What is frank valdez?

Frank Valdez was an American actor, director, and playwright. He was born on June 2, 1937, in Kingsville, Texas, and grew up in a Mexican-American family. Valdez started his career as a student at the University of Texas, Austin, where he studied theatre and played in several productions.

Valdez's most famous work is his play "Zoot Suit," which premiered in 1978 and became a cultural phenomenon. The play tells the story of the 1942 Sleepy Lagoon murder trial in Los Angeles and the Zoot Suit Riots that followed. Valdez also directed the film adaptation of "Zoot Suit" in 1981.

Valdez was an advocate for Latino representation in the arts and founded the Teatro Campesino in 1965, which showcased plays that addressed social issues affecting the Latino community. He died on June 6, 1996, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 59.