Pedro Armendáriz | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pedro Armendáriz in3 Godfathers (1948) | |
| Born | Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings (1912-05-09)May 9, 1912 Mexico City, Mexico |
| Died | June 18, 1963(1963-06-18) (aged 51) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Panteón Jardín, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1935–1963 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingPedro Jr. |
| Relatives | Gloria Marín (cousin) |
Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings (May 9, 1912 – June 18, 1963) was aMexican-American film actor who made films in both Mexico and the United States. WithDolores del Río andMaría Félix, he was one of the best-known Latin American movie stars of the 1940s and 1950s.[1]
Armendáriz was born inMexico City, to Pedro Armendáriz García Conde, aMexican father and Adela Hastings, anAmerican mother. He was also the cousin of actressGloria Marín. Armendáriz and his younger brother Francisco lived with their uncle Henry Hastings Senior in Laredo, Texas, after their mother died. He later studied in California, attending theCalifornia Polytechnic State University from September 1928 to May 1932. At Cal Poly, he studied mechanics and in May 1931 graduated from the academic course of the school. He remained an additional year as a freshman in the Junior College division, but in 1932 returned to Mexico after the end of the school year. While at Cal Poly, Armendáriz was active in student activities, including editing the student newspaper and the student yearbook and acting in several student dramatic productions.[2]
When Armendáriz finished his studies, he moved to Mexico, where he worked for the railroad, as a tour guide, and as a journalist for the bilingual magazineMéxico Real. He was discovered by film directorMiguel Zacarías when Armendáriz recited a soliloquy fromHamlet to an American tourist. His meeting with the directorEmilio Fernández was providential, whereupon the actor and director began working in numerous films:Soy puro mexicano (1942),Flor silvestre (1942) and speciallyMaría Candelaria (1943) were the first films of intense common path. Under the guidance of Emilio Fernández, Pedro Armendáriz developed the film personality traits of strong nationalist; often, he played tough and manly men, indigenous, peasants and revolutionaries. Amendáriz repeatedly portrayedPancho Villa and played opposite actresses such asDolores del Río andMaría Félix.
With Dolores del Río, Amendáriz formed one of the most legendary couples of the Mexican cinema.María Candelaria provided Armendáriz with international visibility. The film was awarded thePalme d'Or at the 1946Cannes Film Festival. Other prominent titles where Armendáriz appeared with Dolores del Río wereLas Abandonadas (1944),Bugambilia (1944) andLa Malquerida (1949). Maria Felix was his other partner in such films asEnamorada (1946) orMaclovia (1948).[3]
In the late 40s, he made the jump toHollywood by the hand ofJohn Ford. Armendáriz was a favorite of Ford, appearing in three of his films:The Fugitive (1947),Fort Apache and3 Godfathers (both 1948).
Besides his career in the Mexican cinema, Armendáriz made a remarkable career in Hollywood and Europe. His other prominent films in Hollywood were:We Were Strangers (1949, directed byJohn Huston),The Torch (1950),Border River (1954),The Conqueror (1956) andDiane (1956), among others. In Europe, highlighted his participation in the filmLucrèce Borgia (1953), filmed inFrance. In Mexico, his participation highlighted such notable films such asEl Bruto (1953, directed byLuis Buñuel),La Cucaracha (1959) andLa Bandida (1962).
Armendáriz's last appearance was in the secondJames Bond film,From Russia with Love (1963), as Bond's ally, Kerim Bey. Armendáriz was terminally ill with cancer during the filming ofFrom Russia with Love, and towards the end of shooting he was too ill to perform his part; his final scenes were performed by his double, directorTerence Young.[4] Armendáriz died four months before the release of the film.
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Armendáriz was married to actress Carmelita Bohr (née Pardo) by whom he had one son and one daughter. His sonPedro Armendariz Bohr (April 6, 1940 – December 26, 2011), also became an actor and appeared in the James Bond filmLicence to Kill (1989). His daughter, TV producer Carmen Armendáriz Bohr (b. 1946, Mexico City), was married and then divorced Michel Pierson Cuadra, a Nicaraguan national.
In 1956, Armendáriz had a role inThe Conqueror, produced byHoward Hughes. It was filmed in the state ofUtah at the time when theUS government was conductingatmospheric nuclear testing in neighboringNevada. Within 25 years, 91 of the 220 people involved in the production (41%) developedcancer, 46 of whom died of cancer or complications related to it.[citation needed]
Armendáriz began to suffer pain in his hips; years later it was discovered that he hadneck cancer.[5] He learned his condition was terminal while atUCLA Medical Center inLos Angeles,California, and reportedly endured great pain to filmFrom Russia with Love in order to assure his family financial resources.[citation needed]
On June 18, 1963, Armendáriz died by suicide by shooting himself in the chest with a gun he had smuggled into the hospital.[6] He was 51 years old.[7] He is buried in thePanteón Jardín cemetery in Mexico City, Mexico.[8]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | The Fugitive | A lieutenant of police | a.k.a.El Fugitivo (Mexico) |
| 1948 | Fort Apache | Sgt. Beaufort | as Pedro Armendáriz |
| 3 Godfathers | Pedro "Pete" Roca Fuerte | as Pedro Armendáriz | |
| 1949 | Tulsa | Jim Redbird | |
| We Were Strangers | Armando Ariete | ||
| 1950 | The Torch | José Juan Reyes | a.k.a.Del odio nace el amor (Mexico) |
| 1954 | Border River | General Eduardo Calleja | |
| 1955 | The Littlest Outlaw | Gen. Torres | |
| 1956 | Diane | King Francis I | |
| The Conqueror | Jamuga | as Pedro Armendáriz | |
| 1957 | The Big Boodle | Col. Mastegui | as Pedro Armendáriz |
| 1959 | Little Savage | El Tiburón | |
| The Wonderful Country | Cipriano Castro | ||
| 1961 | Francis of Assisi | The Sultan | |
| 1963 | Captain Sindbad | El Kerim | as Pedro Armendáriz |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Manuela | Mario Constanza | |
| 1963 | From Russia with Love | Ali Kerim Bey |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Tom Toms of Mayumba | Martinez | |
| 1957 | Uomini e lupi | Giovanni | a.k.a.The Wolves |
| 1962 | Arrivano i titani | Cadmo | a.k.a.My Son, the Hero (USA) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Lucrèce Borgia | César Borgia | a.k.a.Lucretia Borgia |
| 1955 | Fortune carrée [fr] | Igricheff |
