Damian Chapa

Acting

Damian Chapa

Born 1963-10-29 · Dayton, Ohio, USA

Damian Robert Chapa (born October 29, 1963) is an Indigenous Latino American and Euro-Indigenous American actor, film director, and film producer. He is of Native Mexican, European-American, and Native American descent. Chapa was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA. He was briefly married to Natasha Henstridge. Among his earlier notable film roles are one of the leads in Taylor Hackford's Blood In Blood Out and the part of Ken in the film adaptation of Street Fighter. Subsequently, Chapa has directed and produced, in addition to starring in, his own films. These movies include 1998's Kill You Twice, 2000's The Lonely Life of Downey Hall, 2002's Man of Faith, 2004's Shade of Pale, 2004's El Padrino, and 2006's I.R.A.: King of Nothing. Chapa co-wrote and directed Polanski Unauthorized, a biopic of Roman Polanski, in which he played the title role. It was released on February 13, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. Chapa will begin filming the only film about Marlon Brando ever to be made, in June 2010 called Brando Unauthorized. He followed this with "Vatos Locos", starring himself. Albert Pyun was supposed to direct, but left the project following a dispute over his salary, so Chapa directed himself. The film is about the Chinese mafia in Los Angeles and how the Mexican gang boys, known as "vatos," fought back and defeated the Chinese gang-bangers. As of 2011, Chapa has yet another project in development, an indie drama titled "The Best So Far," which takes place in the late 80's, about a small-town Canadian girl who loves Judo and dreams about being one of the finalists at the '88 Olympics. The ensemble drama follows the lines of Rocky, in the sense that it's not about winning, but going the distance and getting your life back. Chapa, who wrote the drama, will play the widowed father, who does his best to make life easier for his daughter. Although the film is in its very early development stages, Chapa hopes the script will attract the interest of talented artists such as Ellen Page for the main role and Jennifer Connelly for the supporting role, this being the part of the final, toughest competition Page's character faces off during the '88 Olympics and gets defeated by. Although not winning, she gets her sense of victory be offering a brave stand against the better fighter, and both discover, in the process, they are quite simillar, despite their differences. Insiders who had a chance to read the script stated that it is one of the finest not-yet-filmed scripts they had ever seen. Acclaimed director David Cronenberg asked for New Line to bid for the script, but Chapa wouldn't sell it, because of his determination to direct the picture himself. The project is slated to be shot sometime in mid-2012, for tentative release in 2013 at the Sundance Film Festival. Description above from the Wikipedia article Damian Chapa, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

Acting credits

Bound by Honor poster
8.2

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo.

Bound by Honor

1993

Under Siege poster
6.3

A disgruntled ex-CIA operative, his assistant and their assembled group of terrorists seize a battleship with nuclear blackmail in mind. They've planned for every contingency but ignore the ship's cook, former Navy SEAL Casey Ryback—an error that could be fatal.

Under Siege

1992

Street Fighter poster
4.7

Colonel Guile and various other martial arts heroes fight against the tyranny of dictator M. Bison and his cohorts.

Street Fighter

1994

Money Talks poster
6.0

Sought by police and criminals, a small-time huckster makes a deal with a TV newsman for protection.

Money Talks

1997

Rifkin's Festival poster
6.1

The story of a married American couple who go to the San Sebastian Film Festival. They get caught up in the magic of the festival, the beauty and charm of Spain and the fantasy of movies. She has an affair with a brilliant French movie director, and he falls in love with a beautiful Spanish woman who lives there.

Rifkin's Festival

2020

El padrino: The Latin Godfather poster
7.1

In the streets of East Los Angeles, Manny is a formidable drug dealer. Impressed by his extravagant lifestyle and prowess, his young son, Kilo, yearns to follow in his footsteps. Kilo resolves to learn how to prosper in the drug world, and his new life as a dealer begins. In a world where a man wants everything, he may end up with nothing.

El padrino: The Latin Godfather

2004

Mexican American poster
7.5

A washed-up Mexican-American prize fighter is just starting to get back on his feet when his daughter is kidnapped while investigating a political splinter group in Mexico. The police and the State Department are little help, so he must take justice into his own hands and rescue her from the clutches of a bizarre racist cult.

