Born June 26, 1940 to Armeda and Francisco Valdez in Delano, California, Luis Valdez was the second of ten children. He started working alongside his migrant farm working parents at the 
age of 6. The Valdez family frequently moved around, following the harvests throughout the year. Luis first showed his interest in theater through puppet shows he created at ten years old. His film career can be said to have started in high school, as Valdez was an avid participant of the TV club.
Graduating from San Jose State college, Valdez immediately became a member of the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Later on, in 1965, he founded El Teatro Campesino as the resident playwright and artistic director. Through El Teatro Campesino, Valdez workshopped various plays such as Zoot Suit and created his signature styles of actos and mitos. As the Chicano movement surged, Valdez participated in protests and was actively against the Vietnam war.
Valdez’s works can be described as “raucous, lively street theater with sociopolitical and spiritual roots.” As Valdez’s plays gained traction outside of Los Angeles, Valdez expanded 
his interests to film. He directed the summer hit of 1987, La Bamba. He also is a founding member of the Latino Writers Group. He continues to lead El Teatro Campesino as a frontrunner of Chicano theater.