Сезар Ромеро: Жизнь и карьера латиноамериканского актера

American actor (1907–1994)

César Julio Romero Jr. was born in New York City on February 15, 1907, the son of César Julio Romero Sr. (1872–1951) and María Mantilla (1880–1962). His mother was a concert singer and said to be the biological daughter of Cuban national hero José Martí. His father was born in Barcelona and immigrated to the United States in 1888, where he was an import/export merchant. Romero grew up in Bradley Beach, New Jersey, and went to Bradley Beach Elementary School, Asbury Park High School, the Collegiate School, and the Riverdale Country Day School. After his parents lost their sugar import business and suffered losses in the Wall Street crash of 1929, Romero's Hollywood earnings allowed him to support his large family, all of whom followed him to the American West Coast years later. Romero, who referred to himself as "a Latin from Manhattan", lived on and off with various family members for the rest of his life. On October 12, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard as an apprentice seaman and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He reported aboard the Coast Guard crewed assault transport USS Cavalier in November 1943. According to a press release from the period, Romero saw action during the invasions of Tinian and Saipan. The same article mentioned that he preferred to be a regular part of the crew and was eventually promoted to the rating of chief boatswain's mate.

The 6'3" [190 cm] Romero routinely played "Latin lovers" in films from the 1930s until the 1950s, usually in supporting roles. In 1935, Romero played a leading role The Devil is a Woman opposite Marlene Dietrich. Romero starred as the Cisco Kid in six westerns made between 1939 and 1941. Romero danced and performed comedy in the 20th Century Fox films he starred in opposite Carmen Miranda and Betty Grable, such as Week End in Havana and Springtime in the Rockies, in the 1940s. He also played a minor role as Sinjin, a piano player in Glenn Miller's band, in the 1942 20th Century Fox musical Orchestra Wives. In The Thin Man (1934), Romero played a villainous supporting role opposite the film's main stars William Powell and Myrna Loy. Many of Romero's films from this early period saw him cast in small character parts, such as Italian gangsters and East Indian princes. Romero had a lead role as the Pathan rebel leader, Khoda Khan, in John Ford's British Raj era action film Wee Willie Winkie (1937) starring Shirley Temple and Victor McLaglen and a supporting role as the Indian servant Ram Dass in The Little Princess (1939), also with Temple. He also appeared in a comic turn as a foil for Frank Sinatra and his crew in Ocean's 11 (1960) starring the Rat Pack (Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop). Romero sometimes played the leading man, for example in Allan Dwan's 15 Maiden Lane (1936) opposite Claire Trevor, as well as winning the key role of the Doc Holliday character (with name changed to "Doc Halliday") in Dwan's acclaimed Wyatt Earp saga Frontier Marshal (1939) starring Randolph Scott and Nancy Kelly three years later. 20th Century Fox, along with mogul Darryl Zanuck, selected Romero to co star with Tyrone Power in the Technicolor historical epic Captain from Castile (1947), directed by Henry King. While Power played a fictionalized character, Romero played Hernán Cortés, a historical conquistador in Spain's conquest of the Americas. Among almost countless television credits, Romero appeared several times on The Martha Raye Show in the mid 1950s. He portrayed Don Diego de la Vega's maternal uncle in a number of Season 2 Zorro episodes. In 1958, he guest starred as Ramon Valdez in How to Marry a Millionaire in the episode entitled "The Big Order". He performed the mambo with Gisele MacKenzie on her NBC variety show, The Gisele MacKenzie Show. He guest starred in 1957 on CBS's The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour on the first episode of the seventh season ("Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana"). He played "Don Carlos", a card sharp on the episode, "The Honorable Don Charlie Story" of NBC's Wagon Train. On January 16, 1958, he appeared on The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford. In 1959, Romero was cast as Joaquin in the episode "Caballero" from The Texan, and on September 26 of that year, he hosted the Cuban installment of John Gunther's High Road. In 1960, he was cast as Ricky Valenti in "Crime of Passion" from Pete and Gladys. In 1965, Romero played the head of THRUSH in France in "The Never Never Affair" from The Man from U. N. C. L. E.

