User:MichaelQSchmidt/workspace/Del Zamora


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Del Zamora is an American actor.

Family background
Del Zamora was born in Roswell, New Mexico, the oldest of three children, and is of Latino/Native American descent Apache Mescalero/Mexican heritage. His family hails from what is now called Lincoln County in New Mexico. Both sides of his family date back in that area to the 16th century. His great, great grandmother, Nestorita Lara was painted by Henrietta Wyeth when Nestorita was 114 years old. The painting still hangs in the city museum in Roswell. Del's grandfather, Tircio Romero, helped build the roads and infrastructure of Lincoln County and served as a member of the county's first school board. Del's grandmother, Mercedes Lara, was the first girl to graduate from high school in Lincoln County and she was first in her class. His mother, Maria, the youngest daughter of Tircio and Mercedes, moved Del and his two sisters to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in order to pursue her college education. She raised her three children alone, after Del's father abandoned the family.

Education
Del Zamora attended Flora Vista Elementary school in Roswell, New Mexico. Flora Vista Elementary eventually changed its name to Nancy Lopez Elementary school. Nancy Lopez's father, Domingo "Sunday" Lopez, is Del Zamora's godfather. Del's Mother, Maria, moved the family to Albuquerque, to attend the University of New Mexico, where she received her BA degree in Sociology, summa cum laude. Del attended Whittier Elementary school, Wilson Jr. High and Highland High.

Del's Mother, then moved the family from New Mexico to Northern California, in order to pursue her Master's degree in Sociology, which she also received, summa cum laude. He attended Woodland High School, before moving to the Bay Area, to live with his father. Del attended Alameda High School in the Bay Area. In his junior year at Alameda High, Zamora's father, moved him to Los Angeles, California. He settled with his father in Hawthorne, California, where Del graduated from Leuzinger High school, on the honor roll.

While in his senior year at Leuzinger High, Del attended night school at Control Data Institute, studying Computer Technology. Zamora received his Associate in Science degree, graduating first in this class from Control Data Institute before he graduated from Leuzinger High school. For five years, Zamora worked in the computer industry, rising from computer technician, to computer support manager, to computer salesman, to computer sales manager, to Western Regional Marketing Director. All of this occurred over a five year period, during which Zamora longed to break into show business. He would play music with different bands on the weekends and plotted on how to become an actor, writer, director, producer, singer, musician and composer. He also earned a black belt in martial arts, and has completed two Los Angeles Marathons, one in 1992 and the second in 2002.

Career
After five years in the computer industry, Del Zamora eventually left that industry to pursue show business. He liquidated his stocks, sold his condo and luxury car and bought a Chevrolet Van. He drove cross country, with his dog, Chivo, to New York to study acting with Stella Adler. He studied Method Acting, and also took classes in fencing, dance, speech and singing. After 14 months of intensive study, Zamora drove back to Los Angeles and proceeded to live in his van with Chivo, while he pursued an acting career. He pursued theater, student films and non-union films. During this time, Zamora did almost half of his 78 student films. Most of these were at USC, AFI, LACC or UCLA.

It was during this time that Del Zamora first met director Alex Cox at a student film audition for Repo Man at UCLA in 1982. Del had been attending UCLA and had just been accepted to the 1983-1984 motion picture/television program as a writer/director. A year after the initial audition, Alex Cox told Del that he was being cast as Lagarto Rodriguez in Repo Man. Zamora withdrew from classes, to concentrate full time, on filming Repo Man.

After shooting his first professional picture with Alex Cox, Del Zamora continued to live in his van, for another two years. He was then cast in RoboCop (film)|Robocop]] as a working class cop for director Paul Verhoeven and producer Jon Davison while at the same time acting in Straight to Hell for director Alex Cox, in which he played a federale. Zamora flew back and forth from Almeria, Spain and Dallas, Texas several times during the shoots of these two films. He then shot Walker in Nicaragua for director Alex Cox and Born in East L.A. (film)}Born in East L.A. for director Cheech Marin in Tijuana, Mexico and East Los Angeles, California; also at the same time, flying back and forth, numerous times between Managua, Nicaragua and Tijuana, Mexico; as well as East Los Angeles, California. With the income from these films, Zamora finally moved out of his van, and into an apartment with his dog, Chivo.

