Lorenzo Lamas

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Lorenzo Lamas
Lamas in April 2013
Born
Lorenzo Fernando Lamas

(1958-01-20) January 20, 1958 (age 66)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present
Spouses
  • Victoria Hilbert
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1981; div. 1982)​
  • Michele Smith
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1983; div. 1985)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1989; div. 1993)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1996; div. 2002)​
  • Shawna Craig
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2011; div. 2018)​
Partners
Children6, including AJ and Shayne
Parent(s)Fernando Lamas
Arlene Dahl

Lorenzo Fernando Lamas[1] (born January 20, 1958)[2] is an American actor. He is widely known for his role of Lance Cumson, the irresponsible grandson of Angela Channing—played by Jane Wyman—in the soap opera Falcon Crest (1981–1990), for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

Lamas is also known for his roles as Reno Raines in the crime drama series Renegade (1992–1997), Dr. Hollywood on the Nickelodeon TV show Big Time Rush (2009-2013), Hector Ramirez in the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2004–2006), and Meap on the television show Phineas and Ferb.[3][4]

He served as a judge on ABC television's Are You Hot?, and starred in his own reality show, Leave It to Lamas, a series about his real-life family.[5]

Early life[edit]

Lamas was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Argentine actor Fernando Lamas and Norwegian American actress Arlene Dahl. He is the stepson of swimmer and film star Esther Williams, who married his father when Lamas was 11 years old. Both Williams and Dahl were best friends of actress Jane Wyman (who knew him from birth), and would later work alongside Lamas on Falcon Crest. He was brought up in Pacific Palisades, California, and moved to New York City in 1971. In 1979, he took up Taekwondo, earning a third-degree black belt, also Shotokan Karate, Ju jitsu and Aikido, earning black belts in each. He graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey, in 1975.[citation needed]

Career[edit]

Lamas at the 1989 Academy Awards

Early career[edit]

Lamas had longed to be in show business since the age of five, when he approached his mother and said, "I want to be a star...I mean, an actor." With a smile, she replied, "I heard you the first time, son."[6]

Lamas first studied acting in Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop and quickly thereafter obtained his first TV acting role in 1976. As a last-minute replacement for Steven Ford, Lamas secured a non-speaking role as a jock in the 1978 musical film Grease, in which he dyed his hair blond.[7] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lamas had guest-starring roles in a number of TV series including Switch, Sword of Justice, Dear Detective, Secrets of Midland Heights, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat and Hotel.

Falcon Crest (1981–1990)[edit]

In 1980, Lamas auditioned for and won the role of Lance Cumson, for the pilot of a new series entitled The Vintage Years. The pilot was later retooled to become the hit prime time drama series Falcon Crest, which aired on CBS for nine seasons from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. During a 2006 TV interview with a Norwegian television team, Lamas said that to get the role he had auditioned twice and beat out five other actors for the part. Lamas was nominated for a Golden Globe and two Soap Opera Digest Awards for his work on the series; he was the only actor to appear in all 227 episodes.

During his tenure on the show, Lamas had the lead role in the poorly received film Body Rock (1984), where he was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor. He also performed a song on the film's soundtrack, and the track "Fools Like Me" became his only single to date to crack the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #85. The co-founder of the Golden Raspberry Awards, John J.B. Wilson, later named Body Rock as one of "The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made".[8]

Later career[edit]

Lamas began carving out a niche for himself as an action-hero, showcasing his martial-arts skills by starring in such movies as the Snake Eater trilogy (1989–1992), Bounty Tracker (1993), Gladiator Cop (1995), Terminal Justice (1996), and many similar low-budget action-films. From 1992 to 1997, Lamas played the lead role of Reno Raines (a falsely accused cop) in the syndicated series Renegade, which allowed him to exercise his enthusiasm for Harley-Davidson motorcycles as well as martial arts.[9] The show was seen in over 100 countries, and during its fifth and final season, it moved from first-run syndication to the USA Network. Lamas had been keeping his hair long (past his shoulders) during this time, so when he had it cut short following the end of the fourth season of Renegade, he had to wear a long-haired wig for filming of the final season.[10] In 2004, Lamas joined the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Hector Ramirez, remaining on the show until 2006.

