You could say Lorenzo Lamas was always destined to become an actor. His parents worked in the industry, and it didn’t take long before he entered it himself.
Lamas has starred in classics such as the television series Falcon Crest and the legendary film Grease. Still to this day, the California native is working as an actor – and at 65, he looks terrific!
However, Lamas’s life has had its ups and downs, and he’s gone through some rather tough times. Here’s all you need to know about Lorenzo and the many struggles he’s overcome.
One was getting over the fact that his son had an affair with his ex-wife.
Even as a young kid, Lorenzo Lamas’s stars had aligned where acting was concerned.
Born Lorenzo Fernando Lamas on January 20, 1958, in Santa Monica, California, he was raised by his mother Arlene Dahl, an American actress of Norwegian descent, and his father Fernando Lamas, an Argentinian who worked as an actor and director.
Lorenzo Lamas – early life
Lorenzo grew up in the fashionable area of Pacific Palisades, California. At age two, his parents divorced, and eight years later, he moved to New York with his father.
Lorenzo has often drawn upon the fact that his family comes from different parts of the world. He once starred as Dracula in a Halloween production of the famous Bram Stoker novel and had no problem at all adopting a different accent.
“I grew up with a man who had a voice like Dracula and every other bigger-than-life character you could ever think of in my father,” he told the New York Times in 2007. “I take a little bit from him to do the accent. I’ve also done four movies in Bulgaria.”
While Lorenzo was transitioning from a kid into a young man, his father had a pretty wild lifestyle. According to Lorenzo, his father had “been with every woman.” Yet as a child, he adored him.
“I idolized my father, especially as a young boy. He was bigger than life. He commanded the room. He’d done everything, seen everything,” he told Fox. “It’s pretty heady stuff to grow up with.”
“He was Latin, he was very judgmental, he thought a woman’s place was in the kitchen. He just happened to marry a woman who was a top ten box office star of the ’50s, and she retired to serve him!”
First work in acting
Lorenzo’s father married actress Esther Williams in 1969, a year after their move to “The Big Apple,” and life for Lorenzo got tough at times. For example, when Esther’s children visited, Lorenzo wasn’t even allowed to sleep in the house!
“He was many things, but he was also fair, so if he wasn’t going to allow another man’s children in his house, then he couldn’t allow me in the house,” he recalled.
“So my roommate was a Rolls Royce. I had a key that let me in the backdoor where there was a guest bathroom. But I came from military school, so living in a garage in Beverly Hills was plush to me. I had shared a urinal with 30 guys for the last four years. Looking back, I know that’s not normal. I know that I would never do that to my kids. I run my three teenage daughters around like a chauffeur.”
Lorenzo Lamas attended private school and graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy in 1975. Instead of staying on the East Coast, he decided to leave for his home state of California.
Though his father could be a strict man, he always encouraged his son to follow his dreams and backed him wholeheartedly in pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor. Lorenzo enrolled at Tony Barr’s Film Actors Workshop. In 1977, he got his first minor role in television, starring in two episodes of the show Switch.
While cultivating his acting talent, Lorenzo also found that he had a tremendous interest in martial arts. He got in shape – and later on, earned black belts in both taekwondo and karate.
Lorenzo Lamas in ‘Grease’
Now, getting roles in bigger productions often takes time for most actors. Some have to try out at hundreds of auditions to get one part; others have to wait years, maybe even decades, to land their first role in a more significant Hollywood production.
For Lorenzo Lamas, however, this wasn’t the case. In 1978, he was cast as the good-looking stud “Tom Chisum” in the legendary film Grease, featuring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. He played the boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John’s character, “Sandy”. That said, he initially wasn’t chosen for the part.
Steven Ford – son of former President Gerald Ford – was considered for the role, but was reportedly too nervous to play “Tom”. The part had no dialogue, but that didn’t bother Lorenzo when he got the gig.
People probably knew that the film had potential at the time, but even so, it’s safe to say that Lamas secured himself an extraordinary place in film history with his relatively small credit in Grease.
“I’m amazed by the longevity. It keeps finding new generations of people,” he told Studio 10.
Lorenzo had dark hair at the time, but the producers thought he looked too much like a “T-Bird” to star as Sandy’s boyfriend. As a result, they dyed his hair lighter – something that he didn’t mind at all.
“I would have dyed it green, fuchsia, anything,” he told People.
At the time, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were already stars. For Lorenzo Lamas, it was a dream come true just to meet them. What made the whole thing even better, was that Olivia Newton-Jon had been Lorenzo’s childhood crush.
Became a star on ‘Falcon Crest’
“I was 19. It was only the third thing I’ve ever done. And I was at the Paramount lot, meeting my childhood crush, Olivia Newton-John, and Mr. Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta. So I was kind of in a complete zombie state, to begin with,” Lorenzo recalled.