Perhaps the most memorable role of Del Zamora's career (especially to Latino audiences), is his portrayal of one of the "What's Happening Boys" or "Waas Sappening Boys", in Cheech Marin's "Born in East LA", which was released in 1987, by Universal Pictures. His cultural ad libs, which were not in the script; are what hold up in the long run, which can be confirmed, by viewing the number of hits, that the Waas Sappening Boys get on youtube. The Waas Sappening Boys, get 4-5 times the hits of anyone else in the movie, including Cheech Marin. There are many inside jokes for Latino people in these scenes, that are loved by Latino audiences, no matter what age they are.

A versatile actor/director/playwright, Del Zamora, has appeared in an enormous number of films, television episodes and theatrical productions. He has won numerous awards for his accomplished writing, directing and producing. In September 2007, he starred as Mel Torres in the Alex Cox/John Davison/Roger Corman film Searchers 2.0, which premiered at the 2007 Venice Film Festival - La Biennale di Venezia.

The most recent credits for Del Zamora, include a badass Mexican brujo, known as Don Bartolo, in 3 Guest Star episodes, of SEASON 4 of "TRUE BLOOD" for HBO, airing on July 24, 31 & August 7, 2011; and starring roles in "THURSDAY'S SPEAKER" for writer/director Gary Hebert, "REPO CHICK" for executive producer David Lynch and Writer/Director Alex Cox ("REPO MAN", as well as "SEARCHERS 2.0"), also for director Alex Cox, producer Jon Davison ("ROBOCOP (film)}ROBOCOP"), and legendary executive producer Roger Corman. It is the 9th time that Del Zamora will have worked with Alex Cox, and the 2nd time that Del Zamora, will have worked with Jon Davison ROBOCOP, being the other). REPO CHICK had its World Premiere at the 2009 Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, in September, 2009. There is an on the set interview of Del Zamora on you tube. Search Repo Chick Del Zamora. "SEARCHERS 2.0" (film)|SEARCHERS 2.0]], also had its WORLD PREMIERE at the 2007 Venice Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, in 2007. There are photos of Del Zamora, as he attended the Red Carpet Premiere of "SEARCHERS 2.0" (film)|SEARCHERS 2.0]], in Venice, Italy. To see these photos, search Del Zamora Venice Film Festival on Getty Images and/or Wired Images.

There is also a channel on youtube, that has over 51 of Del Zamora's acting clips. That channel is delzamoraactor channel on youtube. This channel also displays Del Zamora's expertise as a film maker. delzamoraactor channel on youtube, has several examples of Del's behind the camera work. There is a short film, on Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, on the delzamoraactor channel on youtube. Its title is, "FRIDA KAHLO IN THE CASA AZUL". Del Zamora is the writer/director/producer/editor of this award winning short, on the famous Mexicana painter. There is also an award winning 35mm short film, that Del Zamora produced, for the Universal Television's Hispanic Film Project, titled "I'll be Home for Christmas". There is also an award winning cable pilot, that Del Zamora Co-produced, Co-wrote and Co-directed, titled, "Channel Zero Chicano Comedy at its Finest". Del Zamora, also appears in several of the sketches, on "Channel Zero Chicano Comedy at its Finest". The link to this channel's clips, can be accessed through Del Zamora's Facebook Page - Screen Grabs Album, in the photos file. Here is the link: Share this album with anyone by sending them this public link: []

