ACTOR

Damian Chapa

Known for

Street Fighter (1994), Bound by Honor (1993), Rifkin's Festival (2020)

17 archived facts · 3 topics · 1 source · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Damian Chapa is an actor best known for Street Fighter, Bound by Honor and Rifkin's Festival.

17 Interesting Facts About Damian Chapa

Interesting Facts (12)

1. #001

   He and Leonardo DiCaprio were competing in 1995 to make biographical films about James Dean. The James Dean Foundation, which held the rights to the project, approved Chapa over DiCaprio. However, as noted in Rod Lurie's book Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the project came to a major halt when all of its producers were killed at a streetlight in Culver City, California.

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2. #002

   He gained worldwide fame for playing Miklo Velka in the cult film Blood in Blood Out (1993), which became the highest-grossing Chicano film in history, and he built a large fan base, particularly within the Chicano community.

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3. #003

   He speaks good Spanish and can speak moderate Italian and German.

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4. #004

   His first acting job was in New York as a stand-in on Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" music video.

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5. #005

   He directed Stacy Keach and Rachel Hunter in four films, Robert Wagner and Joe Estevez in three films, and Faye Dunaway, David Carradine, Brad Dourif and Gary Busey in two films.

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6. #006

   His eldest brother, Rico, died of cancer at the age of 30. In his memory he founded a production company called Rico Films, which he later renamed Amadeus Pictures.

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7. #007

   While shooting a scene for his film Brando Unauthorized (2011), he was involved in a motorcycle accident that nearly killed him. He was injured, including a broken hand and bruising on his face. Production was temporarily postponed as a result, but eight hours later he got back on his feet and continued filming. A clip of the accident can be seen in the film's acid trip scene.

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8. #008

   He received the keys to Corpus Christi, Texas, in a grand ceremony presided over by the city's mayor.

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9. #009

   He worked for many years at the 18th Street theater in New York.

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10. #010

    Damian Chapa was once coached by the master dialectician Robert Easton.

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11. #011

    Damian Chapa won Best Director and Best Feature awards at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) for his film Brando Unauthorized (2010).

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12. #012

    Damian Chapa has been an independent filmmaker since 2000.

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Career & Awards (1)

13. #013

    Damian Chapa appeared in The Calling (2002), the last film of Bond girl Jill St. John before her retirement.

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Life & Family (4)

14. #014

    He served in the United States Navy for three years and traveled the world aboard three different ships.

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15. #015

    In his twenties he had a serious alcohol and drug addiction. One day he decided he had had enough and found the courage and strength to seek help through meetings. He has since remained successfully sober for more than 25 years.

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16. #016

    His father, Rico Chapa, owned a bar across from the first diner of Hustler Magazine publishing mogul Larry Flynt in Columbus, Ohio. They knew each other.

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17. #017

    He gave his son Presley Chapa the middle name "Scorsese" in honor of his favorite film director, Martin Scorsese.

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