From 1966 to 1968, he portrayed the Joker on Batman. He refused to shave his moustache for the role, and so the supervillain's white face makeup was simply smeared over it throughout the series' run and in the 1966 film. in October 1960, and four years later, initially supported Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in the write in campaign supporting Lodge for president. Romero appreciated and said he liked Lodge's strong anti Communist stance in South Vietnam where Lodge was at the time the United States ambassador. Later that year, Romero supported Barry Goldwater in the general election. Also in 1964, Romero was very much involved in the U. S. Senate race in California that pitted one of Romero's best friends and fellow actor, Republican nominee George Murphy (who nicknamed Romero "Butch"), in his bid to oust then Senator Pierre Salinger, a Democrat. The Senate race was a heated contest where Salinger had already narrowly defeated then California State Controller Alan Cranston, who would become a senator in 1968, in the Democratic primary. Both men had "primaried" Senator Clair Engle, who had sought re nomination despite being terminally ill with a brain tumor; Engle died less than two months after the primary. Then Democratic Governor Pat Brown appointed Salinger instead of Cranston to fill the vacancy; although the appointment seemed reasonable since Salinger had won the primary, it was roundly criticized by Romero and Murphy as cronyism since Salinger had been the White House press secretary for the late President John F. Kennedy, a close ally of Brown. Romero appealed to disappointed Cranston backers after the primary to support Murphy. Romero's urging helped Salinger lose a race no one thought could be lost. Murphy lost the full use of his voice during his term when part of his larynx was removed due to throat cancer. Romero employed other Hollywood stars to try to help Murphy win re election in 1970. However, Murphy lost re election to John V. Tunney, the son of boxing legend Gene Tunney. After Murphy's Senate defeat, Romero scaled back his involvement in politics but would take part for a Hollywood friend, such as Ronald Reagan in his successful gubernatorial bids in 1966 and 1970 as well as all four of his presidential bids in 1968, 1976, 1980, and 1984. Romero also joined with fellow actors and actresses in lobbying the United States Congress to present the then dying John Wayne with a Congressional Gold Medal for his service to the nation.

Romero was a lifelong bachelor and had no children. Romero made frequent appearances at Hollywood events escorting actresses, such as Joan Crawford, Linda Darnell, Barbara Stanwyck, Lucille Ball, Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman, Agnes Moorehead, and Ginger Rogers. Many Hollywood historians and biographers have speculated on Romero being very private about his sexuality. In 1996, Boze Hadleigh wrote a book, Hollywood Gays, containing a series of claimed interviews in which Romero allegedly came out. Romero died two years before the book was released, and while many of the interviews in the book are disputed as possible forgeries, many are not disputed. Charlie Harper, lead singer of English punk band UK Subs, is reportedly a nephew of Romero.