Mexican American

2007

Bad Cop poster
2.9

A cop Angel Almaraz saves the life of a local crime boss who, in return, offers him a job as part of his security. Almaraz accepts but soon has doubts.

Bad Cop

2009

Sometimes They Come Back... for More poster
4.3

A rescue team investigates a silent Antarctic base, only to uncover a hellish force raising the dead—turning the frozen outpost into a blood-soaked battleground where the corpses don’t stay buried.

Sometimes They Come Back... for More

1998

La Rancherita poster
NR

A Tex Mex singer will do anything to save her kids' orphanage - even a drug deal.

La Rancherita

2016

Love, Hate & Security poster
NR

Giulietta Di Messina a rich sensual European aristocrat (Romina Di Lella) has an unquenchable desire to be a lounge singer against her powerful banker husband's William Windsor's (Oliver Gruber) wish. Still she rebels against him and his high society family cause she keeps control of Williams black money cash safe code. Suddenly an assassination is attempted on their lives. Miraculously Giulietta finds a gun in their car and hits two men with an onslaught of wild firing. William calls afterwards New York High level security head hunter Tony (Ralf Moeller). Tony sends his best man Nick Angelo (Damian Chapa). Upon Nicks arrival he finds himself in the middle of an intense dispute between the rich couple. He saves Giulietta's life many times during many street war battles and finally realizes it is William who has set up to kill his wife, so he may run off with his gay lover with the family fortune. Nick falls in love with Giulietta and risks his life to save her from her demise.

Love, Hate & Security

2014

Mexican Gangster poster
5.7

Johnny Sun is a Mexican American with a white mother and Mexican dad. He witnesses his parents murder and gets his revenge years later, leading to a hard life as a gangster in drugs and smuggling. He tries to keep his borther from the life and finds himself fending for his own life.

Mexican Gangster

2008

Exposé poster
3.9

Jason Davis is a reporter who gets an anonymous tip that turns him into an eyewitness to a judge's murder.

Exposé

1998

Vatos Locos poster
4.0

Two Chicano brothers, Estaban and Raul grow up hard on the streets of Los Angeles. Their papa gets executed for a drug deal gone bad when only seven years old. Half Irish, half Mexican gangster named Mickey Solis takes the two boys in and brings them up as lieutenants in his family business.

Vatos Locos

2011

Vampiro poster
3.9

Half-human and half-vampire Casanova Vladimires, played by Damian Chapa, protects humans and fights vampires in East LA.

Vampiro

2009

Night Bird poster
NR

As a child, Frank witnesses the brutal and devastating murder of his parents and years later grows up to lead a disturbing double life between night and day.

Night Bird

U.S. Seals II: The Ultimate Force poster
5.5

At a secret Russian nuclear missile base, an ex-U.S. SEAL member is planning to launch a missile strike on the United States, and the only way to stop him is with the best of the best. Because of a natural gas refinery leak, the newly formed team must infiltrate without conventional weapons and use a mixture of martial arts skills, swords, crossbows and unconventional arms in their top secret attack.

U.S. Seals II: The Ultimate Force

2001

Betrayal poster
4.2

When one of her hits goes wrong, a professional assassin ends up with a suitcase full of a million dollars belonging to a mob boss.

Betrayal

2003

Dead Connection poster
4.6

After a series of murders in motel rooms are connected, police detective Matt Dickson heads out on the trail to find a serial killer. He discovers that he signs the motel guest-books with the names of boxers, and gets a lead on him. However, just when he fails to catch up and arrest him, the chase becomes personal.

Dead Connection

1994

Dead Connection poster
4.6

After a series of murders in motel rooms are connected, police detective Matt Dickson heads out on the trail to find a serial killer. He discovers that he signs the motel guest-books with the names of boxers, and gets a lead on him. However, just when he fails to catch up and arrest him, the chase becomes personal.

Dead Connection

1994

Polanski Unauthorised poster
2.2

An unauthorized chronicle of the life of Roman Polanski.