Film
Thursday's Speaker - Starring Role - Dir. Gary Hebert Repo Chick - Starring Role - Dir. Alex Cox Searchers 2.0 - Starring Role - Dir. Alex Cox The Winner - Featured Role - Dir. Alex Cox Back to Hell - Starring Role - Dir. Alex Cox El Patrullero - Composed additional score - Dir. Alex Cox Walker - Featured Role - Dir. Alex Cox Straight to Hell - Co-star Role - Dir. Alex Cox Sid & Nancy - Featured Role - Dir. Alex Cox Repo Man - Co-star Role - Dir. Alex Cox Tortilla Heaven - Co-star Role - Dir. Judy Hecht Dumontet Expired - Featured Role - Dir. Cecilia Minuuichi Normality - Co-star Role - Dir. Cecilia Minnuichi The Outfitters - Starring Role - Dir. Reverge Anselmo Never Trust A Serial Killer - Starring Role - Juan Garza El Luchador Chicano - Starring Role - Juan Garza Town & Country - Featured Role - Dir. Peter Chelsom Man's Best Friend - Featured Role - Dir. John Lafia The Blue Iguana - Featured Role - Dir. John Lafia The Substance of Things Hoped For - Co-star Role - Dir. Greg Morgan The Perfect Bride - Featured Role - Dir. Terence O'Hara Undercover - Co-star Role - Dir. Terence O'Hara Blackwater Valley Exorcism - Co-star Role - Dir. Ethan Wiley Floundering - Co-star Role - Dir. Peter McCarthy Space Rage - Featured Role - Dir. Peter McCarthy Dishdogz - Co-star Role - Dir. Mikey Hilb Face Off - Featured Role - Dir. John Woo Heat Street - Starring Role - Dir. Joseph Merhi Fresh Kill - Featured Role - Dir. Joseph Merhi Virginia - Co-star Role - Dir. Gilbert Le The Search for A Homeless Man - Co-star Role - Dir. Steve Thraxler The King of the Korner - Co-star Role - Dir. James Mathers Born in East LA - Co-star Role - Dir. Richard Cheech Marin Robocop - Co-star Role - Dir. Paul Verhoeven Stephen King's Night of the Crow - Starring Role - Dir. Damian Harris Wacky Adventures - Co-star Role - Dir. Paul Leder Ladykillers - Co-star Role - Dir. Robert Lewis The Fabulous Baker Boys - Featured Role - Dir. Steve Kloves Ghettoblaster - Starring Role - Dir. Alan Stewart The Pow Wow Highway - Featured Role - Dir. Jonathan Wacks And The Earth Did Not Swallow Him - Featured Role - Dir. Severo Perez The Riverbottom - Starring Role - Dir. Robert Diaz Leroy White Men Can't Jump - Featured Role - Dir. Ron Shelton Durango Kids - Featured Role - Dir. Ashton Root Roadside Prophets - Featured Role - Dir. Abbe Wool Tequila Sunrise - Featured Role - Dir. Robert Towne Worth Winning - Featured Role - Dir. Will Mackenzie Kicks - Featured Role - Dir. William Wiard Rapid Fire - Co-star Role - Dir. David Prior My Sweet Killer - Co-star Role - Dir. Justin Dossetti P.I. Private Investigations - Co-star Role - Dir. Nigel Dick American Justice - Co-star Role - Dir. Garry Grillo Pennant Sword - Starring Role - Dir. Duane Clark North by El Norte - Featured Role - Dir. Mark Christensen

Link for video clips of some of the above credits: Share this album with anyone by sending them this public link: []

Television

 * General Hospital (1 episode, 1980) as Cassadine Worker
 * Benson (1 episode, 1982) as Central American Rebel
 * ''It Takes Two (1 episode, 1982) as Hospital Intern
 * Lottery! (1 episode, 1984) as Fast Food Cook
 * Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats" (1984) as Tree Cutter (voice)
 * Maximum Security (2 episodes, 1984) as Prisoner
 * Airwolf (1 episode, 1985) as Luis
 * Kicks (1985) as Paramedic
 * Hill Street Blues (2 episodes, 1985) as Manny Rodriguez
 * New Love, American Style (1 episode, 1986) as Restaurant Patron
 * The Judge (1 episode, 1986) as Husband
 * Double Agent (1987) as Willie
 * Ladykillers (1988) (TV) as Pelo
 * Dynasty (1 episode, 1988) as Janitor
 * Miami Vice (1 episode, 1989) as Ernesto Alvarez
 * Trial by Jury (1 episode, 1989) as Witness
 * The Perfect Bride (1991) as Parking Attendant
 * Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories (1991) as Construction Worker
 * In a Child's Name (1991) as Paramedic
 * In Living Color (2 episodes, 1992) as Straight Basher
 * Blind Side (1993) as Fork Lift Operator
 * Culture Clash (1993) as Jury Member
 * In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance (1994)
 * Midnight Run for Your Life (1994) as Hombre #2
 * Hotel Malibu (2 episodes, 1994) as Elevator Engineer
 * My So-Called Life (1 episode, 1994) as Mr. Renaldi
 * Murphy Brown (1 episode, 1995) as Delivery Man
 * Cybill (1 episode, 1995) as Dealer
 * Cop Files (1995) as Swat Team Leader
 * MADtv (1 episode, 1995) as Saloon Drunk
 * Michael Hayes US Attorney (1997) as Priest
 * Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (2 episodes, 1997) as Police Officer
 * Brooklyn South (1 episode, 1997) as Jesus
 * Head Over Heels (1 episode, 1997) as Paco
 * Reyes y Rey (2 episodes, 1998) as Satanic Motorcycle Leader
 * Nothing Sacred(1 episode, 1998) as Paramedic
 * NYPD Blue (2 episodes, 1995-1998) as Belisario, José Aguilar
 * Air America (1 episode, 1998) as Guillermo Bonilla
 * My Little Assassin (1999) as Cab Driver
 * Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey (1999) as Police Captain
 * Sam Churchill: Search for a Homeless Man (1999) as Detective
 * The X-Files (1 episode, 2002) as Mr. Barreiro
 * The Young and the Restless (18 episodes, 2002 - 2003) as Vincente Guittierez
 * NBC's 75th Anniversary Special (2002) as Rodriguez
 * A.U.S.A. (1 episode, 2003) as Defendant
 * The Bold and the Beautiful (1 episode, 2003) as Minister
 * JAG (2 episodes, 2003) as Capt. José Molina
 * American Family (2 episodes, 2004) as Roberto
 * Las Vegas (1 episode, 2006) as Coyote
 * Heist (1 episode, 2006) ass Sinister Man
 * America's Most Wanted" (1 episode, 2008) as Kidnapper
 * Medium (1 episode, 2009) as Maintenance Man
 * Party Down (1 episode, 2010) as New Age Hippie
 * True Blood (3 episodes, 2011) as Don Bartolo