He explained that he had all her albums, and in high school, he and his friends even had routines dancing to her albums. When they finally met, Lorenzo was almost knocked off his heels.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he told Studio 10.
Grease was, of course, a big deal for Lorenzo and a fantastic opportunity when looking back. Naturally, though, it wasn’t quite a breakthrough since he only appeared in a few scenes.
In 1981, he got the role of Lance Cumson on Falcon Crest. The nighttime soap became a huge success, with Lamas starring alongside Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman for 228 episodes.
Wyman portrayed Lamas’ grandmother on the show – at that time, she was a massive Hollywood star. Lamas had problems with illegal substances at this point in his career, until one day on set, Wyman had enough of his behavior
Became a star on ‘Falcon Crest’
“I was 19. It was only the third thing I’ve ever done. And I was at the Paramount lot, meeting my childhood crush, Olivia Newton-John, and Mr. Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta. So I was kind of in a complete zombie state, to begin with,” Lorenzo recalled.
He explained that he had all her albums, and in high school, he and his friends even had routines dancing to her albums. When they finally met, Lorenzo was almost knocked off his heels.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he told Studio 10.
Grease was, of course, a big deal for Lorenzo and a fantastic opportunity when looking back. Naturally, though, it wasn’t quite a breakthrough since he only appeared in a few scenes.
In 1981, he got the role of Lance Cumson on Falcon Crest. The nighttime soap became a huge success, with Lamas starring alongside Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman for 228 episodes.
Wyman portrayed Lamas’ grandmother on the show – at that time, she was a massive Hollywood star. Lamas had problems with illegal substances at this point in his career, until one day on set, Wyman had enough of his behavior
Dolly Parton: A Journey from Modest Origins to a Heart Full of Generosity
In addition to writing and recording the original version of “I Will Always Love You,” Dolly Parton is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who has also made her mark in movies and literature.
Dolly Parton was up in poverty and didn’t see a toilet until she was eight years old, yet she is now a dedicated supporter of many philanthropic initiatives.
A Poverty-Shaped Childhood
Dolly Parton, who was born in Tennessee on January 19, 1946, was the fourth child out of twelve and had to deal with financial difficulties. Her mother, who was descended from Wales, delighted the family with stories and songs, while her father worked as an illiterate sharecropper. Parton’s parents made sure their kids had clothes, food, and shelter in spite of their own hardships. Thinking back on her childhood, Parton revealed:
“I never felt poor, even though we were.” We always had a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and enough to eat. Mama and Daddy identified individuals in worse condition than ourselves. I felt like everything was normal. We were poor, but you wouldn’t know it unless you remembered sleeping on shared beds, eating beans and cornbread, using newspaper as insulation, and having to go outdoors to use the restroom.
Acquiring Knowledge of Life’s Fundamentals
The Parton family was jammed into a tiny one-room cabin next to the Little Pigeon River, where they lived outside most of the time. Parton said that she didn’t use an indoor restroom until she was eight years old, and even then, she hesitated because she thought it would “suck them right down.” During the winter, the family manufactured their own soap and took weekly baths; however, due of her roommate arrangements in high school, she had to take daily baths.
Impact of Family on Professional Achievement
Notwithstanding the challenges, Parton gives her family, who have always been her biggest love and musical inspiration, a lot of the credit for her success. Her songs and performances reflect her love for them.
Dolly Parton, who has a $375 million net worth, is as generous as she is successful. She established the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, originally providing scholarships to her high school classmates. The organization grew over time to assist teachers and kids from different schools who needed their assistance. The Imagination Library is one noteworthy project. Originally launched in 1995 as a memorial to Parton’s father, it has expanded to provide nearly two million children in all 50 states with approximately 1.3 million books each month. In 2018, as the program commemorated its 100 millionth book distribution, Parton said she never thought it would be this successful.
Kind Deeds During Tough Times
Dolly Parton has demonstrated her willingness to assist in times of need. Following the horrific 2016 wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, she established the My People Fund, which generated over $9 million to support 900 families. After her niece’s leukemia treatment was successful, she made more contributions to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Her altruistic endeavors encompass aiding institutions such as the American Red Cross, charities fighting HIV/AIDS, and animal rights organizations. She started speaking out in favor of Covid vaccinations in 2020 and gave $1 million to help create the Moderna vaccine.
Giving from the Heart Generosity
Dolly Parton is a selfless person at heart. She admits that she enjoys giving to others and that it makes her happy to change their life. Her incredible path from humble origins to success has undoubtedly influenced her commitment to philanthropy, as it has turned her into a compassionate person.
How do you feel about Dolly Parton’s giving? Do you think her upbringing has an influence on her charitable work? Express your opinions and assist in bringing attention to this amazing woman’s philanthropic contributions.
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