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{{short description|American actress and director}}
'''Kamala Lopez''' is a [[political activism|political activist]], [[blogger]] and published editorialist as well as a film and television actress, producer, director, writer and editor. She is known for her local advocacy for at-risk inner city LA teen girls through [http://www.globalgirlmedia.org/about-2/about-global-girl Global Girl Media]. In 2010 Kamala created The [[Equal Rights Amendment|E.R.A.]] Education Project, a national media campaign to raise awareness about the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States in partnership with the [[National Women’s Political Caucus]] (NWPC) Leadership, Development, Education and Research Fund and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.<ref>http://www.nwpc.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=7</ref> Lopez won the 2011 Woman of Courage Award from the National Women's Political Caucus for her exceptional efforts championing civil rights and equality.<ref>http://www.newsreview.com/reno/content?oid=1369507</ref><ref>http://www.inewsone.com/2011/07/26/actress-kamala-lopez-defends-womens-rights/65076</ref><ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/-Kamala-Lopez-defends-womens-rights/articleshow/9368696.cms</ref> She is also a frequent contributor to [[The Huffington Post]].
{{Infobox person
| name = Kamala Lopez
| image = 21 Leaders 2012 Honoree Kamala Lopez (cropped) 2.jpg
| caption = Lopez in 2019
| birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) -->
| birth_place =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1980–present
| spouse =
| alma_mater = [[Yale University]]
}}


'''Kamala Lopez''' is an American filmmaker, actress, writer, director, and political activist. She has had starring roles in ''[[Black Jesus (TV series)|Black Jesus]]'', ''[[Medium (TV series)|Medium]]'', ''24'', ''Alias'', ''NYPD Blue'', ''Hill Street Blues'', ''Miami Vice'', and ''21 Jump Street''. She has been a featured actress in films including ''[[Born in East L.A. (film)|Born in East L.A.]]'', ''[[Deep Cover]]'', ''[[The Burning Season (1994 film)|The Burning Season]]'', ''[[Clear and Present Danger (film)|Clear and Present Danger]]'', ''[[Lightning Jack]]'', and ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/equal-means-equal-director-kamala-lopez-1201720415/ |title='Equal Means Equal' Director Kamala Lopez On The Hard Truths Of Her Gender Equality Documentary – Springboard by Kristy Puchko, August 26, 2016|date=26 August 2016 |publisher=US News/Associated Press|access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref>
Ms. Lopez has appeared in movies including ''[[Born in East L.A.]]'', ''[[Deep Cover]]'' and ''[[The Burning Season (1994 film)|The Burning Season]]'' (co-starring the late Raúl Juliá) in addition to numerous other English and Spanish-language films. She has appeared on such television shows as ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'', ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'', ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' and ''[[Hill Street Blues]].<ref>Gonzalez, Luis Manuel (January 29, 1995). "Kamala Lopez-Dawson", ''[[La Opinión]]'' '''69''' (136): 1D.</ref> ''In 1995 Lopez formed the production company [http://heroicafilms.com/ Heroica Films] with the mission to write, direct and produce media for women, about women and utilizing women both in front and behind the camera. Kamala’s directorial debut feature film ''[[A Single Woman (film)|A Single Woman]]'', about the life of first U.S. Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, received the 2009 Exceptional Merit in Media Award from the NWPC.''


As a filmmaker, her feature film debut, ''A Single Woman'', about the life of first US Congresswoman [[Jeannette Rankin]], won the 2009 Exceptional Merit in Media Award from the [[National Women's Political Caucus]]. In 2013, her short Spanish-language film ''Ese Beso'' won the Jury Award at the Senorita Cinema Festival and the Audience Award at the Boyle Heights Latina Film Festival. In 2016, her follow-up feature, the documentary ''Equal Means Equal'', won Best U.S. Documentary (Audience Award) at [[Michael Moore]]’s TCF Festival, and was a ''[[New York Times]]'' Critics' Pick. The film was the catalyst behind a national civil rights movement pushing for the ratification of the 28th Amendment to the [[Constitution of the United States|United States Constitution]]: the [[Equal Rights Amendment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2020-01-07/lawsuit-seeks-to-ease-adoption-of-equal-rights-amendment|title=Lawsuit Seeks to Ease Adoption of Equal Rights Amendment - January 7, 2020 |publisher=US News/Associated Press|access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Gonzalez">Gonzalez, Luis Manuel (January 29, 1995). "Kamala Lopez-Dawson", ''[[La Opinión]]'' '''69''' (136): 1D.</ref>
==Political Activism==
===ERA Campaign===


