FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2007
Media Contact: Priscilla L. Hunter, 312.344.7805, 312.286.6624 (cell) or phunter@colum.edu
Chicago, IL—Edward James Olmos is a man of immeasurable talent and creativity. On Thursday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., the multi-talented actor, producer, director and community activist will bring his creativity to Columbia College as part of the college’s public programming series Conversations in the Arts: Up Close With…
Tickets are FREE and are available on a first-come, first-served basis at www.colum.edu/tickets or by calling Columbia Ticket Center, 312.344.6600. For further information call 312.344.7287.
Conversations in the Arts is an in-depth dialogue with some of today’s most respected members of American arts and letters. Each featured artist is joined by the evening’s host in a small setting for an intimate conversation.
Olmos was raised in East Los Angeles and spent years working in theatrical roles. His first big break was a starring role in Luis Valdez’s play, “Zoot Suit” in 1978. The play moved to Broadway and led to a Tony nomination and great critical acclaim. He is best known for his role as “Lt. Martin Castillo” in the NBC television series, “Miami Vice” (1984) for which he received an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Olmos has been seen in numerous film and television productions. He received an Academy Award nomination for “best actor” for his starring role in “Stand and Deliver” (1988). He marked his directorial debut and starred in the 1992 feature film “American Me” which was produced by his production company, Olmos Productions.
He was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Jaime Escalante, the eccentric yet dedicated math teacher in “Stand and Deliver,” which he also produced. Currently he can be seen on television as Jess Gonzalez, a Korean War veteran on the PBS show “American Family” and as Commander Adama on the Sci-Fi series “Battlestar Galactica.”
A busy producer, director and actor, Olmos also makes time to participate in many humanitarian efforts. He is a U.S. Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and national spokesperson for organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He devotes much of his time to causes, particularly those focusing on the needs and rights of children. He makes more than 150 pubic appearances annually to places where he can reach kids at risk: juvenile halls, detention centers, boys/girls clubs and schools.
Conversations in the Arts: Up Close with Edward J. Olmos is sponsored by American Airlines, E-Team, Hilton Chicago and Clune Construction.
Columbia College Chicago, an urban institution committed to access, opportunity, and excellence in higher education, provides innovative practice and education in the visual, performing, media and communication arts to 11,000 students in more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1890 as a communications school for women, Columbia was revisioned in 1963 as a liberal arts college with a "hands-on, minds-on" approach to arts and media education and a progressive social agenda. Under the modern leadership of President Warrick L. Carter, Ph.D., Columbia is aggressively pursuing its mission to bring a richness of vision and a multiplicity of voices to the creation of culture through the diversity of our students and graduates. For further information visit www.colum.edu.