Louis Diamond Phillips (born Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is an American actor. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film La Bamba (1987). For Stand and Deliver (1988), Phillips was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an Independent Spirit Award.
Phillips was born February 17, 1962, at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines, the son of Lucita Umayam Aranas and Gerald Amon Upchurch (1935–1963), a Marine KC-130 crew chief. His father was an American of Scots-Irish and Cherokee descent. Phillips has stated "I never claimed to be a Native actor, but I do have Native blood."
Phillips was named after the US Marine Leland "Lou" Diamond. After his father's death, he was adopted by his stepfather and his surname was changed to Phillips.
Phillips was raised in Texas. He graduated from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi in 1980 and from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama.
| Date of Birth | 17th February 1962 |
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| Age | 62 Years |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Country | Philippines |
| Current City | Naval Base Subic Bay |
| Birth Place | Naval Base Subic Bay |
| Nationality | Philippines |
| Citizenship | Philippines |
| Language | English |
| Reference | IMDB |
| Spouses | Julie Cypher Kelly Phillips |
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| Children | Gracie Phillips Isabella Phillips Lili Jordan |
| Education |
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| University of Texas at Arlington, Flour Bluff High School |
| Occupation | actor, film director, screenwriter, television actor, film actor, film producer, voice actor |
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| Awards |
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