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Community News
St. Louis Front Page Community Info P. O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 stlouisfrontpage.com Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com  |
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 Actor and Activist James Olmos Speaks About Life Experiences by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), Sept 16, 2001 - Unforseen sequence of events leading up to Edward James Olmos' guest appearance, Sunday, for the Signature Series 2001 provided unique insight into the life of this renowned actor.
Olmos is a devoted activist. In April, 1999, he launched a nationwide multimedia project entitled Americanos: Latino Life in the United States, which used photography, film, music, and the printed word to celebrate Latino culture. The program features a traveling exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Institution and a book of photos, essays, and commentary by some of today's most prominent Hispanics. That exhibit is currently on display along with the book at the Boston Library, the oldest library in America, stated Olmos. "I am here because I believe that it was my destiny to be here," he stated. "Because I was on Flight 11 coming out of Spain." Olmos explained to the audience that in returning home from Spain after spending twenty days in jail for a protest, he made a stop over in Boston to view the exhibit. Subsequently, he was asked to stay over one night and so canceled his flight. American Airline Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center last Tuesday. "I hope that exhibit comes here. It deserves to be here," added Olmos. He reflected upon this recent experience, quietly putting it into perspective with many events that had shaped his life. He commented that at age 54, he was in the middle of his life and planned to live long and healthy. Olmos proudly stated that he was a graduate of a Community College, as were his children. He provided humorous observations about being a Chicano and the impact of Latinos in a multi-cultural society. "Being an American of Mexican heritage, you had to be able to speak better English than Americans and better Spanish than Mexicans," he stated. Participants in the event, sponsored by the St. Louis Public Library, spent an afternoon with someone considered by many to be the "Olivier of the Latino World." Olmos commented that those twenty days spent in a Federal Penitentiary for trying to bring about greater public awareness made him a stronger person and deepened his convictions. Olmos is a multi-talented actor, producer, and director. A star of stage, film and television, his credits include the Ballad of Georgio Cortez, Wolfen, Selena, My Family/Mi Familia, and 12 Angry Men. Olmos is probably best known as the stoic Lt. Castillo in the popular police drama Miami Vice (for which he won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award) and for his portrayal of Jaime Escalante, the eccentric but dedicated math teacher in Stand and Deliver, which he also produced. Prior to his talk, Olmos spent time autographing the Series program. Following the presentation, the entire audience was invited to a Friends Only reception with Olmos.
The next guest in the Series will be St. Louis native, Elaine Viets, who was a reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for over 25 years. The event will be held, Oct 21, in the Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. For more information, call 314-539-0305.   The SLFP.com - Community Info is presented in conjunction with the St. Louis Front Page and Southwest Illinois News. The sites are owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan St. Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group . |
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