Polanski Unauthorised

2009

Vatos Locos 2 poster
1.2

Chicano gangster Micky Solis finds that his family has been slaughtered by the Chinese mob. His whole life force turns to finding the killers. A slick lawyer (Angus MacFadyen) leads Micky to a "nun" (Paz De La Huerta) who shows him who the killers are that took his family from him. Micky unleashes a war of bullets and emotions on the family until each one dies by the same sword they wielded. The only thought on Micky's mind is REVENGE: VENGANZA.

Vatos Locos 2

2016

Chicano Blood poster
2.0

A former gang member is pulled back into his former violent world after a Russian gang vying for control of the local drug trade kills his wife. Taking a solemn pledge to seek vengeance for his wife's murder, he plunges deeply into the arena of kidnapping and murder. Written by Larry B.

Chicano Blood

2008

Killer Priest poster
NR

A hit man is hired by a mystery man to assassinate a man in Italy, only to find out during the hit that his victim will be a priest.

Killer Priest

2011

Behind the camera

El padrino: The Latin Godfather poster
7.1

In the streets of East Los Angeles, Manny is a formidable drug dealer. Impressed by his extravagant lifestyle and prowess, his young son, Kilo, yearns to follow in his footsteps. Kilo resolves to learn how to prosper in the drug world, and his new life as a dealer begins. In a world where a man wants everything, he may end up with nothing.

El padrino: The Latin Godfather

2004

El padrino: The Latin Godfather poster
7.1

In the streets of East Los Angeles, Manny is a formidable drug dealer. Impressed by his extravagant lifestyle and prowess, his young son, Kilo, yearns to follow in his footsteps. Kilo resolves to learn how to prosper in the drug world, and his new life as a dealer begins. In a world where a man wants everything, he may end up with nothing.

El padrino: The Latin Godfather

2004

Mexican American poster
7.5

A washed-up Mexican-American prize fighter is just starting to get back on his feet when his daughter is kidnapped while investigating a political splinter group in Mexico. The police and the State Department are little help, so he must take justice into his own hands and rescue her from the clutches of a bizarre racist cult.

Mexican American

2007

Mexican American poster
7.5

A washed-up Mexican-American prize fighter is just starting to get back on his feet when his daughter is kidnapped while investigating a political splinter group in Mexico. The police and the State Department are little help, so he must take justice into his own hands and rescue her from the clutches of a bizarre racist cult.

Mexican American

2007

Mexican American poster
7.5

A washed-up Mexican-American prize fighter is just starting to get back on his feet when his daughter is kidnapped while investigating a political splinter group in Mexico. The police and the State Department are little help, so he must take justice into his own hands and rescue her from the clutches of a bizarre racist cult.

Mexican American

2007

Bad Cop poster
2.9

A cop Angel Almaraz saves the life of a local crime boss who, in return, offers him a job as part of his security. Almaraz accepts but soon has doubts.

Bad Cop

2009

Bad Cop poster
2.9

A cop Angel Almaraz saves the life of a local crime boss who, in return, offers him a job as part of his security. Almaraz accepts but soon has doubts.

Bad Cop

2009

La Rancherita poster
NR

A Tex Mex singer will do anything to save her kids' orphanage - even a drug deal.

La Rancherita

2016

La Rancherita poster
NR

A Tex Mex singer will do anything to save her kids' orphanage - even a drug deal.

La Rancherita

2016

La Rancherita poster
NR

A Tex Mex singer will do anything to save her kids' orphanage - even a drug deal.

La Rancherita

2016

Love, Hate & Security poster
NR

Giulietta Di Messina a rich sensual European aristocrat (Romina Di Lella) has an unquenchable desire to be a lounge singer against her powerful banker husband's William Windsor's (Oliver Gruber) wish. Still she rebels against him and his high society family cause she keeps control of Williams black money cash safe code. Suddenly an assassination is attempted on their lives. Miraculously Giulietta finds a gun in their car and hits two men with an onslaught of wild firing. William calls afterwards New York High level security head hunter Tony (Ralf Moeller). Tony sends his best man Nick Angelo (Damian Chapa). Upon Nicks arrival he finds himself in the middle of an intense dispute between the rich couple. He saves Giulietta's life many times during many street war battles and finally realizes it is William who has set up to kill his wife, so he may run off with his gay lover with the family fortune. Nick falls in love with Giulietta and risks his life to save her from her demise.