==Early life==
In 2010 Kamala became the director of the E.R.A. Education Project, a national media campaign to raise awareness about the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States. She won the 2011 Woman of Courage Award from the National Women's Political Caucus.<ref>http://www.inewsone.com/2011/07/26/actress-kamala-lopez-defends-womens-rights/65076</ref><ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/-Kamala-Lopez-defends-womens-rights/articleshow/9368696.cms</ref>
Kamala Lopez attended [[Yale University]], graduating with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and theater studies. She was born in New York City on April 15, 1964. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://yalealumnimagazine.com/blog_posts/1067-7-29-11-kamala-lopez-85|title=Yale Alumni |publisher=Yale Alumni Magazine|access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref>


==Career==
===Global Girl Media===
Lopez has worked as an actor in more than thirty feature films, including ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]'' (2004), ''[[Born in East L.A. (film)|Born in East L.A.]]'' (1987), ''[[Deep Cover]]'' (1992), and ''[[The Burning Season (1994 film)|The Burning Season]]'' (1994);<ref name="Gonzalez"/> and more than seventy television shows, including ''[[21 Jump Street]]'', ''[[Lie To Me]]'', ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', and ''[[It's Garry Shandling's Show]]''.
Global Girl Media is a non-profit organization “dedicated to empowering high school age girls from under-served communities through media, leadership and journalistic training”.<ref>http://www.globalgirlmedia.org/about-2/about-global-girl</ref> In her role as Founding Director of the Global Girl Media Los Angeles Bureau, Kamala has supported GGM’s mission by organizing annual training academies, the first of which matriculated 12 LA-based high school girls that reported (in combination with 20 high school girls from Soweto, SA) on the 2010 FIFA World Cup.<ref>http://www.globalgirlmedia.org/archives/press/globalgirl-media-launches-soweto-bureau-2</ref>


In 2007 Lopez hosted ''[[Wired Science]]'' on [[Public Broadcasting Services|PBS]], a production of [[KCET Studios|KCET Los Angeles]] in association with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'', along with comedian [[Chris Hardwick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/page/klopez.html|title=Wired Science|publisher=PBS|access-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>Torres, Vicglamar (October 4, 2007). "La Ciencia al Alcance de Todos", ''Hoy Nueva York''.</ref><ref>(October, 2007). "Latina Plugs In For Wired Science" [[Latino Perspectives Magazine]] "LP Journal".</ref>
The July, 2011 GGM LA Academy is training 12 high-school-age girls, many from marginalized communities in Los Angeles, and will feature their work in an international exhibition focused on women’s and girls' rights globally in October.<ref>http://www.globalgirlmedia.org/archives/press/global-girl-media-launches-2nd-academy</ref>