In August 2007, Lamas starred as the King of Siam in The King and I at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. That fall, he performed at Kean University Premiere Stages in Union, New Jersey, in the title role in Steven Dietz's Dracula. In June 2008, he performed as El Gallo in The Fantasticks at the Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas. In June 2009, Lamas returned to the Ogunquit Playhouse as Zach in A Chorus Line. [citation needed]

In 2015, Lamas was a cast member of the reality TV series Celebrity Apprentice.

As of 2016, Lamas was working as a helicopter pilot, flying people on day trips to the Grand Canyon from Los Angeles.[11] According to his Twitter account, he is currently flying as a helicopter tour pilot with HeliNY in New York City.[12]

Personal life[edit]

Lamas has been married six times and has six children. His first marriage was to Victoria Hilbert (1981–1982). His second marriage (1983–1985)[citation needed] was to his publicist, Michele Cathy Smith, with whom he had two children: son Alvaro Joshua "A.J." (b. 1983) and daughter Shayne (b. 1985), both actors. Lamas was then in a relationship with actress Daphne Ashbrook; the couple had a daughter.

Lamas was married to his third wife, Renegade co-star Kathleen Kinmont, from 1989 to 1993.[10] Playmate of the Month Shauna Sand (who made guest appearances in Renegade) became Lamas' fourth wife in 1996. The couple had three daughters before divorcing in 2002.[citation needed]

After five months of dating, Lamas married his fifth wife, Shawna Craig, 2011 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[13] He told reporters that he would change his name to Lorenzo Lamas-Craig. This decision was motivated by the fact that his previous wife, Shauna, kept the surname Lamas, and is legally named Shauna Lamas, and new bride Shawna, whose given name is a homonym and almost identical to that of Shauna, did not wish to have a virtually identical full name.[14] In June 2018, Lamas filed for divorce from his fifth wife citing irreconcilable differences.[15][16]

Lamas started dating Kenna Scott in April 2020. The couple got engaged in Las Vegas in February 2021.[17] The wedding was on October 29, 2023, at the Wonderland on the cruise ship Wonder of the Seas.

Lamas enjoyed close friendships with his Falcon Crest co-stars Ana Alicia[18] and Jane Wyman. He continually praised Wyman's professionalism and credited her as a "huge influence" on his life and career. After Wyman's death in 2007, Lamas released a statement: "Next to my parents, Jane was the most influential person in my young career. She has left an incredible body of work and accomplishments that cannot go without being recognized and celebrated. I will miss her greatly."[19][20]

Lamas' stepmother, Esther Williams, died on June 6, 2013, at the age of 91, in Los Angeles, California. He stated on Twitter: "The best swim teacher and soul mom RIP."[21]

Lamas published his autobiography, Renegade at Heart (co-written by celebrity biographer Jeff Lenburg) in December 2014.

Filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1969 100 Rifles Indian Boy Film debut; uncredited
1978 Grease Tom Chisum
1979 Take Down Nick Kilvitus
1979 Tilt Casey Silverwater
1979 Promises in the Dark Josh Uncredited
1984 Body Rock "Chilly" Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
1989 Snake Eater Officer Jack "Soldier" Kelly
1989 Snake Eater II: The Drug Buster
1991 Night of the Warrior Miles Keane
1991 Killing Streets Charlie Wolff
1992 Final Impact Nick Taylor
1992 The Swordsman Andrew Garrett
1992 Snake Eater III: His Law Jack "Soldier" Kelly
1992 CIA Code Name: Alexa CIA Agent Mark Graver
1993 Bounty Tracker Johnathan Damone Direct-to-video
1993 CIA II: Target Alexa CIA Agent Mark Graver
1994 Final Round Tyler Verdiccio Direct-to-video
1994 Bad Blood Travis Blackstone
1995 Midnight Man John Kang
1995 Gladiator Cop Andrew Garrett Also known as Gladiator Cop: The Swordsman II
1996 Mask of Death Detective McKenna / Lyle Mason
1996 Terminal Justice Sergeant Bobby Chase
1997 Black Dawn Jake Kilkanin
1997 The Rage Nick Travis
1998 Undercurrent Mike Aguayo
1998 Back to Even Mitch
1999 The Muse Himself
2002 The Circuit 2: The Final Punch Max Direct-to-video
2003 Rapid Exchange Ketchum Direct-to-video
2003 13 Dead Men Santos
2003 Dark Waters Dane Quatrell Direct-to-video
2004 Motocross Kids Evan Reed
2004 Latin Dragon Frank Braun
2004 Sci-Fighter Andrew Dean
2004 Unseen Evil 2 Biggs Direct-to-video
2005 Lethal Anatoly Federov
2005 Thralls Mr. Jones
2005 Killing Cupid Shane
2005 The Nowhere Man
2006 18 Fingers of Death! Antonio Bandana Direct-to-video
2007 Succubus: Hell-Bent Flight Instructor Direct-to-video
2007 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea Lieutenant Michael Arronax Direct-to-video
2008 Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves Father Smith
2009 Mexican Gold Cole
2009 Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus Allan Baxter
2011 Backstabber Frank Prather
2012 Return to Vengenance Brady
2013 Raptor Ranch Special Agent Logan
2013 Cathedral Canyon Carl Romero
2013 A Little Christmas Business Billy Baxter
2014 Grace of God Jerold
2014 Being American Tom
2014 Bro, What Happened? Cheeba
2014 My Name Is Nobody Senor Santiago
2015 WWJD What Would Jesus Do? The Journey Continues Jack
2015 American Beach House Lifeguard Joe
2015 Atomic Eden Nathan "The Snake"
2015 God's Club Spencer Rivers
2016 Prayer Never Fails Judge Rogers
2016 Beyond the Game Trainer
2016 Movie Madness Detective Avery
2017 Secrets of Deception Gregg
2017 Boone: The Bounty Hunter Walker
2017 BorderCross Danny Jackson
2018 Railroad to Hell: A Chinaman's Chance Father Smith
2018 Driver Reggie
2018 Unwritten General Lane
2019 Las Vegas Vietnam: The Movie Zapata Sr., Gang Leader
2019 Water Frank Johnson
2020 Scorpion Girl Awakening: The Movie FBI Agent
2020 Real Blood: The True Beginning Father Diaz
2020 Bleach Elmer Paxton

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Switch Various 2 episodes
1978 Sword of Justice Donno Novanti Episode: "A Double Life"
1979 Dear Detective Episode: #1.2
1979 California Fever Rick 10 episodes
1980 Detour to Terror Jamie Television film
1980–1981 Secrets of Midland Heights Burt Carroll 2 episodes
1980–1986 The Love Boat Various 5 episodes
1981–1990 Falcon Crest Lance Cumson 227 episodes
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1983)
Nominated – Soap Opera Digest Award: Outstanding Actress/Actor in a Comic Relief Role on a Prime Time Serial; Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role on a Prime Time Serial (1986)
1983 Fantasy Island Richard Warrington Episode: "Naughty Marietta/The Winning Ticket"
1983 Hotel Diz Wilder Episode: "The Offer"
1990 The Hitchhiker Tom Astor Episode: "Trust Me"
1991 Dear John Alejandro Braceros 2 episodes
1992 Flesh and the Devil Gropius Television film
1992–1997 Renegade Reno Raines / Vince Black 110 episodes
1998 Invasion America Cale Oosha Voice, 9 episodes
1998–1999 Air America Rio Arnett 26 episodes
2000–2001 The Immortal Raphael 'Rafe' Cain 22 episodes
2002 Hope Ranch Colt Webb Television film
2003 Are You Hot? Judge 6 episodes
2003 The Paradise Virus Paul Johnson Television film
2004 Deep Evil Trainor Television film
2004 Raptor Island Hacket Television film
2004 Reno 911! Deputy Garcia Episode: "Department Investigation: Part 2"
2004–2006 The Bold and the Beautiful Hector Ramirez 191 episodes
2009–2013 Phineas and Ferb Meap Voice, 5 episodes
2009 Leave It to Lamas Himself 8 episodes
2010–2013 Big Time Rush Dr. Hollywood 4 episodes
2011 NTSF:SD:SUV:: Felipe Calderon Episode: "Tijuana, We've Got a Problem"
2011 Actors Anonymous Himself Television film
2012 Ronn's Garage 2 episodes
2012 The Eric Andre Show Himself TV series
2012 Ash Global Bruce Episode: "Take Memo Home"
2013 The Joe Schmo Show Himself 2 episodes
2013 Ghost Ghirls John Episode: "Hooker with a Heart of Ghoul"
2013 Bike Cops Van Nuys 'Ponch' Television film
2014 Workaholics Rick Messona Episode: "We Be Clownin'"
2014 American Dad! Security Guard Voice, episode: "Big Stan on Campus"
2015 Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! Sergeant Rock Television film
2016–2017 Lucha Underground Councilman Delgado 6 episodes
2016 Bail Out Himself 2 episodes
2019 Jane the Virgin Himself Episode: "Chapter Eighty-Five"