Year Title Role Notes 1933 The Shadow Laughs Tony Rico 1934 The Thin Man Chris Jorgenson 1934 British Agent Tito Del Val 1934 Cheating Cheaters Tom Palmer 1934 Strange Wives Boris 1935 Clive of India Mir Jaffar 1935 A Dream Comes True Himself Uncredited 1935 The Good Fairy Joe 1935 Cardinal Richelieu Andre de Pons 1935 The Devil Is a Woman Antonio Galvan 1935 Hold 'Em Yale Gigolo Georgie 1935 Diamond Jim Jerry Richardson 1935 Metropolitan Niki Baroni 1935 Rendezvous Nieterstein 1935 Show Them No Mercy! Tobey 1936 Love Before Breakfast Bill Wadsworth 1936 Nobody's Fool Dizzy Rantz 1936 Public Enemy's Wife Gene Maroc 1937 Wee Willie Winkie Khoda Khan 1937 Dangerously Yours Victor Morell 1937 Ali Baba Goes to Town Himself Uncredited 1938 Happy Landing Duke Sargent 1938 Always Goodbye Count Giovanni 'Gino' Corini 1938 My Lucky Star George Cabot Jr 1938 Five of a Kind Duke Lester 1939 Wife, Husband and Friend Hugo 1939 The Little Princess Ram Dass 1939 The Return of the Cisco Kid Lopez 1939 Frontier Marshal Doc Halliday 1939 Charlie Chan at Treasure Island Rhadini 1939 The Cisco Kid and the Lady Cisco Kid 1939 Hollywood Hobbies Himself Uncredited 1940 He Married His Wife Freddie 1940 Viva Cisco Kid Cisco Kid 1940 Lucky Cisco Kid Cisco Kid 1940 The Gay Caballero Cisco Kid 1941 Romance of the Rio Grande Cisco Kid / Real and fake Carlos Hernandez 1941 Tall, Dark and Handsome J. J. 'Shep' Morrison 1941 Ride on Vaquero Cisco Kid 1941 The Great American Broadcast Bruce Chadwick 1941 Dance Hall Duke McKay 1941 Week End in Havana Monte Blanca 1942 A Gentleman at Heart Tony Miller 1942 Tales of Manhattan Harry Wilson 1942 Orchestra Wives St. John 'Sinjin' Smith 1942 Springtime in the Rockies Victor Prince 1943 Coney Island Joe Rocco 1943 Wintertime Brad Barton 1946 Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Victory Show Himself 1947 Carnival in Costa Rica Pepe Castro 1947 Captain from Castile Hernán Cortés 1948 That Lady in Ermine Joe Sanger 1948 Julia Misbehaves Fred Ghenoccio 1948 Deep Waters Count Mario 1949 The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend Blackie Jobero 1949 Screen Snapshots: Motion Picture Mothers, Inc. Himself 1950 Love That Brute Pretty Willie Wetzchahofsky 1950 Once a Thief Mitch Moore 1951 Happy Go Lovely John Frost 1951 Lost Continent Major Joe Nolan 1951 FBI Girl FBI Agent Glen Stedman 1952 The Jungle Rama Singh 1952 Lady in the Fog Philip 'Phil' O'Dell 1953 The Sword of Granada Don Pedro de Rivera 1953 Street of Shadows Luigi 1953 Prisoners of the Casbah Firouz 1954 Vera Cruz Marquis Henri de Labordere 1955 The Americano Manuel Silvera / "El Gato" / Etc. 1955 The Racers Carlos Chavez 1956 The Leather Saint Tony Lorenzo 1956 Around the World in 80 Days Abdullah's henchman 1957 The Story of Mankind Spanish Envoy 1958 Villa!! Tomás Lopez 1959 My Private Secretaries Rafael Travesi 1960 Ocean's 11 Duke Santos 1960 Pepe Himself 1961 Seven Women from Hell Luis Hullman 1961 The Runaway Father Dugan 1962 If a Man Answers Robert Swan / Adam Wright 1963 We Shall Return Carlos Rodriguez 1963 The Castilian Jerónimo 1963 Donovan's Reef Marquis Andre de Lage 1963 Saint Mike Unknown role 1964 A House Is Not a Home Lucky Luciano 1965 Two on a Guillotine John Harley 'Duke' Duquesne 1965 Sergeant Deadhead Admiral Stoneham 1965 Marriage on the Rocks Miguel Santos 1966 Batman The Joker 1968 Madigan's Millions Mike Madigan 1968 Hot Millions Customs Inspector 1968 Skidoo Hechy 1969 Crooks and Coronets Nick Marco 1969 Midas Run Carlo Dodero 1969 Target: Harry Lt. George Duval 1969 Latitude Zero Dr. Malic / Lt. Hastings 1969 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes A. J. Arno 1969 A Talent for Loving Don Jose 1970 The Red, White, and Black Col. Grierson 1971 Once Upon a Wheel Himself 1971 The Last Generation Unknown role Archive footage 1972 The Proud and the Damned San Carlos' Mayor 1972 Now You See Him, Now You Don't A. J. Arno 1974 The Spectre of Edgar Allan Poe Dr. Richard Grimaldi 1974 The Haunted Mouth B. Plaque Also Narrator 1975 The Strongest Man in the World A. J. Arno 1975 Timber Tramps Greedy sawmill mogul 1976 Carioca Tigre Don Rosalindo Y Guana 1977 Mission to Glory: A True Story Admiral Atondo 1985 Lust in the Dust Father Garcia 1988 Judgement Day Octavio 1995 Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business Himself 1998 The Right Way Don Genese Final rolePosthumous release

