Santos Ortega

Santos Ortega

Ortega (left) as Inspector Queen with Hugh Marlowe as Ellery Queen and Marian Shockley as Nikki in The Adventures of Ellery Queen, 1939
Born June 30, 1899
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died April 10, 1976 (aged 76)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Other names Santos Ortegga
Occupation Radio, television actor

Santos Edward Ortega (June 30, 1899 – April 10, 1976) was an American actor and comedian. He played Will Hughes in As the World Turns, taking over from Will Lee (who only played one episode). Ortega continued in the role until his death in 1976.

Early life

Ortega was born in New York City, New York on June 30, 1899, to parents Rafael (born in Venezuela and of Spanish descent) and Isabella (née Corbett, from Ireland) Ortega.[1]

Career

He began his career in the theater in "an extravaganza at the old Hippodrome Theater.[2] Later, he went on tour with a singing group, returning to New York City to appear on the Broadway stage including roles in Jeb and Marilyn's Affairs.

Radio

Ortega was active in radio, starring in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe (1943–1944) and narrating Gangbusters, as well as Stroke of Fate. Perhaps his most famous and notable radio role was Commissioner Weston on The Shadow. He played the title role in Bulldog Drummond (1942–43)[3] and was heard in the daytime radio serial Perry Mason,[4] 1948's Roger Kilgore, Public Defender,[5] and as the title character in The Adventures of Charlie Chan (1947–1948),[6] The Affairs of Peter Salem from 1949 to 1953,[7] and Hannibal Cobb (1950–1951).[8]

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s and into the 1950s and early 1960s, the prolific Ortega lent his remarkable range of voice characterizations to numerous other radio drama series such as Inner Sanctum, The Mysterious Traveler, Suspense, Casey Crime Photographer, The Eternal Light, The Columbia Workshop, The Big Story, Perry Mason, You Are There, Dimension X, and X Minus One.

Despite his ethnic-sounding name, Ortega never spoke Spanish, but was often cast for voice roles simply based on his name. Ortega was able to successfully adopt an affected Spanish accent when needed.

He also originated the radio role of Inspector Queen on The Adventures of Ellery Queen[9]

Television

On television, he played Will Hughes (usually just referred to as "Grandpa") on As the World Turns, replacing Will Lee in the role on the show's second episode (1956). He continued in the role until shortly before his death in 1976.

Personal life

Ortega was married twice. He married Evelyn Fairbank in 1926, but the couple had no children and later divorced. He later married Cynthia Beckett, twenty years his junior, when he was around 50 years old. They would go on to have two children.

Death

Ortega was a lifelong tobacco user who often smoked cigars during his radio shows. However, during his tenure on "As The World Turns," he was most often seen smoking a pipe. Ortega was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida when he suddenly fell ill. He died on April 10, 1976.

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ Santos Ortega: Any Detective He Didn't Play?
  2. ↑ "Memorial Services Held for Actor", Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1976.
  3. ↑ Cox, Jim, Radio Crime Fighters, 2002, p. 63, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, ISBN 0-7864-1390-5
  4. ↑ Starr, Michael Seth (2008). "Enter Perry Mason". Hiding in Plain Sight: The Secret Life of Raymond Burr. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 83. ISBN 1-55783-694-9.
  5. ↑ Cox, Jim, Radio Crime Fighters, 2002, p. 213, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, ISBN 0-7864-1390-5
  6. ↑ Cox, Jim, Radio Crime Fighters, 2002, p. 9, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, ISBN 0-7864-1390-5
  7. ↑ Cox, Jim, Radio Crime Fighters, 2002, p. 37, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, ISBN 0-7864-1390-5
  8. ↑ Cox, Jim, Radio Crime Fighters, 2002, p. 126, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, ISBN 0-7864-1390-5
  9. ↑ Lackmann, Ron. "Adventures of Ellery Queen, et al.". The Encyclopedia of American Radio. p. 5, etal. ISBN 0-8160-4077-X.

External links