Lopez directed the Spanish-language short film ''Ese Beso'' in [[Madrid, Spain]], starring [[Daniel Freire]] and Lia Chapman. She directed ''[[A Single Woman (film)|A Single Woman]]'' (2008), about the life of the first US congresswoman, [[Jeannette Rankin]].<ref name="India">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/-Kamala-Lopez-defends-womens-rights/articleshow/9368696.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722030950/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/-Kamala-Lopez-defends-womens-rights/articleshow/9368696.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |title=Kamala Lopez defends women's rights |newspaper=The Times of India |date=July 26, 2011| access-date=March 13, 2012 }}</ref> The film was adapted from the play of the same name, written by [[Jeanmarie Simpson]], a relative of Lopez.<ref>{{cite web|author=Cynthia Schwartz - Advancing Women Peace Artists|url=http://www.prlog.org/11512132-civilization-needs-peace-as-bread-needs-yeast-jeannette-rankin-back-in-the-kitchen.html|title=Civilization Needs Peace as Bread Needs Yeast-Jeannette Rankin, Back in the Kitchen|publisher=PRLog|date=May 26, 2011|access-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref>
===Blogger===
==Film, Television and Other Media==
===Acting===
===Writing===
===Directing===
====''A Single Woman''====
She directed the film ''[[A Single Woman (film)|A Single Woman]]'', which premiered in the [[United States Congress]] and has since been invited to screen at The [[Smithsonian Institution]], The [[United Nations]], The [[National Arts Club]], and [[Yale University]]. It is currently being sold on DVD.<ref>http://www.asinglewomanmovie.com</ref> The film received the Exceptional Merit in Media Award from the National Women's Political Caucus in a ceremony on July 14, 2009, at the [[National Press Club]] in Washington DC.<ref>http://www.nwpc.org/nwpc/july09.pdf</ref>


Lopez produced the new media series ''Speechless Without Writers'' with director [[George Hickenlooper]] during the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike|Writers Guild of America strike of 2007]].<ref name="Time.com">{{cite magazine|title=The Striking Writers Speak!|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1687289,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125180313/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1687289,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 25, 2007|access-date=November 24, 2007|magazine=Time|date=November 24, 2007}}</ref>
In November 2008, ''A Single Woman'' author and star [[Jeanmarie Simpson]] was interviewed on the radio show ''Insight'', hosted by Jeffrey Callison on Capitol Public Radio, [[Sacramento]], [[California]]'s [[NPR]] affiliate. During the interview, Simpson disclosed that she had retained an attorney because of issues between herself and the filmmaker of ''A Single Woman''.<ref>http://capradio.org/programs/insight/default.aspx?showid=5466</ref> In February 2010, she was quoted in the ''Reno News and Review'', saying, "Terrible movie. It’s just badly, badly conceived, badly done. The director made a mess of it. It’s really too bad because it’s a fantastic story, and it’s a wonderful, worthy subject, as you know. But it just–the film is a disaster."<ref>http://www.newsreview.com/reno/content?oid=1369507</ref>


==Political activism==
===Hosting===
In 2009 Lopez created the ERA Education Project, a national media campaign to raise awareness about the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] in the United States.<ref name="India" /> She interviewed women nationwide about how civil rights issues such as equal pay and domestic violence affect their daily lives.<ref>[http://www.more.com/news/womens-issues/focusing-public-awareness-womens-rights Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095739/http://www.more.com/news/womens-issues/focusing-public-awareness-womens-rights |date=April 2, 2015 }}, more.com; accessed April 18, 2015.</ref>


In October 2013, she launched a [[Kickstarter]] campaign for the documentary ''Equal Means Equal''.<ref>Lopez, Kamala,[http://www.moviemaker.com/archives/articles/trailblazer-tuesday-crowdfunder-special-how-equal-means-equal-made-158-on-kickstarter "How They Did It: Documentary Equal Means Equal Made 158 Percent of its Goal on Kickstarter"], moviemaker.com, February 4, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2015.</ref> This project about the status of women in America also meant to revive public support for the [[Equal Rights Amendment|ERA]].<ref>[https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50304#.VQHmdcYrfdk ''Equal Means Equal'' (film)], un.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.</ref> [[Gloria Steinem]] appears in the film, along with more than 100 interviewees.
In 2009 Kamala Lopez hosted [[WIRED Science|Wired Science]] on [[Public Broadcasting Services|PBS]].<ref>http://www.tv.com/wired-science/show/67794/viewer.html?flag=1&i=7&gri=67794&grti=101</ref><ref>http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/page/klopez.html</ref>


Lopez blogs for ''[[The Huffington Post]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kamala-lopez|title=Kamala Lopez |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|access-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref>
==Personal life==


==Awards and recognition==
Lopez-Dawson is of [[Tamil people|Tamil]] origin on her mother's side and [[Venezuelan people|Venezuelan]] on her father's side. She grew up in [[Venezuela]].{{citation needed|date=June 2011}}
*2019 - YaleWomen Impact Award for Excellence<ref>{{Cite web|title=YaleWomen Award 2019|url=https://www.yalewomen.org/ywaward2019|website=YaleWomen|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
*2016 - Champion of Justice - National Civil Rights Group [[Equal Rights Advocates]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latinocaucus.legislature.ca.gov/latino-spirit-awards |title=Latino Spirit Awards &#124; California Latino Legislative Caucus |publisher=Latinocaucus.legislature.ca.gov |access-date=2017-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equalrights.org/kamala-lopez-2016-champion-justice/|title=Kamala Lopez, 2016 Champion of Justice|website=Equal Rights Advocate|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044334/https://www.equalrights.org/kamala-lopez-2016-champion-justice/|archive-date=January 22, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2016 - Best U.S Documentary Audience Award - [[Traverse City Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/tcff-xii-award-winners/|title=TCFF XII|website=TCFF XII|date=31 July 2016 |access-date=March 9, 2017}}</ref>
* 2016 - Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Advocacy and Entertainment - [[California|State of California]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vidaenelvalle.com/news/state/california/sacramento/article75366802.html|title=2016 Latino Spirit Awards: Kamala Lopez|website=Vida En El Valle|access-date=March 9, 2017}}</ref>
* 2015 - Woman of the Year Award - [[Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors]] and the [[Women's Refugee Commission|Women's Commission]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://laccw.lacounty.gov/Events/AnnualEvents/WomenoftheYear.aspx |title=Commission for Women > Events > Annual Events > Women of the Year |access-date=March 16, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308080830/http://laccw.lacounty.gov/Events/AnnualEvents/WomenoftheYear.aspx |archive-date=March 8, 2015 }}</ref>
* 2013 - Jury Award - Senorita Cinema Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalcompact.ca/genderequality2017/kamala-lopez/|title=Kamala Lopez-Global Compact Network Canada|website=Global Compact|access-date=March 9, 2017}}</ref>
* 2013 - Audience Award - Boyle Heights Latina Film Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bhlife.org/winners.htm|title=Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Extravaganza|publisher=BHLIFE|access-date=March 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030230359/http://www.bhlife.org/winners.htm|archive-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref>
* 2012 - Named one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by [[Women's eNews]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.womensenews.org/story/21-leaders-the-21st-century/111229/womens-enews-announces-21-leaders-the-21st-century-2012?page=0%2C0|title=Women's eNews Announces 21 Leaders for the 21st Century 2012|date=January 1, 2012|publisher=Women's eNews|author=WeNews Staff|access-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref>
* 2011 - [[Woman of Courage Award]] from the [[National Women's Political Caucus]]<ref name="India" />
* 2009 - Retrospective for Work as an Actor and Director - [[Museum of Latin American Art]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.molaa.com/index.aspx|title=Museum of Latin American Art homepage|publisher=MOLAA|access-date=March 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315114848/http://www.molaa.com/index.aspx|archive-date=March 15, 2012}}</ref>
* 2009 - Exceptional Merit Media Award for A "Single Woman" - [[National Women's Political Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwpc.org/civicrm/event/info?id=10&reset=1|title=2011 Exceptional Merit in Media Awards (EMMAs) &#124; National Women's Political Caucus|date=November 6, 2011|publisher=Nwpc.org|author=Staff|access-date=March 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214020615/http://www.nwpc.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=10|archive-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Born in East L.A. (film)|Born in East L.A.]]''
| Dolores
|
|-
| 1989
| ''Night Children''
|
|
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]''
| Additional Voices
| Voice
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Dollman (film)|Dollman]]''
| Debi Alejandro
| Video
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1992
| ''[[Deep Cover]]''
| Belinda Chacon
|
|-
| ''Exiled in America''
| Amy / Marla Soto
|
|-
| ''Small Kill''
| Jenny
|
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1994
| ''[[Erotique]]''
| Rosie (segment "Let's Talk About Love")
|
|-
| ''[[Lightning Jack]]''
| Pilar
|
|-
| ''[[Clear and Present Danger]]''
| Venezuelan Telephonist
|
|-
| 1996
| ''Wedding Bell Blues''
| Pregnant Woman
|
|-
| 1997
| ''Tupperware Party''
| Katie
| Short film
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Where's Marlowe?]]''
| Penny
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1999
| ''[[Love and Action in Chicago]]''
| Anna
|
|-
| ''[[Black and White (1999 TV film)|Black and White]]''
| Carmela
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Burglars''
