Episode 27 – Getting Personal With Hollywood Hunk & TV Action Hero Lorenzo Lamas – Part 1

On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros has an attention-grabbing conversation with his good friend, actor Lorenzo Lamas - who is best known for playing the role of ‘Lance Cumson’ on the 1980s prime-time soap opera “Falcon Crest” and ‘Reno Raines’ in the 90’s syndicated hit show “Renegade.” During their fascinating chat, Lorenzo opens up about what it was like growing up with MGM film stars Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl, for parents and Olympic swimmer/actress Esther Williams as his stepmother, how he got the part of ‘Tom Chisum’ in the iconic movie musical “Grease,” his experience working with legendary director Randal Kleiser on the film, what choreographer Pat Birch had to do to get him to loosen up and show some dancing moves during the films famous dance contest scene in the gym and how tongue-tied he got the first time he met the sweet, beautiful and talented Olivia Newton-John during the filming of the movie!

PLEASE NOTE: This interview was recorded on March 13, 2023 - four months before the SAG AFTRA strike began.

LORENZO LAMAS

Son of film stars Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl, Lorenzo was born into Hollywood royalty. He is also the stepson of swimmer and film star Esther Williams, who married his father when Lamas was 11 years old. He was brought up in Pacific Palisades, CA, and moved to New York City in 1971.

With encouragement from his father, he enrolled in Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop and began his career in 1967 with a small role in a television show. As a last-minute replacement for Steven Ford, Lamas secured the role of Tom Chisum, in the 1978 musical film “Grease”. Then in 1980, he auditioned for and won the role of ‘Lance Cumson’, for the pilot of the hit prime time drama series “Falcon Crest”, which aired on CBS for nine seasons from 1981 to 1990. During that time he was nominated for a Golden Globe & two Soap Opera Digest Awards for his work on the series; he was the only actor to appear in all 227 episodes.

After “Falcon Crest” ended he began carving out a niche for himself as an action-hero, showcasing his martial-arts skills by starring in such movies as the “Snake Eater”-trilogy (1989–1992), “Bounty Tracker” (1993), “Gladiator Cop” (1995), “Terminal Justice” (1996), & many similar action-films. From 1992 to 1997, Lamas played the lead role of Reno Raines in the syndicated series “Renegade”, which allowed him to exercise his enthusiasm for Harley-Davidson motorcycles as well as martial arts. The show was seen in over 100 countries, and during its fifth & final season, it moved from first-run syndication to the USA Network. 

Lorenzo also sustained a professional racing career while working successfully as a TV & Film actor in the 80's & 90's. He is an avid motorcyclist for over thirty years and has participated in the Love Ride, to benefit MDA & various charities since its inception in 1983. He is also on the board of directors.

In 2004, he joined the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” as Hector Ramirez, until 2006.  He published his autobiography, Renegade at Heart (co-written by celebrity biographer Jeff Lenburg) in 2014.

As of 2016, he became a commercial helicopter and airplane pilot who would often fly disadvantaged children to summer camps and people too sick or financially challenged to travel normally on domestic flights. 

Lamas has been married five times and has six children. He started dating Kenna Scott in April 2020. The couple got engaged in Las Vegas in February 2021.

Official Lorenzo Lamas Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLorenzoLamas

Lorenzo Lamas Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo_lamas

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