Theater
Irrational Exhibits - Track 16 Gallery - El Luchador Chicano Lupe Now - Falcon Theatre Los Angeles - Lead role To Hell With You - Falcon Theatre Los Angeles - Lead role Duke's Development - USC National Playwright's Festival - Ensemble Emmitt Till - Bayfront Theater San Francisco/Theatre Theater Los Angeles - Ensemble The Last Angry Brown Hat - Smithsonian Institute Washington D.C./Yale University Connecticut/Notre Dame University Indiana/Northwestern University/USC/UCLA/Paramount Theatre Denver, Colorado/Orpheum Theatre Phoenix Arizona/National Tour 1993-1999 282 shows 42 cities - Lead role Rudeboy El Luchador Chicano - LA Festival 1993 @ Leimert Park (Curated by Peter Sellars) El Luchador Chicano - Mark Taper Forum Los Angeles/San Antonio Cinefestival Theater/Cafe Cinema San Diego/The Improv Los Angeles - Lead role of El Luchador Chicano Out in Front Otra Vez - Mark Taper Forum Los Angeles - Lead role Baby Jesus - Audrey Skirball Theatre Los Angeles - Ensemble Culture Clash - LATC Los Angeles Theater Center - Ensemble Shakespeare til' You Drop - LATC Los Angeles Theater Center - Ensemble Navidad en las Americas - Disneyland - Choir Misa Azteca - Long Beach Civic Light Opera Choir Navidad en Hollywood - Hollywood Bowl - Choir LatinoLogues - Glaxa Stage Los Angeles - Ensemble Romeo & Juliet - CBS Backlot Production Los Angeles - Benvolio Heaven on Earth - Tiffany Theater/Met Theatre Los Angeles - Ensemble Power of the Powerless - Coast Playhouse Los Angeles - Lead role Shattered Secrets - Powerhouse Theater Los Angeles - Lead role The Promise - South Coast Repertory - Lead role Man of the Flesh - South Coast Repertory - Lead role Los Matadores (Bilingual Cast) Bilingual Foundation of the Arts - Lead role Pedro Paramo (Bilingual Cast) Bilingual Foundation of the Arts - Ensemble Jackie Charge - Gene Dynarski Theatre - Ensemble Dracula Tyrannus - Globe Theater Los Angeles - Ensemble Twelfth Night - Globe Theater Los Angeles - Antonio The Barry Ivy Show - Friends & Artists Theater Los Angeles - Guest Cafe Caliente - Roxy Theater Los Angeles - Host Crying - New York One Act Theatre - Ensemble A Kingdom by the Sea - Alice's 4th Floor Theater New York - Lead role The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit - Plaza de la Raza Los Angeles - Lead role of Vamenos Leonce & Lena (Commedia del' Arte) - Stages Theatre Los Angeles - Commedia del' Arte Ensemble Banana - LAAT Los Angeles Actors Theater - Lead Musical Performer/Vocalist Latino Lunacy (Improv) - Nosotros Theatre - Improvisation Comedy Ensemble Who is She Frank? (Improv) - Groundlings Theatre - Improvisation Comedy Ensemble Hijos - Teatro Estudio Jorge Negrete East Los Angeles - Lead What to do til' the Saviour Comes - Actor's Forum Theatre Los Angeles - Ensemble Indians - Theatre Exchange Los Angeles - Ensemble Shakespeare Repertory (Shakespearean Repertory Player) New England - Ensemble (3 plays) 99 Cent Massacre (Director) - Ricardo Montalban Theatre La Chunga (Director) - Court Theater Los Angeles A Ras de Suelo (Director Bilingual Production) - KPFK Radio Theatre Latino Lunacy (Director) - Nosotros Theatre A Peasant of El Salvador (Director) - Gene Dynarski Theatre