|
| Short film; director
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2003
| ''The $cheme''
| Laura
|
|-
| ''Filet of 4''
|
| Short film; director
|-
| 2004
| ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]''
| Molly Corn
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2005
| ''The Circle''
| Hilga
|
|-
| ''[[Meet Me in Miami]]''
| Marta
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2007
| ''[[Game of Life (film)|Game of Life]]''
| Nadia
|
|-
| ''Permanent Vacation''
| Iris Garcia
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2008
| ''Ese beso''
|
| Short film; director
|-
| ''[[A Single Woman (film)|A Single Woman]]''
|
| Director, producer, editor
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2009
| ''The Intervention''
| Rachel
|
|-
| ''Mark in Argentina''
| Maria
| Short film
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2012
| ''[[Any Day Now (2012 film)|Any Day Now]]''
| Agent Martinez
|
|-
| ''Got Rights?''
|
| Short film; director
|-
| ''Los Tienes?''
| Herself
| Short film; director, producer, writer
|-
| ''Dark Knight Aurora''
|
| Short film; co-director, editor, writer
|-
| 2015
| ''Slob90X''
|
| Short film; producer
|-
| 2016
| ''Equal Means Equal''
| Herself
| Director, producer, writer<ref name=EME_TFC>{{cite web|title=Equal Means Equal|url=http://www.thefilmcollaborative.org/films/equalmeansequal|website=[[The Film Collaborative]]|date=2016|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| ''6 Rounds of Chloë''
| Stella Gupta
| Associate producer
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|1986
| ''[[Miami Vice]]''
| Maria Rojas
| Episode: "Definitely Miami"
|-
| ''[[Spenser: For Hire]]''
|
| Episode: "In a Safe Place"
|-
|rowspan=3|1987
| ''[[It's Garry Shandling's Show]]''
| Maria Herrera
| Episode: "Garry Met a Girl Named Maria"
|-
| ''Police Story: The Freeway Killings''
| Lydia Chacon
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''
| Lola Martinez
| Episode: "A Pound of Flesh"
|-
|rowspan=3|1988
| ''Stones for Ibarra''
| Manuela Reyes
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[CBS Schoolbreak Special]]''
| Alicia Rojas
| Episode: "Gangs"
|-
| ''Break of Dawn''
| Linda
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2|1989
| ''Protect and Surf''
| Ramona Diaz
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]''
| Maria Gonsalves
| Episode: "The Nightmare"
|-
| 1989-1990
| ''[[Tour of Duty (TV series)|Tour of Duty]]''
| Susanna Lozada
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Equal Justice (TV series)|Equal Justice]]''
| Brenda
| Episode: "Cop's Story"
|-
| 1989-1990
| ''[[21 Jump Street]]''
| Marta
| 2 episodes
|-
|rowspan=2|1991
| ''Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance''
|
| TV movie
|-
| ''Crazy from the Heart''
| Alcira Zavala
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=3|1992
| ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
| Rosa García
| Episode: "Day of the Dead"
|-
| ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]''
| Beth Nielsen
| Episode: "The Back Story"
|-
| ''Wild Card''
|
| TV movie
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]''
| Carmen Alvarado
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
|rowspan=3|1994
| ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]''
| Mary Wells
| Episode: "The Legend of Running Bear"
|-
| ''[[Lifestories: Families in Crisis]]''
| Jeannie
| Episode: "A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story"
|-
| ''The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story''
| Ilzamar
| TV movie
|-
| 1995
| ''[[NYPD Blue]]''
| Maria Galvan
| Episode: "Vishy-Vashy-Vinny"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Vengeance Unlimited]]''
| Elena Amayo
| Episode: "Security"
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''
| Tincoo
| Episode: "[[Virtuoso (Star Trek: Voyager)|Virtuoso]]"
|-
| 1995-2000
| ''The Eddie Files''
| Aunt Rosa
| 16 episodes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]''
| Princess Fatima 'Fannie' al-Amatula
| Episode: "The Princess and the Petty Officer"
|-
| 2000-2001
| ''[[Resurrection Blvd.]]''
| Sulinda Serrano
| 5 episodes
|-
| 2001
| ''Ice ''
|
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
| ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''
| Dr. Lemon
| Episode: "Rendezvous"
|-
| ''[[The Division]]''
| Connie
| Episode: "Secrets, Lies and Weddings"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[The Handler (TV series)|The Handler]]''
| Carlita
| Episode: "Hardcore"
|-
|rowspan=2|2004
| ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]''
| Theresa Ortega
| Episode: "Day 3: 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m."
|-
| ''[[Judging Amy]]''
| Ms. Nunez
| Episode: "Accountability"
|-
| 2005-2007
| ''[[Medium (TV series)|Medium]]''
| Walter Paxton's Attorney / Paxton's Attorney / Miss Romney
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2006
| ''Sideliners''
|
| TV movie; director
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Lie to Me]]''
| Inez
| Episode: "Control Factor"
|-
| 2013
| ''[[The Mentalist]]''
| Woman in Chapel
| Episode: "Red John"
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Perception (American TV series)|Perception]]''
| Kenny's Foster Mom
| Episode: "Brotherhood"
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Black Jesus (TV series)|Black Jesus]]''
| Judge
| Episode: "The Compton Carter"
|}

