Edward James Olmos, an iconic actor celebrated for his performances in Battlestar Galactica, Miami Vice, and Blade Runner, appeared on the Mando and Friends podcast last week where he revealed that he spent much of 2022 battling throat cancer.
“This would be the first time publicly I’ll be coming out and saying it, but I had throat cancer,” Olmos said. “December 20 was my last radiation. The week before, I’d finished my chemo and [for] months and months I was on radiation and chemo as it attacked my throat.”
One of the most daunting parts of the journey for Olmos was learning that his voice, a vital tool of his trade, might be forever changed due to the treatments. “‘We’re shooting your vocal cords,’ [the doctors] said. ‘We’re shooting your throat. Where you eat, where you swallow, where you talk, breathe, everything goes through here.’”
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy work by attacking not just the affected tissue but the healthy tissue around it. Olmos lost a significant amount of weight during his treatment, approximately 55 pounds. The 76-year-old actor’s doctors prioritized his nutrition in a bid to maintain his strength, even suggesting feeding him through tubes when his body rebelled against swallowing. “They wanted to put tubes in and feed me nutrients because I couldn’t swallow. They had to get 2,500 calories into my body every day. That was ridiculous. That was so hard.”
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA — Season 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh, Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin, Edward James Olmos as Admiral William Adama, Jamie Bamber as Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama, James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar, Kattee Sackhoff as Lt. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, Tahmoh Penikett as Captain Karl “Helo” Agathon, Grace Park as Number Eight, Tricia Helfer as Number Six — (Photo by: Justin Stephens/Syfy/NBCU Photo Bank)
Battlestar Galactica veteran Edward James Olmos recovering from throat surgery
Today, Olmos is on the path to recovery. Daily swimming, rowing, and weight training is part part of his wellness regimen. But healing goes beyond the physical. “It was an experience that changed me, the understanding of how wonderful this life is.” This battle brought him face-to-face with mortality, and it seems he’s come out the other side with a renewed appreciation for life.
We extend our heartfelt best wishes to Olmos and his family. May his journey to recovery continue smoothly.
In the meantime, why not delve back into the world of Battlestar Galactica and enjoy Olmos’ legendary performance as William Adama on Peacock? After all, in the words of Commander Adama himself, “Sometimes we have to leave the past behind to find the future.” So say we all.
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