Luis Valdez, acknowledged as the founder of modern Chicano theatre and film, was born to Francisco and Armida Valdez, migrant farm workers who spent their lives traveling from place to place, working in the fields, and teaching their children the importance of hard work and determination. As a result, Valdez spent his early life traveling with his family, working in the fields alongside his parents, and learning the value of resilience and perseverance.
Despite the challenges they faced, Valdez's family instilled in him a love for learning and a desire to make a difference in the world. He eventually found himself at San Jose State College, where he honed his writing skills and discovered his passion for theatre. It was during his time at college that Valdez wrote and staged his first play, "The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa," which premiered in 1964 and marked the beginning of his illustrious career as a playwright and director.
After graduating from college, Valdez joined the United Farm Workers and used his talents to further the union's causes. He staged improvisational theatre with the help of union actors, using his plays to raise awareness about the struggles faced by farmworkers and to promote social change. This work eventually led to the formation of El Teatro Campesino, a theatre company that produced most of Valdez's early plays in both the US and Europe.
Throughout his career, Valdez has been dedicated to telling the stories of the Chicano community and promoting social justice through his work. His account of racism in 1940s Los Angeles, "Zoot Suit," was released in 1982 to mixed reviews, but it marked an important milestone in his journey as a playwright and director. Valdez continued to write and direct throughout the 1980s, and his film "La Bamba," the tragic story of Chicano singer Ritchie Valens, proved to be a major commercial success in 1987. The film launched the screen careers of Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales, and it cemented Valdez's status as a leading figure in Chicano theatre and film.
Today, Valdez continues to travel extensively, sharing his stories and his message of hope and resilience with audiences around the world. Despite the challenges he has faced throughout his career, Valdez remains true to his Chicano roots and continues to use his talents to promote social change and to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Chicano community.
