Lou Diamond Phillips | Stand and Deliver

Lou Diamond Phillips joins Taboo to go deep on Stand and Deliver, from how a Miami Vice scene with Eddie Olmos led to the role, to rehearsals that bonded a largely first-time cast and built the film’s documentary-like authenticity. Lou explains immersing in East LA culture, learning Spanish for Angel Guzman, and how key moments and lines (“What’s cálculos?” “This one’s broken,” “On the first day of Ch—”) came from improv, while Jaime Escalante was on set daily as Eddie studied his mannerisms. He also shares Andy Garcia returning to read off-camera for Lou, reflects on turning down what became Gus Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy, and why La Bamba and Stand and Deliver still resonate for their cultural impact. The episode closes with Lou’s new project Gangland, a reservation-set crime thriller spotlighting major roles for emerging Indigenous actors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices