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About
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.
Theatrical
Jul 24, 1987
Box Office
$54.2M
Budget
$6.5M
Return
8.3x
Theaters
8
Director
Producers
Music
Studio
New Visions Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Quotes
See all →Talent and Fate: The Ritchie Valens Story
Taglines
Talent made him a star, fate made him a legend. The true story of Ritchie Valens.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
From Poverty to Stardom: The American Dream
Taglines
Born to poverty. Destined for stardom. He lived the American Dream.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Cast
Full credits →L
Lou Diamond Phillips
Ritchie Valens
D
Danielle von Zerneck
Donna Ludwig
E
Elizabeth Peña
Rosie Morales
R
Rosanna DeSoto
Connie Valenzuela
E
Esai Morales
Bob Morales
J
Joe Pantoliano
Bob Keane
M
Marshall Crenshaw
Buddy Holly
B
Brian Setzer
Eddie Cochran
D
Daniel Valdez
Lelo
E
Eddie Frias
Chino
M
Mike Moroff
Mexican Ed
G
Geoffrey Rivas
Rudy
S
Sam Anderson
Mr. Ludwig
M
Maggie Gwinn
Mrs. Ludwig
J
Jeffrey Alan Chandler
Alan Freed
S
Stephen Lee
Big Bopper
J
John Quade
Bartender
D
Diane Rodriguez
Ernestine
E
Ernesto Hernández
Garbage Man
N
Noble Willingham
Howard