Discography[edit]

Year Title Country Notes
1984 You Better Hang On Portugal
Fools Like Me U.S.
Fingerprints West Germany Album
Smooth Talker U.S. Maxi-single

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lamas, Lorenzo (9 December 2014). Renegade at Heart: An Autobiography. BenBella Books, Inc. ISBN 9781941631263 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Rose, Mike (20 January 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 20, 2023 includes celebrities Questlove, Rainn Wilson". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ Hal Erickson (2016). "Lorenzo Lamas". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016.
  4. ^ LaGorce, Tammy (21 October 2007). "A TV Actor Relishes a Change of Scenery and an Iconic Role". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "227". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  6. ^ "The Complete Directory to Prime-Time TV Stars: 1946--Present" by Tim Brooks; page 487
  7. ^ Gliatto, Tom; and O'Neill Anne-Marie. "Grease Is the Word: Twenty Years Later, the Stars Are Still True to Their School", People (magazine), April 13, 1998. Accessed September 13, 2011. "'I always felt Jan was the person most like the audience,' says Jamie Donnelly, 50, who dyed her prematurely gray hair to play the pigtailed Pink Lady. 'She wasn't as cool as the other ones.' The Teaneck, N.J., native now lives in La Canada, Calif., with her husband, screenwriter Stephen Foreman, son Sevi, 10, and daughter Madden Rose, 8."
  8. ^ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-0-446-69334-9.
  9. ^ Brennan, Patricia (19 December 1993). "Playing 'The Fugitive' on a Harley-Davidson". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  10. ^ a b Rossen, Jake (13 September 2017). "11 Full-Throttle Facts About Renegade". Mental Floss. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  11. ^ Piepenburg, Erik (24 October 2016). "Lorenzo Lamas Will Fly You to the Grand Canyon (After He's Sung)". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Lamas, Lorenzo (22 April 2017). "Everybody enjoying their personal NYC helicopter tour! Come see us @HeliNY_ and book a tour with me. #nyc #helicopter #sightseeingpic.twitter.com/eaGCeREVje".
  13. ^ "Lorenzo Lamas Gets Hitched For The Fifth Time". E! Online. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Why Is Lorenzo Lamas Changing His Name". E! Online. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  15. ^ Maria Haas (30 June 2018). "'Falcon Crest' star Lorenzo Lamas files for divorce from fifth wife". Fox News. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  16. ^ Sarah Hearon (29 June 2018). "'Falcon Crest' Actor Lorenzo Lamas Files for Divorce From Fifth Wife, Second Wives Club's Shawna Craig". US Magazine. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Lorenzo Lamas & Kenna Nicole Scott Engaged!". KTVN Channel 2. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Universal Appeal Ana Alicia". Hillplace.Blogspot.com. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  19. ^ Meredy. "'Johnny Belinda' Actress Jane Wyman Dies". Meredy.com. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  20. ^ https://www.facebook.com/notes/gary-collins-ii/lorenzo-lamas-on-jane-wyman-3/10151923454707062/ Retrieved 2019-03-11. [user-generated source]
  21. ^ "Actress Esther Williams, mermaid in the pool, dies at 91". CNN. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2015.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lorenzo_Lamas&oldid=1217459188"