Luis Valdez

About

Regarded as the father of Chicano theater in the U.S. and director of the films La Bamba and Zoot Suit.

Before Fame

He put on puppet shows in his garage while in grammar school.

Trivia

He became the first Chicano director to direct a Broadway play in 1979 with Zoot Suit, which was later made into a film.

Family Life

His brother was actor Daniel Valdez.

Associated With

His big breakthrough, 1987's La Bamba, was a biopic of the 1950s rock star Ritchie Valens.