Pedro Armendáriz
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Pedro Armendáriz, born Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings (May 9, 1912, Mexico City – June 18, 1963, Los Angeles, California) was a Mexican actor of the Cinema of Mexico and Hollywood.
He was the son of Pedro Armendáriz García-Conde (Mexican) and Adela Hastings (American). He was also the cousin of actress Gloria Marín. Pedro lived with his parents in Texas and studied in California, where he graduated with an engineering degree at the California Polytechnic State University.
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[edit] Acting career
When Pedro finished his studies, he moved to Mexico where he worked for the railroad, as a tour guide and as a journalist for the biligual magazine México Real. He was discovered by film director Miguel Zacarías when Pedro recited the monologue from Hamlet to an American tourist. He obtained his first role in a movie at the age of 22 and after that he made many films in Mexico, the United States, France, Italy and England. He received a Ariel Award in 1948 in the category of Best Actor for his role in La perla.
His last appearance was in the second James Bond film, From Russia with Love (1963) as Bond's ally, Kerim Bey. His son Pedro Armendáriz Jr. is also an actor, who was in the James Bond film Licence to Kill in 1989.
[edit] The Conqueror
In 1952 he had a role in the movie The Conqueror produced by Howard Hughes. This movie was filmed in the state of Utah during the time when the US government ran nuclear tests in the neighboring state of Nevada. 91 of the 220 people involved in the production of the film contracted cancer within 25 years, and 46 of these died as a consequence of this illness, among them:
- John Wayne (stomach and lungs)
- Susan Hayward (brain)
- Agnes Moorehead (Uterine cancer)
- John Hoyt (lungs)
- Dick Powell (lymph glands)
However, in rebuttal another fact should be mentioned. Pilar Wayne later wrote an autobiography about her years as John Wayne's wife. She said she did not believe radiation was involved in the deaths of those associated with this film. She mentioned she had visited the set many times as had others and not become sick. Ms. Wayne said she believed the real cause of her husband's death and the others was their smoking and nothing else.
Pedro Armendáriz started to suffer pain in his hips and years later it was discovered that he had cancer in these regions. Pedro learned his condition was terminal while at UCLA medical center. He reportedly acted in From Russia with Love while enduring great pain (he visibly limps in most scenes) in order to leave behind financial resources for his family after his impending death. He committed suicide soon after production of that film ended, on June 18, 1963.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Hollywood
- The Fugitive (1947) as A Lieutenant of Police
- Fort Apache (1948) as Sgt. Beaufort
- 3 Godfathers (1948) as Pedro "Pete' Roca Fuerte
- Tulsa (1949) as Jim Redbird
- We Were Strangers (1949) as Armando Ariete
- The Torch (1950) as José Juan Reyes
- Border River (1954) as General Eduardo Calleja
- The Littlest Outlaw (1955) as Gen. Torres
- The Conqueror (1956) as Jamuga
- Diane (1956) as Francis I
- The Big Boodle (1957) as Col. Mastegui
- The Wonderful Country (1959) as Cipriano Castro
- Little Savage (1959) as Capt. Tiburon
- Francis of Assisi (1961) as The Sultan
- From Russia with Love (1963) as Kerim Bey
- Captain Sindbad (1963) as El Kerim
[edit] Italian cinema
- Uomini e lupi (1956)
- Arrivano i titani (1962) as Cadmo
[edit] French cinema
- Lucrèce Borgia (1953) as César Borgia
- Fortune carrée (1955) as Igricheff
[edit] Mexican cinema
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[edit] External links
- Pedro Armendáriz at the Internet Movie Database
- (Spanish) Pedro Armendáriz at the Cinema of Mexico site of the ITESM
