Lorenzo Lamas from ‘Falcon Crest’: Age, height, family, children, net worth

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.

Lorenzo Lamas
Getty Images

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.”

Lorenzo Lamas
Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)

“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.

Lorenzo Lamas
Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images

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.

Youtube/Josodoyo

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

My Kids Said They Wished I Never Existed, and the Next Day Their Wish Came True — Story of the Day

My kids told me they wished I didn’t exist, and those words cut deeper than anything I’d ever heard. They were angry, careless—but I decided to take their wish seriously. I vanished from their lives, leaving no trace. It was time they learned what life would be like without Mom.

I’d heard it countless times—people saying housewives had it easy. They stayed home, relaxed, and lived off their husbands’ hard work. What a joke!

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Let me tell you, my being a stay-at-home mom wasn’t just a job; it was an endless marathon with no breaks. My days were a blur of cleaning, cooking, managing tantrums, and juggling a thousand other things.

Tom, my sweet but stubborn five-year-old, was at that age where every little thing was a battle.

Eliza, on the other hand, was teetering on the edge of her pre-teen years—full of sass and mood swings.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

And my husband, Justin? He thought his paycheck excused him from everything else. It was exhausting.

That evening, as usual, we sat down for dinner together. Sharing our day had become a routine, though it often came with surprises.

I looked at Tom, who was already playing with his peas. “Tom, how was preschool today?” I asked, trying to sound cheerful.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He shrugged. “It was okay, but Miss Jackson might call you tomorrow.”

That caught my attention. “Why would she call me?” I asked, putting down my fork.

“I just wanted to pet a dog outside, but Miss Jackson said you shouldn’t touch stray dogs because they can have rab—rabai—” Tom paused, frowning.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Rabies,” Eliza said with an exaggerated eye roll.

Tom nodded. “Yeah, rabies.”

I leaned forward. “And why does that mean she might call me?”

Tom hesitated, then blurted, “Well, I didn’t like what she said, so I bit her.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I stared at him, shocked. “You bit your teacher?” My voice rose without meaning to.

Tom nodded, completely unbothered. “She said rabies spreads by bites. I wanted to show her.”

“Mom, you gave birth to a lunatic,” Eliza muttered, smirking.

“Don’t talk about your brother like that,” I said firmly. Then I turned to Justin, who was busy eating. “Justin, do you have anything to say about this?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He glanced up briefly. “You’re handling it great, honey,” he said, patting my hand.

I sighed, turning back to Tom. “Tom, we’ve talked about this. You can’t bite people. It hurts, and it’s wrong. Next time, use words to express how you feel.”

Finally, I faced Eliza. “How was your day?”

“Fine,” she said, barely looking up.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“That’s all?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m sleeping over at Nancy’s tomorrow, remember?” she added casually.

“Yes, I remember,” I said, feeling my energy drain.

The next day started badly and only got worse. When I went into Tom’s room to check if he had cleaned up like I’d asked, it looked like a tornado had hit it.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Toys, clothes, and books were everywhere. I felt my patience slipping, but there wasn’t time to deal with it.

I had to apologize to Miss Jackson for Tom biting her, which was embarrassing enough.

Then, as I finally sat down to breathe, the phone rang. Eliza’s school informed me she had skipped classes. My anger boiled over. By the time they got home, I was ready for a serious talk.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Wait, both of you, stop right there,” I said as Tom and Eliza headed to their rooms. My voice made them freeze.

“What is it now?” Eliza asked, sounding irritated.

“Let’s start with Tom,” I said, turning to him. “I saw your room. It’s a disaster. We agreed that if you didn’t keep it clean, I’d take away your games. So, your console is mine until you show me you can keep your room tidy.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tom’s eyes went wide. “What? No! That’s not fair!” he yelled, crossing his arms.

Eliza smirked. “Nice job, Tom,” she said with a mocking tone.

“I wouldn’t laugh if I were you, young lady,” I snapped. “I got a call from your school today. They told me you skipped class.”

“It was one time! Just one!” Eliza shouted, her face red with anger.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“You’re grounded for a week,” I said firmly. “No sleepover at Nancy’s.”

“You can’t do this! ‘’ve been planning that forever!” Eliza screamed, clenching her fists.

“Then you shouldn’t have skipped class,” I replied calmly.

“I hate you! I wish you didn’t exist!” she yelled before stomping off to her room and slamming the door.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah! Me too!” Tom shouted, running to his own room.

I stood there, tears welling up. My chest felt heavy, but I swallowed the lump in my throat.

