You could say Lorenzo Lamas was always destined to become an actor. His parents worked in the industry, and it didn’t take long before he entered it himself.
Lamas has starred in classics such as the television series Falcon Crest and the legendary film Grease. Still to this day, the California native is working as an actor – and at 65, he looks terrific!
However, Lamas’s life has had its ups and downs, and he’s gone through some rather tough times. Here’s all you need to know about Lorenzo and the many struggles he’s overcome.
One was getting over the fact that his son had an affair with his ex-wife.
Even as a young kid, Lorenzo Lamas’s stars had aligned where acting was concerned.
Born Lorenzo Fernando Lamas on January 20, 1958, in Santa Monica, California, he was raised by his mother Arlene Dahl, an American actress of Norwegian descent, and his father Fernando Lamas, an Argentinian who worked as an actor and director.
Lorenzo Lamas – early life
Lorenzo grew up in the fashionable area of Pacific Palisades, California. At age two, his parents divorced, and eight years later, he moved to New York with his father.
Lorenzo has often drawn upon the fact that his family comes from different parts of the world. He once starred as Dracula in a Halloween production of the famous Bram Stoker novel and had no problem at all adopting a different accent.
“I grew up with a man who had a voice like Dracula and every other bigger-than-life character you could ever think of in my father,” he told the New York Times in 2007. “I take a little bit from him to do the accent. I’ve also done four movies in Bulgaria.”
While Lorenzo was transitioning from a kid into a young man, his father had a pretty wild lifestyle. According to Lorenzo, his father had “been with every woman.” Yet as a child, he adored him.
“I idolized my father, especially as a young boy. He was bigger than life. He commanded the room. He’d done everything, seen everything,” he told Fox. “It’s pretty heady stuff to grow up with.”
“He was Latin, he was very judgmental, he thought a woman’s place was in the kitchen. He just happened to marry a woman who was a top ten box office star of the ’50s, and she retired to serve him!”
First work in acting
Lorenzo’s father married actress Esther Williams in 1969, a year after their move to “The Big Apple,” and life for Lorenzo got tough at times. For example, when Esther’s children visited, Lorenzo wasn’t even allowed to sleep in the house!
“He was many things, but he was also fair, so if he wasn’t going to allow another man’s children in his house, then he couldn’t allow me in the house,” he recalled.
“So my roommate was a Rolls Royce. I had a key that let me in the backdoor where there was a guest bathroom. But I came from military school, so living in a garage in Beverly Hills was plush to me. I had shared a urinal with 30 guys for the last four years. Looking back, I know that’s not normal. I know that I would never do that to my kids. I run my three teenage daughters around like a chauffeur.”
Lorenzo Lamas attended private school and graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy in 1975. Instead of staying on the East Coast, he decided to leave for his home state of California.
Though his father could be a strict man, he always encouraged his son to follow his dreams and backed him wholeheartedly in pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor. Lorenzo enrolled at Tony Barr’s Film Actors Workshop. In 1977, he got his first minor role in television, starring in two episodes of the show Switch.
While cultivating his acting talent, Lorenzo also found that he had a tremendous interest in martial arts. He got in shape – and later on, earned black belts in both taekwondo and karate.
Lorenzo Lamas in ‘Grease’
Now, getting roles in bigger productions often takes time for most actors. Some have to try out at hundreds of auditions to get one part; others have to wait years, maybe even decades, to land their first role in a more significant Hollywood production.
For Lorenzo Lamas, however, this wasn’t the case. In 1978, he was cast as the good-looking stud “Tom Chisum” in the legendary film Grease, featuring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. He played the boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John’s character, “Sandy”. That said, he initially wasn’t chosen for the part.
Steven Ford – son of former President Gerald Ford – was considered for the role, but was reportedly too nervous to play “Tom”. The part had no dialogue, but that didn’t bother Lorenzo when he got the gig.
People probably knew that the film had potential at the time, but even so, it’s safe to say that Lamas secured himself an extraordinary place in film history with his relatively small credit in Grease.
“I’m amazed by the longevity. It keeps finding new generations of people,” he told Studio 10.
Lorenzo had dark hair at the time, but the producers thought he looked too much like a “T-Bird” to star as Sandy’s boyfriend. As a result, they dyed his hair lighter – something that he didn’t mind at all.
“I would have dyed it green, fuchsia, anything,” he told People.
At the time, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were already stars. For Lorenzo Lamas, it was a dream come true just to meet them. What made the whole thing even better, was that Olivia Newton-Jon had been Lorenzo’s childhood crush.
Became a star on ‘Falcon Crest’
“I was 19. It was only the third thing I’ve ever done. And I was at the Paramount lot, meeting my childhood crush, Olivia Newton-John, and Mr. Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta. So I was kind of in a complete zombie state, to begin with,” Lorenzo recalled.
He explained that he had all her albums, and in high school, he and his friends even had routines dancing to her albums. When they finally met, Lorenzo was almost knocked off his heels.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he told Studio 10.
Grease was, of course, a big deal for Lorenzo and a fantastic opportunity when looking back. Naturally, though, it wasn’t quite a breakthrough since he only appeared in a few scenes.
In 1981, he got the role of Lance Cumson on Falcon Crest. The nighttime soap became a huge success, with Lamas starring alongside Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman for 228 episodes.
