Edward James Olmos reveals he expected to die of throat cancer when his body ‘gave up’ after harsh radiation and chemo treatments

Veteran actor Edward James Olmos revealed he expected to die from throat cancer – in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com about the devastating disease, harrowing treatment and how he is enjoying a new lease on life with a miraculous recovery.

Olmos, 77, said he wasn’t sure in 2022 if he would wake up every morning feeling like his body was giving out after being ravaged by cancer and harsh radiation and chemotherapy.

“That came to my mind many times throughout the process, because you can’t swallow, you can’t talk, you can’t eat, you can’t drink, you can’t do anything,” he said.

The Blade Runner star, who has appeared in TV hits such as Miami Vice, Battlestar Galactica and The Mayans MC, said he has undergone cancer treatment so severe it “usually kills you”.

Olmos gave an exclusive interview to DailyMail.com during the 17th annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic in Burbank, California

But the actor managed to persevere, now has a ‘new lease on life’ and is ‘very grateful’ that he can once again enjoy his five-decade acting career.

The Emmy and Golden Globe winner said his work in films and TV is now “the essence of life” for him.

Olmos gave an exclusive interview to DailyMail.com during the 17th annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic, a charity tournament in Burbank, California to benefit children with kidney disease, held in April.

Olmos said the hardest time for him came at the end of his treatment.

“Basically 16 months ago I had my last treatment on December 20, 2022, and the next two, three months were the hardest of the whole journey,” he said.

“Once they stopped all the chemo, all the radiation and all the treatments, the body gave up… And that’s when it got really hard.

‘But after that, after ninety days, a hundred days, I was in much better shape. And today I feel very strong and I do a lot of exercise.’

He said medical treatments “burned out” his throat and lymph nodes, and he had to be fed through an IV.

The Angeleno pointed to his throat and added, “This area was completely destroyed.

‘Before I started the treatments, they said to me: we have no idea what you’re going to sound like.

The Battlestar Galactica actor announced his diagnosis last year, months after his last treatment in December 2022. He is pictured at the George Lopez Golf event that year

Olmos first opened up about his health struggles on an episode of the Mando & Friends podcast in May 2023, revealing that doctors told him they weren’t clear on how the treatment would affect his ability to speak.

The actor told DailyMail.com that the near-death experience changed his outlook on life

‘It’s usually the treatment that kills you because what ends up happening is the chemotherapy weakens the body and takes out all your white blood cells.

“And what ends up happening is you don’t have an immune system. So if I had bad kidneys, bad heart, bad lungs or whatever, I wouldn’t be here right now.

“Thank God my body was fine.”

Olmos, who achieved worldwide fame as Detective Gaff opposite Harrison Ford in the sci-fi classic Blade Runner, says the near-death experience changed his outlook on life.

“It really makes you think,” he told DailyMail.com.

‘There is no other way. You definitely have a new lease on life, so you’re definitely reevaluating everything. So I’m very grateful.’

Olmos said his secret to staying healthy and recovering remains active.

“I’m almost 80, so I know I look good, but I’m old,” he said.

‘You are what you eat and you are what you do… So if you don’t do anything, you won’t be around for long.

“But when you do things, you keep your body moving and you keep stretching, you keep doing things that most people give up.

Olmos has since made a miraculous recovery and was featured at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award tribute to Nicole Kidman on April 27.

Olmos, pictured left in the 1980s, played Detective Gaff opposite Harrison Ford in the science fiction classic Blade Runner, and Admiral William Adama in Battlestar Galactica (right)

“The way you eat, the way you train, the way you sleep, the basics,” he added. ‘You really have to understand them. That is the key to your life.’

And at the heart of his recovery is his dedication to work, he said.

‘That is the essence of life. What is your target? And I’m very grateful that I continue to work and that I get to do films, television, plays and theater,” he said.

Olmos played at the charity golf tournament of his good friend, comedian George Lopez, on April 29.

The tournament raises money for 200 children with kidney disease to attend a summer Kidney Disease & Transplant Camp.

Lopez mocked his friend before teeing off in front of co-stars including Cedric The Entertainer, DL Hughley, Smokey Robinson and Tim Allen.

‘He can say whatever he wants to me. He has done a lot for a lot of people. That’s why I’m here,” Olmos said.

“And I’ve been here for seventeen years and I’ll be here until the day I’m gone.”

Lopez has raised millions for charities for children, adults and military families facing educational and health care challenges, and has also raised community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.

Visit for more information GeorgeLopezFoundation.org.