When Justin got home, I recounted everything. He listened quietly, barely responding.

“Well?” I asked, desperate for some support.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Maybe you were too hard on them,” he said, shrugging. “They’re just kids.”

“Did you hear me? Did you hear what Eliza said to me?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger.

“She didn’t mean it,” he said, brushing it off.

“I’ve had enough,” I said, my voice cold. “I’ll show them what it’s like when I’m not here.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What are you talking about?” Justin asked, confused.

“You’ll see,” I said and walked away.

That night, as the house lay silent, I began my plan. Justin, always a heavy sleeper, didn’t stir once.

I moved quietly, gathering every single thing that was mine—clothes from the closet, photos from the walls, notebooks from the desk.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Even my favorite mug, the one I used every morning, went into a box. I left no sign that I had ever been there.

With everything packed, I carried it all up to the attic. The attic was dusty and cramped, but I set up a mattress in the corner, arranging a small lamp and a blanket. Justin wouldn’t think to look here; he barely remembered the attic existed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Before settling in, I set up cameras in the kitchen and living room. I needed to see how they managed without me. This was only the beginning.

The next morning, I watched them from the camera feed as they stood in the kitchen, looking lost.

“Where’s Mom?” Tom asked, his voice unsure.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t know,” Eliza said, glancing around. “But even her pictures are gone. The ones on the wall, too.”

“Her clothes aren’t in the closet,” Justin added, scratching his head.

Tom’s eyes widened. “Did our wish come true? Did Mom really disappear?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Justin said, shaking his head.

“But she’s really gone!” Eliza insisted. “Her stuff isn’t here. There’s no sign of her at all.”

Justin pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her. This is probably some kind of joke.” But I had turned my phone off. He stared at the screen for a moment before putting it back in his pocket.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Okay, let’s go,” he said, sounding annoyed. “I’ll drop you off at school. We’ll figure this out later.”

Eliza hesitated. “Can I still go to Nancy’s sleepover?”

“Yes, yes. Just get in the car,” Justin said impatiently.

“Yes!” Eliza cheered. Then she grinned. “Maybe it’s better this way. Mom was always on my case anyway.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“That means I can play video games!” Tom shouted, jumping up.

I felt my chest tighten. My heart ached as I watched them. They didn’t miss me; they seemed relieved. They were happy I was gone.

That evening, I watched from the camera as Justin and Tom sat on the couch, laughing and playing video games.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

A pizza box sat open on the coffee table, grease stains already soaking into the cardboard.

I noticed Tom eating a big slice loaded with cheese. My stomach tightened. He was lactose intolerant. Justin, distracted by the game, had clearly forgotten.

The next morning, my fears were confirmed. Tom was curled up on the couch, pale and groaning.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Justin scrambled to find medicine, muttering under his breath. He ended up staying home from work, trying to comfort Tom while also cleaning up the mess.

By the third day, chaos ruled. Dishes piled up in the sink, laundry was untouched, and the kids left for school with nothing but dry cereal in their hands.

That evening, Tom sat crying on the couch, overwhelmed. Even Eliza, who usually stayed distant, looked defeated. Her hair was a mess as she clutched her empty lunchbox.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I miss Mom,” Tom finally said, looking up at Justin. His little face was streaked with tears, and his lip trembled.

“Me too,” Eliza added, her voice quieter than usual. She looked down at her hands. “I got my period today, and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to call Mom so bad, but I couldn’t. It made me feel awful.”

Justin sighed, leaning back on the couch. “I think this is because of what you both said. You told her you didn’t want her to exist. Now she’s showing you what that feels like.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“But that’s not true!” Eliza said, her voice cracking. Tears filled her eyes. “I was just mad. I didn’t mean it. I’m so stupid for saying that.”

Tom sniffled loudly. “I want Mom to come back. I’ll clean my room every day. I won’t bite anyone ever again. I promise.”

Eliza wiped her face and nodded. “I’ll stop yelling at her. I’ll listen better. I can’t live without her. I miss her so much,” she said, sobbing.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Hearing their words broke the last bit of resolve I had. I stepped out of the shadows, standing in the doorway. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson,” I said, my voice firm but full of emotion.

They turned to me in shock before running into my arms. “Mom! You’re back!” they cried, hugging me tightly.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Really, it’s so good to see you,” Justin said, standing and walking over. “These past few days have shown me what a monumental job you do. I’ll try to make things easier for you from now on.”

“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft.

“No, thank you, for everything,” Justin replied.

“Thank you, Mom! We love you so much!” the kids said together, holding on tight.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*