including Miss Saigon; directing credits; voice acting; and occasional producing or convention appearances.

Filmography

• La Bamba (Film, Ritchie Valens, 1987)
• Stand and Deliver (Film, Angel Guzman, 1988)
• Young Guns (Film, Chavez y Chavez, 1988)
• Young Guns II (Film, Chavez y Chavez, 1990)
• Courage Under Fire (Film, Monfriez, 1996)
• The Big Hit (Film, Cisco, 1998)
• Che (Film, 2008)
• The 33 (Film, Luis Urzua, 2015)
• Longmire (TV Series, Henry Standing Bear, 2012–2017)
• Prodigal Son (TV Series, Gil Arroyo, 2019–2021)
• The Cleaning Lady (TV Series, 2022–2024)