Wyman portrayed Lamas’ grandmother on the show – at that time, she was a massive Hollywood star. Lamas had problems with illegal substances at this point in his career, until one day on set, Wyman had enough of his behavior
Became a star on ‘Falcon Crest’
“I was 19. It was only the third thing I’ve ever done. And I was at the Paramount lot, meeting my childhood crush, Olivia Newton-John, and Mr. Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta. So I was kind of in a complete zombie state, to begin with,” Lorenzo recalled.
He explained that he had all her albums, and in high school, he and his friends even had routines dancing to her albums. When they finally met, Lorenzo was almost knocked off his heels.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he told Studio 10.
Grease was, of course, a big deal for Lorenzo and a fantastic opportunity when looking back. Naturally, though, it wasn’t quite a breakthrough since he only appeared in a few scenes.
In 1981, he got the role of Lance Cumson on Falcon Crest. The nighttime soap became a huge success, with Lamas starring alongside Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman for 228 episodes.
Wyman portrayed Lamas’ grandmother on the show – at that time, she was a massive Hollywood star. Lamas had problems with illegal substances at this point in his career, until one day on set, Wyman had enough of his behavior
Hoda Kotb Forced Out of ‘Today’? The Truth Behind Her Exit
Renowned broadcaster Hoda Kotb’s recent exit from a popular talk show has caused mixed reactions. But it’s her reasons for leaving that are really sparking conversations online.
Journalist Hoda Kotb recently announced her decision to step down as co-anchor of the “Today” show, leading to widespread discussions on social media and fan forums.
Many viewers have expressed surprise at the sudden announcement, as Hoda has been a central figure on the show for years. Some fans speculate there may be behind-the-scenes drama, while others think it could be a personal decision.
TV personality Hoda Kotb, who co-anchored the “Today” show with Savannah Guthrie for over five years, recently opened up about her journey during a live broadcast. Her full statement was later shared on the “Today” show’s Instagram page.
She said, “My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life, thanks to all of you. ‘Today’ and its amazing people never change—you all handle everything with grace and courage.”
In a letter, Hoda reflected on her 26-year career at NBC, which included ten years with “Dateline,” seven years on the 7 a.m. hour, and sixteen years on the 10 a.m. hour.She revealed that she had been thinking about this decision for a while, unsure if she was ready. However, her 60th birthday helped confirm that it was the right time to move forward.
Hoda talked about her meaningful career, nearly three decades long, and stressed the importance of spending more time with her daughters and her mother.
Although she will miss everyone, Hoda expressed excitement for the future and promised to continue working until early 2025, giving her time to discuss future plans with fans.
She assured viewers that the “Today” show team would continue to thrive, regardless of any changes. Hoda also expressed her gratitude to the NBC family, saying they would always have a special place in her heart.
Born in Egypt, Hoda has faced significant personal challenges throughout her career. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the treatment made it impossible for her to have children.
After surviving cancer, her marriage to tennis coach Burzis Kanga ended in divorce a year later. At the time, Hoda had accepted that she might never become a mother.
Despite that, Hoda always dreamed of motherhood. She thought about switching careers, possibly becoming a teacher or running a summer camp.
In 2017, Hoda adopted her first daughter, Haley Joy, and announced the joyful news on the “Today” show, sharing her happiness with her colleagues.
Less than ten days after bringing Haley home, Hoda had already settled into the routine of bottle feedings, diaper changes, and laundry in her Upper West Side penthouse. She found a new kind of love she had never felt before.
In 2019, she expanded her family by adopting another baby girl, Hope Catherine. Haley happily embraced her role as a big sister.
In March 2023, Hoda’s family faced a health scare when Hope had to stay in the hospital for a week, including a few days in the ICU.
Hoda took time off work to care for Hope, and after returning, she expressed deep gratitude that her daughter was recovering. She mentioned that the recovery would take time but remained optimistic.
Hoda shares her two daughters with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, to whom she was engaged from 2019 until 2022. As a single mom, she now lives with her daughters in a suburban home, moving from her New York City apartment in March 2024.
Moving to the suburbs was a hard decision, as Hoda had lived in the same apartment since adopting her daughters. But she felt the move would give her children new experiences, like playing in a yard and riding bikes in a safer, quieter area.
Turning 60 made Hoda reflect on her life, particularly the lessons of motherhood. She shared that her daughters showed her that anything is possible and helped her realize she is “good enough,” flaws and all.
Her daughters also taught her to find humor in challenges and reminded her that she was always meant to be a mother. As she grew older, Hoda felt that her children now deserved more of her time, which played a big role in her decision to leave the “Today” show.
However, some reports suggest another reason for Hoda’s departure. Allegedly, she left her $20 million-plus per year deal after NBC offered her a pay cut.
A media executive noted that this is part of a trend in TV news, where many are facing pay cuts or job losses. Since the news broke, people online have been actively discussing Hoda’s decision.
One user commented, “She made her millions. Now it’s time to spend them.” Another said, “Hoda is worth 30 million dollars. I’d quit too.”
Others showed support, with one person writing, “Your kids will love having more of you. Enjoy your newfound freedom.”
Hoda Kotb’s journey has been filled with challenges and successes, but her love for her family has always been her priority. As she moves into a new chapter, she focuses on what matters most—her daughters and their life together.
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