==See also==
* [[List of female film and television directors]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0520234|Kamala Lopez}}
* {{IMDb name|0520234}}

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kamala-lopez Kamala Lopez] at the [[Huffington Post]]
{{authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Lopez-Dawson, Kamala
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Kamala}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Kamala}}
[[Category:American television actors]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]


[[nl:Kamala Lopez]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American women film directors]]
[[Category:American women film producers]]
[[Category:American women screenwriters]]
[[Category:American women columnists]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York City]]
[[Category:HuffPost writers and columnists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Latest revision as of 20:41, 30 November 2024

Kamala Lopez
Lopez in 2019
Alma materYale University
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present

Kamala Lopez is an American filmmaker, actress, writer, director, and political activist. She has had starring roles in Black Jesus, Medium, 24, Alias, NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, and 21 Jump Street. She has been a featured actress in films including Born in East L.A., Deep Cover, The Burning Season, Clear and Present Danger, Lightning Jack, and I Heart Huckabees.[1]

As a filmmaker, her feature film debut, A Single Woman, about the life of first US Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, won the 2009 Exceptional Merit in Media Award from the National Women's Political Caucus. In 2013, her short Spanish-language film Ese Beso won the Jury Award at the Senorita Cinema Festival and the Audience Award at the Boyle Heights Latina Film Festival. In 2016, her follow-up feature, the documentary Equal Means Equal, won Best U.S. Documentary (Audience Award) at Michael Moore’s TCF Festival, and was a New York Times Critics' Pick. The film was the catalyst behind a national civil rights movement pushing for the ratification of the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: the Equal Rights Amendment.[2][3]

Early life

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Kamala Lopez attended Yale University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and theater studies. She was born in New York City on April 15, 1964. [4]

Career

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Lopez has worked as an actor in more than thirty feature films, including I Heart Huckabees (2004), Born in East L.A. (1987), Deep Cover (1992), and The Burning Season (1994);[3] and more than seventy television shows, including 21 Jump Street, Lie To Me, Alias, Star Trek: Voyager, NYPD Blue, and It's Garry Shandling's Show.

