Born into poverty. Destined for stardom. He lived the American dream.
7.263
108 min
Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob, and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly.
| Name | Character | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Lou Diamond Phillips | Ritchie Valens | Unowned |
![]() |
Danielle von Zerneck | Donna Ludwig | Unowned |
![]() |
Elizabeth Peña | Rosie Morales | Unowned |
![]() |
Rosanna DeSoto | Connie Valenzuela | Unowned |
![]() |
Esai Morales | Bob Morales | Unowned |
![]() |
Joe Pantoliano | Bob Keane | Unowned |
| Marshall Crenshaw | Buddy Holly | Unowned | |
![]() |
Brian Setzer | Eddie Cochran | Unowned |
| Daniel Valdez | Lelo | Unowned | |
| Howard Huntsberry | Jackie Wilson | Unowned | |
| Felipe Cantu | Curandero | Unowned | |
| Eddie Frias | Chino | Unowned | |
![]() |
Mike Moroff | Mexican Ed | Unowned |
![]() |
Geoffrey Rivas | Rudy | Unowned |
![]() |
Sam Anderson | Mr. Ludwig | Unowned |
| Maggie Gwinn | Mrs. Ludwig | Unowned | |
| Jeffrey Alan Chandler | Alan Freed | Unowned | |
![]() |
Stephen Lee | Big Bopper | Unowned |
![]() |
John Quade | Bartender | Unowned |
| Lettie Ibarra | Vera | Unowned | |
| Diane Rodriguez | Ernestine | Unowned | |
| Katie Valdez | Connie Jr. | Unowned | |
| Gloria Balcorta | Irma | Unowned | |
| Ernesto Hernández | Garbage Man | Unowned | |
![]() |
Noble Willingham | Howard | Unowned |
| Thom Pintello | Sound Engineer | Unowned | |
| Stephen F. Schmidt | Tommy Allsup | Unowned | |
![]() |
Rosanna Locke | Sharon Sheeley | Unowned |
| Kim Sebastian | Donna's Girlfriend | Unowned | |
![]() |
Dyana Ortelli | Rosalinda | Unowned |
| Andy Griggs | Mr. House | Unowned | |
| Art K. Koustik | Trucker | Unowned | |
![]() |
Tony Genaro | Mr. Caballero | Unowned |
| Allison Robinson | Girl at Party | Unowned | |
| Hunter Payne | Baseball Announcer | Unowned | |
| Joe Miller | Student | Unowned | |
![]() |
Mary Ann Tanedo | Student | Unowned |
| Barb Jittner | Student | Unowned | |
| Brian Russell | Student | Unowned | |
| Yolanda Martinez Olivarri | Tall Blonde Girl on Motorcycle | Unowned | |
| Frank Aragon | Student | Unowned | |
![]() |
Linda Holdahl | Dancer | Unowned |
![]() |
Thomas Rosales Jr. | Man at Party | Unowned |
| Matthew Shields | Dancer | Unowned | |
| Reynaldo Silva | Student | Unowned | |
| Connie Valenzuela | Elderly Lady at Party | Unowned | |
![]() |
Rick Dees | Ted Quillin | Unowned |