Lou Diamond Phillips portrays tragic Rock-n-Roll legend Ritchie Valens in the 1987 film "La Bamba."
Two years before he wore the tragic persona of rock-n-roll legend Ritchie Valens in the 1987 film “La Bamba” Lou Diamond Phillips was a University of Texas at Arlington student and aspiring actor. That’s right, Phillips began his star search here in North Texas, eventually graduating from UTA with his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1985. Since then, he’s racked up a few accolades and will go down as an 80s acting icon. Currently, Phillips, who wears the various hats of actor, writer, and director has returned to UTA for a weeklong residency in the College of Liberal Arts, which began this week on October 14, according to a release.
Phillips was recently invited by UTA President Jennifer Cowley to mentor aspiring young actors and filmmakers preparing to enter the industry; an invitation he graciously accepted.
“As an actor, writer and director, it’s in me to pass the torch to the next generation and ignite their passion for their craft,” Phillips said. “I’m thrilled—very thrilled. UTA has made amazing advancements over the years, not only in academics, but for me more importantly in diversity. UTA has grown in size and grown in accessibility and opportunity for a lot of young students. Being a part of this and a product of that work means a lot.”
Flashing back to the early 80s when Phillips first attended UTA’s Theatre Arts Department, he was quickly thrust into several stage productions, including “Dracula” and “The Physician in Spite of Himself.”
It was during this same era, that the Tony Award nominee says he began heavily investing time into launching his professional career. This means taking roles in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the film, television, and commercial industry. He recounted that some of his first professional performances were at Stage West Theater in Fort Worth.
Before he ever stepped on a stage, Phillips was born at the Subic Bay Naval Station in Zambales in the Philippines, before moving to Texas with his family. He went on to graduate from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi in 1980 before moving to Arlington to attend — you guessed it —UTA. After landing his breakout role as Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba” Phillips was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as Angel Martinez and the film “Stand and Deliver” in 1988. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor for his work in the Broadway play “The King and I” among many other accolades throughout the years.
“I’m really excited for our students to have Lou in the room watching their work,” Jeanmarie Higgins, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance says. “He was also in this department doing this kind of work—just like them. I want them to understand that if they dedicate themselves to lifelong learning and lifelong work, like Lou has, they can be successful.”
Phillip’s mentorship skills will be available to students from the Department of Art and Art History and the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. The “Young Guns” actor will lead classes in acting fundamentals, acting for the camera, directing, the business of acting and film aesthetics and analysis for students. To top this off, Phillips will also be working with students from across the college in an all-day film shoot.
“We’re excited to give our students the opportunity to learn from someone with a long and distinguished career in film and performance like Lou Diamond Phillips,” said Elizabeth Terese Newman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “The activities our faculty and staff have planned are designed to show our students just how rewarding a career in the arts can be.”
Phillips says anytime he teaches, it reinvigorates his passion for acting, which is what he tries to convey to each and every student. “One of the wonderful things about the industry is that you can never stop learning,” he says. “You should never stop learning things that will help you in your craft, and you can never stop learning about yourself.”