In 2007 Lopez hosted Wired Science on PBS, a production of KCET Los Angeles in association with Wired, along with comedian Chris Hardwick.[5][6][7]

Lopez directed the Spanish-language short film Ese Beso in Madrid, Spain, starring Daniel Freire and Lia Chapman. She directed A Single Woman (2008), about the life of the first US congresswoman, Jeannette Rankin.[8] The film was adapted from the play of the same name, written by Jeanmarie Simpson, a relative of Lopez.[9]

Lopez produced the new media series Speechless Without Writers with director George Hickenlooper during the Writers Guild of America strike of 2007.[10]

Political activism

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In 2009 Lopez created the ERA Education Project, a national media campaign to raise awareness about the Equal Rights Amendment in the United States.[8] She interviewed women nationwide about how civil rights issues such as equal pay and domestic violence affect their daily lives.[11]

In October 2013, she launched a Kickstarter campaign for the documentary Equal Means Equal.[12] This project about the status of women in America also meant to revive public support for the ERA.[13] Gloria Steinem appears in the film, along with more than 100 interviewees.

Lopez blogs for The Huffington Post.[14]

Awards and recognition

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Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Born in East L.A. Dolores
1989 Night Children
1990 Total Recall Additional Voices Voice
1991 Dollman Debi Alejandro Video
1992 Deep Cover Belinda Chacon
Exiled in America Amy / Marla Soto
Small Kill Jenny
1994 Erotique Rosie (segment "Let's Talk About Love")
Lightning Jack Pilar
Clear and Present Danger Venezuelan Telephonist
1996 Wedding Bell Blues Pregnant Woman
1997 Tupperware Party Katie Short film
1998 Where's Marlowe? Penny
1999 Love and Action in Chicago Anna
Black and White Carmela
2000 Burglars Short film; director
2003 The $cheme Laura
Filet of 4 Short film; director
2004 I Heart Huckabees Molly Corn
2005 The Circle Hilga
Meet Me in Miami Marta
2007 Game of Life Nadia
Permanent Vacation Iris Garcia
2008 Ese beso Short film; director
A Single Woman Director, producer, editor
2009 The Intervention Rachel
Mark in Argentina Maria Short film
2012 Any Day Now Agent Martinez
Got Rights? Short film; director
Los Tienes? Herself Short film; director, producer, writer
Dark Knight Aurora Short film; co-director, editor, writer
2015 Slob90X Short film; producer
2016 Equal Means Equal Herself Director, producer, writer[26]
2020 6 Rounds of Chloë Stella Gupta Associate producer

