You might know Lou Diamond Phillips as Richie Valens. You might know Lou Diamond Phillips as Jose Chavez. You might know him as Staff Sergeant John Monfriez or as the Monster in the Mirror. Or may simply prefer to know him as Lou Diamond Phillips, winner of I'm a celebrity get me out of here!...
You might know Lou Diamond Phillips as Richie Valens. You might know Lou Diamond Phillips as Jose Chavez. You might know him as Staff Sergeant John Monfriez or as the Monster in the Mirror. Or may simply prefer to know him as Lou Diamond Phillips, winner of I'm a celebrity get me out of here! But to the eight other players sitting at his table Phillips is the guy with all the chips and showing no sign of giving any away.
Phillips's acting career has spanned more than two decades. An instantly recognisable face to millions, but poker, as well as acting, is in Phillip's blood, playing often at the Commerce in Los Angeles as well as appearing on the World Poker Tour and TV poker shows. While this may be his first main event, work commitments keeping him away from years previous, he has played other World Series events and while yet to cash is no celebrity pushover. Well you can have a try, but you'll need a stack larger than his 350,000 one to have any chance.
Phillips has played the waiting game knowing full well that with two hour blinds and a lot of chips. No need to gamble unnecessarily, remain calm, there's still a long way to go. Unlike some former members of this dwindling field it has been a lesson well used. Earlier in the afternoon he took a knock, one that cost him 100,000 but a patient and solid approach the game and fuelled a comeback.
Phillips is a picture of this same image. Wearing an open neck purple shirt and porkpie hat, he chews gum incessantly, occasionally sips a cup of coffee and when involved in a hand delivers his chips to the middle with a flick of the wrist, a distinguished flourish. His two other distinguishing features are a pair of reading glasses, worn to play a hand, removed when not and a unique card protector, a picture of President Obama on a silver spinning top.
Whatever his plan it's working. Sitting comfortably with 320,000 before the break Phillips has added another 30K since then. He won I'm a Celebrity... he's yet to be voted out of the World Series.
* La Bamba
** Young Guns
*** Courage Under Fire
**** Sesame Street Celebrity Special
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TWEET OF THE HOUR
"200k at dinner break day 3" -- WSOP 2009: Lou Diamond Phillips Chripin' Chips on
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