Year Title Role Notes 1950 The Ed Wynn Show Himself 1 episode 1954–1958 Passport to Danger Steve McQuinn 33 episodes 1954 A Star Is Born World Premiere Himself TV short 1956–1967 The Red Skelton Hour Prison Convict, Mustapha Dame, Concierge, Russian agent, Clayton Harrison, Witch Doctor, Plumber, Advertising Agency Executive, Pierre, Big Bill Racketeer 11 episodes 1957 Navy Log Himself/host 1957 The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Show Carlos Garcia Episode: "Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana 1958 Wagon Train Hon Don 'Charlie' Carlos de Fuentes Episode: "The Honorable Don Charlie Story" 1959 Zorro Esteban de la Cruz 4 episodes 1959 The Texan Captain Joaquin Acosta Episode: "Caballero" 1959 John Gunther's High Road Himself 1 episode 1959 Death Valley Days Don Augustin Oblivion Episode: "Olvera" 1959–1965 Rawhide Col. Emilio Vasquez, Don Francisco Maldenado, Big Tim Sloan, Ben Teagle 4 episodes 1960 Love and Marriage Himself 1 episode 1960 Stagecoach West Manolo Lalanda Episode: "A Time To Run" 1960 Five Fingers Ferri Episode: "Counterfeit" 1960–1961 Stagecoach West Colonel Francisco Martinez 2 episodes 1961 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre The Man from Everywhere Episode: "The Ballet of the Pater Bullet" 1962 The Beachcomber Jaoquin Perez, Krasny 2 episodes 1963 Fractured Flickers Himself 1 episode 1963 77 Sunset Strip Lorenzo Cestari Episode: "5: Part 4 1963–1965 Burke's Law Police Chief Alvaro, Gregorio Jonas, Antonio Cardoza, Louis Simone, Marcus DeGrute 5 episodes 1964 Dr. Kildare Dr. Paul Marino Episode: "Onions, Garlic and Flowers That Bloom in the Spring" 1964–1970 The Mike Douglas Show Himself Unknown episodes 1965 The Man from U. N. C. L. E. Victor Gervais Episode: "The Never Never Affair" 1965 Bonanza Guido Borelli Episode: "The Deadliest Game" 1965 Branded Gen. Arriola Episode: "The Mission: Part 2" 1965 Ben Casey Frederic Delano Episode: "Did Your Mother Come from Ireland, Ben Casey?" 1966–1969 Daniel Boone Esteban de Vaca, Adm. Alejandro Buenaventura, Colonel Carlos Navarro 3 episodes 1966–1968 Batman The Joker 22 episodes 1967 T. H. E. Cat Gordon Amley Episode: "Queen of Diamonds, Knave of Hearts" 1968 Get Smart Kinsey Krispen Episode: "The Reluctant Redhead" 1969 Here's Lucy Tony Rivera Episode: "A Date for Lucy" 1970 Julia Bunny Henderson, Bernard Henderson 5 episodes 1970 Bewitched Ernest Hitchcock Episode: "Salem, Here We Come" 1970 It Takes a Thief Mike Episode: "Beyond a Treasonable Doubt" 1971 The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World Himself TV movie documentary 1971 The Jimmy Stewart Show Harris Crofton 2 episodes 1971 Love, American Style Young Unmarrieds 1 episode 1971 Nanny and the Professor Schiavoni Episode: "The Man Who Came to Pasta" 1971 Mooch Goes to Hollywood Himself TV movie 1971 The Merv Griffin Show Himself 1 episode 1971–1972 Alias Smith and Jones Armendariz 3 episodes 1972 The Mod Squad Frank Barton Episode: "The Connection" 1972 The Jimmy Stewart Show Admiral Decker 2 episodes 1973 Chase Parker Episode: "A Bit of Class" 1974 Ironside Tony Hudson Episode: "The Last Cotillion" 1974 Banacek Marius Avantalu Episode: "The Vanishing Chalice" 1974 Dinah! Himself 1 episode 1975 Medical Center Packy Episode: "The High Cost of Winning" 1976 Ellery Queen Armand Danello Episode: "The Adventure of the Wary Witness" 1977 Chico and the Man Gilberto Rodriguez Episode: "Chco's Padre" 1978 Vega$ Christopher Vincente Episode: "Lost Women" 1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Amos Armat Episode: "Vegas in Space" 1979–1983 Fantasy Island Sheikh Hameel Habib, Edmond Rome, Frederick Kragen, Maestro Roger Alexander 4 episodes 1980 Charlie's Angels Elton Mills Episode: "Dancing' Angels" 1982 Matt Houston Miles Gantry Episode: "Who Would Kill Ramona?" 1983 Hart to Hart Dr. Villac Episode: "Chamber of Lost Harts" 1984–1986 The Love Boat Carlos Belmonte, John, Stockton, John Drake 4 episodes 1985 Magnum, P. I. Doc Villoroch Episode: "Little Games" 1985–1992 Murder, She Wrote Marcello Abruzzi, Diego Santana 2 episodes 1985 Family Feud Himself 1 episode 1985–1988 Falcon Crest Peter Stavros 52 episodes 1985–1986 Riptide Angelo Guirilini 2 episodes 1988 The Tracey Ullman Show Roland Diego 1 episode 1990 The Golden Girls Tony Episode: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Before They Die" 1993 Edna Time! Himself 1 episode