Lou Diamond Phillips
Phillips in 2010, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Lou Diamond Upchurch
Place of Birth: U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
Date of Birth: February 17, 1962
Ethnicity:
*father – English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
*mother – Filipino
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American actor and director. He has starred in the films La Bamba, as musician Ritchie Valens, as well as Stand and Deliver, Young Guns, and Courage Under Fire, and the series Longmire, among many other works.
Lou was born at U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippines. His father, Gerald Amon Upchurch, was American, and had English and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish ancestry. Lou’s mother, Lucita Umayam Araña, was a Filipina, from Candelaria. Lou is named after famous U.S. Marine Lou Diamond (born Leland Diamond).
Lou’s father has been described as also having Cherokee Native American ancestry. Lou’s mother has been described as also having Japanese, Hawaiian, Chinese, and Spanish ancestry. It is not clear if these lineages have been verified/documented.
Lou has said:
People often mistake me for a Latino or even Indian, so I always mention in interviews that I am Filipino and I’m proud to be one.
He has also stated:
I never claimed to be a Native actor, but I do have Native blood.
Lou is married to makeup artist Yvonne Boismier. He has three children with his former wife, model Kelly Phillips; and a daughter with Yvonne.
Lou’s paternal grandfather was Ralph Amon Upchurch (the son of Arthur Jefferson “A J” Upchurch and Nora Lee Bowden). Ralph was born in Georgia. Arthur was the son of Jasper Upchurch and Lucinda Abagail/Abigail Chaffin. Nora was the daughter of James Filmore Bowden and Sara Jane Mayor.
Lou’s paternal grandmother was Louella M. Maloy (the daughter of Rosser Joseph Maloy and Kate Bell “Katie” Ogletree). Louella was born in Georgia. Rosser was the son of Thomas Andrew Maloy and Jodie Kelly.
Lou’s maternal grandfather was Policarpo Fumera Arañas (the son of Antonio Arañas and Antonia Fumera).
Lou’s maternal grandmother was Eugenia Cocoyog Umayam (the daughter of Justo Dumlao Umayam and Severa Febrero Cocoyog/Cacoyog).
Sources: Birth record of Lou Diamond Phillips – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Lou’s parents – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Lou Diamond Phillips (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Lou’s paternal grandfather, Ralph Amon Upchurch, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Lou’s paternal grandmother, Louella M. Maloy, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Louella M. Maloy on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Lou’s maternal grandparents, Policarpo Fumera Arañas and Eugenia Cocoyog Umayam – https://familysearch.org
hes a bullsh__ter..when la bamba came out he said he was half filipino half mexican..anything to sell a movie >>>?????
Hey, he never said that. He did say he was two kinds of Native American Irish Scottish and Filipino. I’m waiting for someone to make him Black lol. He has never claimed Mexican Heritage to my knowledge but if you want to get technical. Mexicans are made up of South American Natives and The Apache could speak spanish when they would trade so…. maybe?
Wow I would have never guessed.I had always thought he was Hispanic. I guess now it makes sense that he’s Filipino.. I never do understand how one can be so many ethnicities if you only have 2 parents.. o_o Now all I need to know now is what Mariah Carey is,then my life will be complete..not.haha.
He is Hispanic. Filipinos are Hispanics.
no, filipinos are filipinos
….what Philippine history book did you read? Spaniards forced last names on many as well as religion. They even influenced the language but Filipinos are not Hispanic.
Well you claimed your Indian side which possibly got you those movie roles in Young Guns, Sioux City……etc.
Why not be proud to say you are all….or is that just too long……?
he looks more mexican or hawaiian
LOL. You probably never heard of the Acapulco-Manila Galleons and more than half of Hawaiians have Filipino ancestry.
Filipinos are of mixed heritage (Malay, Chinese, Spanish)
Oh. I’m mostly English. Some Scottish. Some Irish. Some German. With a Cherokee great great grandma on maternal grandad’s side. And some Blackfoot wandering round in there on the maternal (German) grandma’s mom’s. Got pointy German nose and thick Scottish hair. Look kinda like Brent Spiner when I/ he’s had a bad day. /Sigh.
We can’t all luck out and be as handsome as Phillips.