Love, Hate & Security

2014

Mexican Gangster poster
5.7

Johnny Sun is a Mexican American with a white mother and Mexican dad. He witnesses his parents murder and gets his revenge years later, leading to a hard life as a gangster in drugs and smuggling. He tries to keep his borther from the life and finds himself fending for his own life.

Mexican Gangster

2008

Mexican Gangster poster
5.7

Johnny Sun is a Mexican American with a white mother and Mexican dad. He witnesses his parents murder and gets his revenge years later, leading to a hard life as a gangster in drugs and smuggling. He tries to keep his borther from the life and finds himself fending for his own life.

Mexican Gangster

2008

Vatos Locos poster
4.0

Two Chicano brothers, Estaban and Raul grow up hard on the streets of Los Angeles. Their papa gets executed for a drug deal gone bad when only seven years old. Half Irish, half Mexican gangster named Mickey Solis takes the two boys in and brings them up as lieutenants in his family business.

Vatos Locos

2011

Vatos Locos poster
4.0

Two Chicano brothers, Estaban and Raul grow up hard on the streets of Los Angeles. Their papa gets executed for a drug deal gone bad when only seven years old. Half Irish, half Mexican gangster named Mickey Solis takes the two boys in and brings them up as lieutenants in his family business.

Vatos Locos

2011

Vampiro poster
3.9

Half-human and half-vampire Casanova Vladimires, played by Damian Chapa, protects humans and fights vampires in East LA.

Vampiro

2009

Polanski Unauthorised poster
2.2

An unauthorized chronicle of the life of Roman Polanski.

Polanski Unauthorised

2009

Polanski Unauthorised poster
2.2

An unauthorized chronicle of the life of Roman Polanski.

Polanski Unauthorised

2009

Vatos Locos 2 poster
1.2

Chicano gangster Micky Solis finds that his family has been slaughtered by the Chinese mob. His whole life force turns to finding the killers. A slick lawyer (Angus MacFadyen) leads Micky to a "nun" (Paz De La Huerta) who shows him who the killers are that took his family from him. Micky unleashes a war of bullets and emotions on the family until each one dies by the same sword they wielded. The only thought on Micky's mind is REVENGE: VENGANZA.

Vatos Locos 2

2016

Chicano Blood poster
2.0

A former gang member is pulled back into his former violent world after a Russian gang vying for control of the local drug trade kills his wife. Taking a solemn pledge to seek vengeance for his wife's murder, he plunges deeply into the arena of kidnapping and murder. Written by Larry B.

Chicano Blood

2008

Chicano Blood poster
2.0

A former gang member is pulled back into his former violent world after a Russian gang vying for control of the local drug trade kills his wife. Taking a solemn pledge to seek vengeance for his wife's murder, he plunges deeply into the arena of kidnapping and murder. Written by Larry B.

Chicano Blood

2008

Killer Priest poster
NR

A hit man is hired by a mystery man to assassinate a man in Italy, only to find out during the hit that his victim will be a priest.

Killer Priest

2011

Killer Priest poster
NR

A hit man is hired by a mystery man to assassinate a man in Italy, only to find out during the hit that his victim will be a priest.

Killer Priest

2011

The Switch poster
NR

Tara, a middle-aged painter from Georgia suddenly loses her husband Claude (Stacy Keach). Claude’s sudden death leads Tara on a search for a new beginning. She decides to leave Georgia and her family to follow her dream of becoming a bohemian artist. Tara arrives in Venice Beach,CA. She meets a handsome younger named Stephen (Damian Chapa) who takes her on an exiciting journey through love and companionship. Tara falls in love a little too quick and a little too hard. She then discovers Stephen has been hustling her out of her small fortune. Through an exciting tale of wit and mind games, Tara with the aid of a slippery attorney (Robert Wagner) and his assistant (Rachel Hunter), make Stephen pay back his debts again and again and again…

The Switch

2006