Net Worth Ranker
What Is Lou Diamond Phillips’ Net Worth?
Lou Diamond Phillips, the American actor and director known for his diverse roles across film and television, has accumulated a net worth of $6 million. This valuation reflects his decades-long career, marked by standout performances and ventures into directing.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Lou Diamond Upchurch in 1962 at the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines, Phillips’ early life involved a blend of cultures. His father, Gerald, a Marine KC-130 crew chief of Cherokee and Scots-Irish descent, passed away in 1963. Subsequently, Lou adopted his stepfather’s surname. His mother, Lucita, was a native of Candelaria, Philippines. He later moved to Texas and attended Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi. For his higher education, Phillips graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a BFA in drama. His formal training in drama from the University of Texas at Arlington equipped him with the skills necessary to embark on his acting journey.
Phillips’ on-screen journey commenced in 1984 with minor roles in the television movie “Time Bomb” and the science-fiction film “Interface.” These initial appearances, though small, served as foundational steps in his burgeoning career. In 1985, he appeared in an episode of “Dallas,” and in 1986, was in the low-budget film “Trespasses.”
Film Breakthroughs and Career Highlights
The year 1987 marked a turning point in Lou Diamond Phillips’ career when he portrayed Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama “La Bamba.” This role catapulted him into the limelight and established him as a prominent actor. The film’s success translated into increased visibility and opportunities for Phillips.
Following the success of “La Bamba,” Phillips further solidified his position in Hollywood with his performance in the 1988 high school drama “Stand and Deliver,” alongside Edward James Olmos. His portrayal of Angel Guzman earned him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. These accolades highlighted his acting range and versatility. Also in 1988, Phillips starred in “Dakota” and “Young Guns”; in the latter film, he played the Old West outlaw Jose Chavez y Chavez. Phillips closed out the decade with more starring roles in the heist comedy “Disorganized Crime” and the action crime film “Renegades.” These roles helped to solidify his status as a versatile actor who could handle both dramatic and comedic roles.
In 1990, Phillips reprised his role as Jose Chavez y Chavez in the sequel film “Young Guns II.” That same year, he was in the thriller “A Show of Force” and the horror films “The First Power” and “Demon Wind.” Subsequent credits included the mystery “The Dark Wind”; the thriller “Ambition,” which Phillips also wrote; the adventure film “Shadow of the Wolf,” costarring Toshiro Mifune, Jennifer Tilly, and Donald Sutherland; and the action thriller “Extreme Justice.” His directorial debut came in 1994 with “Dangerous Touch,” where he not only directed but also starred. That year, he also directed and starred in “Sioux City.” These ventures into directing demonstrated his ambition and desire to expand his creative horizons. Throughout the rest of the 90s, Phillips was in films including “Teresa’s Tattoo,” “Boulevard,” “Courage Under Fire,” “The Big Hit,” “Brokedown Palace,” and “Bats.” These roles showcased his versatility and ability to adapt to different genres.
Phillips continued his prolific acting career in the 2000s; from 2000 to 2002 alone, he appeared in “Picking Up the Pieces,” “Supernova,” “A Better Way to Die,” “Knight Club,” “Route 666,” “Lone Hero,” and “Stark Raving Mad.” He was subsequently in “Hollywood Homicide,” “Absolon,” “Fingerprints,” and the second part of Steven Soderbergh’s two-part “Che.” Phillips’ myriad of other film credits have included “Transparency,” “Filly Brown,” “Sanitarium,” “Sequoia,” “Sky,” and “The 33,” about the real-life 2010 mining disaster in Chile. These roles have further contributed to his financial stability and reputation in the industry.
Television Career
In the realm of television, Phillips has maintained a consistent presence. In the 90s, Phillips was in episodes of “Tales from the Crypt,” “Spin City,” “The Outer Limits,” and “Adventures from the Book of Virtues.” He was also in the television movies “The Wharf Rat,” “Undertow,” and “In a Class of His Own.” From 2001 to 2002, Phillips had a recurring role on the supernatural drama series “Wolf Lake.” Also in 2002, he played secret government agent Mark DeSalvo on the first season of the Fox action series “24.” More supporting parts came on the sitcom “George Lopez,” on which he portrayed Lopez’s half-brother, and on the crime drama “Numb3rs,” playing the recurring role of FBI agent Ian Edgerton. During the early-to-mid-2000s, Phillips was also in a number of television movies, including “Red Water,” “The Trail to Hope Rose,” “Gone, But Not Forgotten,” “Murder at the Presidio,” and “Alien Express.” In 2005, he starred in the science-fiction miniseries “The Triangle,” about the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
From 2009 to 2011, Phillips played the recurring role of Colonel Telford on the “Stargate Universe” series on the SyFy channel. Subsequently, in 2012, he began costarring on the Western series “Longmire,” playing the Native American best friend of the title character. The series “Longmire” provided a steady source of income and enhanced his profile. Phillips’ later credits have included the crime series “Blindspot,” the television movie “The Night Stalker,” the children’s animated series “Elena of Avalor,” the sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” the crime drama “NCIS: New Orleans,” the legal drama “Goliath,” and the police procedurals “Blue Bloods” and “Prodigal Son,” on the latter of which he played the main role of NYPD lieutenant Gil Arroyo. His role on “Prodigal Son” as NYPD lieutenant Gil Arroyo further solidified his television presence and contributed to his earnings. These diverse television roles have contributed to his overall net worth and demonstrate his adaptability as an actor.
Personal Life
On the set of “Trespasses,” Phillips met assistant director Julie Cypher. They married in 1987. After their divorce in 1990, Cypher came out as lesbian and soon-thereafter began a long-term relationship with singer Melissa Etheridge. During their relationship, Julie and Melissa had two children, both of whom were birthed by Julie and fathered by singer David Crosby via artificial insemination. Subsequently, Phillips was briefly engaged to Jennifer Tilly, whom he had met while filming “Shadow of the Wolf.” After this, in 1994, he married Kelly Phillips, and had three daughters: twins Grace and Isabella, and Lili. The pair separated in 2003, and got divorced in 2007. During the separation, Phillips dated makeup artist Yvonne Boismier. In 2006, he was charged with domestic battery against her. However, they married the next year, and had a son, Indigo. These personal events, though not directly tied to his net worth, illustrate the various aspects of his life outside of his professional career. His personal life, including marriages and children, remains private.