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Miami Vice Maria Rojas Episode: "Definitely Miami"
Spenser: For Hire Episode: "In a Safe Place"
1987 It's Garry Shandling's Show Maria Herrera Episode: "Garry Met a Girl Named Maria"
Police Story: The Freeway Killings Lydia Chacon TV movie
Hill Street Blues Lola Martinez Episode: "A Pound of Flesh"
1988 Stones for Ibarra Manuela Reyes TV movie
CBS Schoolbreak Special Alicia Rojas Episode: "Gangs"
Break of Dawn Linda TV movie
1989 Protect and Surf Ramona Diaz TV movie
Hunter Maria Gonsalves Episode: "The Nightmare"
1989-1990 Tour of Duty Susanna Lozada 3 episodes
1990 Equal Justice Brenda Episode: "Cop's Story"
1989-1990 21 Jump Street Marta 2 episodes
1991 Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance TV movie
Crazy from the Heart Alcira Zavala TV movie
1992 Murder, She Wrote Rosa García Episode: "Day of the Dead"
Beverly Hills, 90210 Beth Nielsen Episode: "The Back Story"
Wild Card TV movie
1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Carmen Alvarado Episode: "Pilot"
1994 Walker, Texas Ranger Mary Wells Episode: "The Legend of Running Bear"
Lifestories: Families in Crisis Jeannie Episode: "A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story"
The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story Ilzamar TV movie
1995 NYPD Blue Maria Galvan Episode: "Vishy-Vashy-Vinny"
1998 Vengeance Unlimited Elena Amayo Episode: "Security"
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Tincoo Episode: "Virtuoso"
1995-2000 The Eddie Files Aunt Rosa 16 episodes
2000 JAG Princess Fatima 'Fannie' al-Amatula Episode: "The Princess and the Petty Officer"
2000-2001 Resurrection Blvd. Sulinda Serrano 5 episodes
2001 Ice TV movie
2002 Alias Dr. Lemon Episode: "Rendezvous"
The Division Connie Episode: "Secrets, Lies and Weddings"
2003 The Handler Carlita Episode: "Hardcore"
2004 24 Theresa Ortega Episode: "Day 3: 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m."
Judging Amy Ms. Nunez Episode: "Accountability"
2005-2007 Medium Walter Paxton's Attorney / Paxton's Attorney / Miss Romney 3 episodes
2006 Sideliners TV movie; director
2009 Lie to Me Inez Episode: "Control Factor"
2013 The Mentalist Woman in Chapel Episode: "Red John"
2014 Perception Kenny's Foster Mom Episode: "Brotherhood"
2019 Black Jesus Judge Episode: "The Compton Carter"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'Equal Means Equal' Director Kamala Lopez On The Hard Truths Of Her Gender Equality Documentary – Springboard by Kristy Puchko, August 26, 2016". US News/Associated Press. 26 August 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Lawsuit Seeks to Ease Adoption of Equal Rights Amendment - January 7, 2020". US News/Associated Press. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Gonzalez, Luis Manuel (January 29, 1995). "Kamala Lopez-Dawson", La Opinión 69 (136): 1D.
  4. ^ "Yale Alumni". Yale Alumni Magazine. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Wired Science". PBS. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  6. ^ Torres, Vicglamar (October 4, 2007). "La Ciencia al Alcance de Todos", Hoy Nueva York.
  7. ^ (October, 2007). "Latina Plugs In For Wired Science" Latino Perspectives Magazine "LP Journal".
  8. ^ a b c "Kamala Lopez defends women's rights". The Times of India. July 26, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  9. ^ Cynthia Schwartz - Advancing Women Peace Artists (May 26, 2011). "Civilization Needs Peace as Bread Needs Yeast-Jeannette Rankin, Back in the Kitchen". PRLog. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "The Striking Writers Speak!". Time. November 24, 2007. Archived from the original on November 25, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  11. ^ Profile Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, more.com; accessed April 18, 2015.
  12. ^ Lopez, Kamala,"How They Did It: Documentary Equal Means Equal Made 158 Percent of its Goal on Kickstarter", moviemaker.com, February 4, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  13. ^ Equal Means Equal (film), un.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "Kamala Lopez". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  15. ^ "YaleWomen Award 2019". YaleWomen. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  16. ^ "Latino Spirit Awards | California Latino Legislative Caucus". Latinocaucus.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  17. ^ "Kamala Lopez, 2016 Champion of Justice". Equal Rights Advocate. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  18. ^ "TCFF XII". TCFF XII. 31 July 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  19. ^ "2016 Latino Spirit Awards: Kamala Lopez". Vida En El Valle. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "Commission for Women > Events > Annual Events > Women of the Year". Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  21. ^ "Kamala Lopez-Global Compact Network Canada". Global Compact. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  22. ^ "Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Extravaganza". BHLIFE. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  23. ^ WeNews Staff (January 1, 2012). "Women's eNews Announces 21 Leaders for the 21st Century 2012". Women's eNews. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  24. ^ "Museum of Latin American Art homepage". MOLAA. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  25. ^ Staff (November 6, 2011). "2011 Exceptional Merit in Media Awards (EMMAs) | National Women's Political Caucus". Nwpc.org. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  26. ^ "Equal Means Equal". The Film Collaborative. 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
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