Del Zamora has also written for many daily and weekly newspapers, to include the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly, and was also a writer, as well as Co-publisher for Pocho Magazine. His most high profile articles, were in the Los Angeles Times. The first article, was related to the controversial casting of Italian American actress Laura San Giacomo, as Mexican Painter, Frida Kahlo. The name of that article is, "Frida's Story: Artistic Choice or Cultural Catastrophy?" August 10, 1992 - Los Angeles Times Calendar Section - Counter Punch. Zamora wrote that the casting of a non-Latina as Mexican icon Frida Kahlo, was fundamentally wrong and culturally unfair. The second article dealt with an Oscar boycott brought by Reverend Jesse Jackson. The name of that article is, "Where are the Latinos in Film, TV?" - May 20, 1996 - Los Angeles Times Calendar Section - Counter Punch. Zamora listed how many Latino historical icons, have been, and continue to be played, by non-Latino actors. Yet, Latino actors hardly ever play non-Latino roles. On both of these occasions, Zamora was ostracized by the industry, and did not work for a year or two, due to the backlash, from these well written, provocative articles. Del Zamora continues to post his forthright point of view, on his facebook page, and continues to work, in spite of doing so.

Music
Del Zamora recorded with Clash front man, Joe Strummer on 3 of his post Clash albums. On the "Permanent Record" soundtrack, Del Zamora played percussion on the album. On the "Walker" soundtrack, Zamora sang background vocals on one of the songs, on the soundtrack album. On Joe Strummer's solo debut album, "Earthquake Weather", Zamora sang backup vocals on a few tracks, as well as some percussion on the album.

Del Zamora recorded with The Pogues, on the "Straight to Hell" soundtrack album, singing on the song titled, "Rabinga". Del Zamora also sang along with the cast of "Straight to Hell", as well as sweetening the tracks in the studio, on "Danny Boy" & "Karl's Disco Wiener Tina Haven". All 3 of these songs are on the soundtrack album, for "Straight to Hell", which has been re-released, by director Alex Cox, as "Straight to Hell Returns!"

Del Zamora Wrote the lyrics and Co-produced a song for the cable pilot, "Channel Zero", titled "A Word to the Madre", which was also shot as a music video, with Del Zamora portraying one of his alter egos, "Rappin Cristo". Del Zamora sings, raps, and appears as Rappin Cristo. Musician/Composer Billy Ferrick wrote the music and Co-produced this funk song. A few short clips of this music video, appear in the cable pilot, "Channel Zero Chicano Comedy at its Finest", which is on the delzamoraactor channel. The complete music video, with female backup vocalists, portraying Mary Magdalene and Virgin Mary, can also be seen on delzamoraactor channel on youtube. The satirical concept of the video, is that Rappin Cristo, came back as a Rapper for La Gente, who was born in La Puente.

Del Zamora composed a 5 minute cue for the Alex Cox Mexican feature film, "El Patrullero". The cue was produced by Musician Zander Schloss, for the El Patrullero soundtrack]]. This cue, can be seen and heard on the delzamoraactor channel on youtube.

Del Zamora appeared as a singer, with Shane MacGowan and Los Lobos, at a BBC televised gig, at the famous Viper Room. This song aired, as part of a BBC talk show; with Johnny Depp, Chris Penn, Sy Richardson, Del Zamora and Shane MacGowan on the panel. This television show's title is, "A Drink With Shane MacGowan"

Del Zamora recorded track vocals for the Circle Jerks album "Wonderful" album. Del Zamora, also recorded many demos with Composer/Musician Zander Schloss.

Del Zamora was one of 28 members of El Coro de Los Angeles, an East Los Angeles choir, that performed with Jose Feliciano, Cheyenne, Ricky Martin, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and many others, at venues such as the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, Hollywood Bowl, and a special Christmas appearance, in the television program, "Navidad en Las Americas". Del Zamora is a lyric baritone, with a great voice.

Del Zamora was the subject of the song "Planxty Del Zamora" by The Low and Sweet Orchestra on their album Goodbye to All That. Members of the Low and Sweet Orchestra, including Zander Schloss and James Fearnley, had worked with Del Zamora on the Alex Cox film Straight to Hell.