Ask American Profile

Lou Diamond Phillips, Michele Lee, Neil Diamond

I loved Lou Diamond Phillips’ portrayal of Richie Valens. What is he doing now?
—Joleen A., Iowa

The role of the late rock star in 1987’s La Bamba put Phillips’ acting career on the map. That career continues this fall in the new CBS series Wolf Lake, which stars Phillips, 39, in the suspense thriller. Born and raised in Arlington, Texas, he started acting in the sixth-grade and became involved in the Dallas/Fort Worth theater and film scene. He went on to major in drama at the University of Texas at Arlington, and even today shares his love for the craft as a guest lecturer at the American Film Institute. Phillips has appeared in such movies as Young Guns, its sequel, and Courage Under Fire. “Acting gives me the opportunity to say things about love, courage, and conviction that I feel need to be said,” Phillips says. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Kelly, and their three daughters.

What is Michele Lee doing these days? I miss seeing her on television. She’s a great actress.
—Barbara L., West Virginia

Though best known for her long-running television role on Knots Landing, Michele Lee, 59, also has a strong theater background, and that’s where she’s been lately. She received a Tony nomination for her role in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and will star in the Broadway play with Valerie Harper through the end of this year. Lee got her professional start as an actress on Broadway. Born and raised in Los Angeles, the daughter of a Hollywood makeup artist, she began acting almost from the time she could speak. When legendary producer David Merrick spotted her as a teenager, he cast her in a Broadway play called Vintage 60. She broke out in the musical How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying a few years later, and her talents as a singer led to a record contract. Later, she proved that she knew what to do behind the camera as well as in front of it—she was the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in an original movie for television, the drama Color Me Perfect. A woman of many talents, she is married and lives in Los Angeles with her husband. She has one son.

I’m a Neil Diamond fan and have seen him in concert but haven’t heard anything about him for a while. Does he still tour, or has he retired?
—Jeanette D., Pennsylvania

Far from retiring, Grammy-award-winning Diamond, 60, is still going strong. He’s touring to promote his latest album, Three Chord Opera, which was released in July by Columbia Records. Diamond generally is acknowledged as one of the music industry’s greatest live performers and received the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award last year. The prolific singer and songwriter has been a fixture on the pop and rock music scene ever since he recorded his first Top 10 hit, Cherry, Cherry, in 1966, the same year the Monkees took his I’m a Believer all the way to the top of the charts. The sometime actor most recently appeared in a cameo role in the film Saving Silverman, which was released in February 2001.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article