Fernando Lamas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fernando Lamas
Lamas in the 1960s
Born	Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos (1915-01-09)January 9, 1915 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died	October 8, 1982(1982-10-08) (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, director, writer
Years active	1942–1982
Spouse(s)	Perla Mux ​ ​ (m. 1940; div. 1944)​ Lydia Barachi ​ ​ (m. 1946; div. 1952)​ Arlene Dahl ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1960)​ Esther Williams ​ (m. 1969)​
Children	3, including Lorenzo Lamas
Relatives	AJ Lamas (grandson) Shayne Lamas (granddaughter)

Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos (born January 9, 1915 – died October 8, 1982) was a famous actor and director. He was born in Argentina and later became an American citizen. He was also the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas. Fernando Lamas was known for his charming roles in movies and his work behind the camera.

Life and Career

Early Life in Argentina

Fernando Lamas was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He started his acting career there. He appeared in many Argentine films. Some of his early movies included En el último piso (1942) and Stella (1946).

He also starred in films like The Poor People's Christmas (1947). Other popular movies were The Tango Returns to Paris (1948) and The Story of a Bad Woman (1948). He was one of the biggest stars in Argentina. His first American film was The Avengers (1950). Parts of this movie were filmed in Argentina. This led him to move to Hollywood.

Becoming a Star in Hollywood

Lamas with co-star Danielle Darrieux in Rich, Young and Pretty

In 1949, Fernando Lamas signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This was a major Hollywood film studio. He often played charming, romantic characters. Sometimes, he would sing in musicals too.

In 1951, he starred in the musical Rich, Young and Pretty. He also appeared with Lana Turner in the operetta The Merry Widow (1952). He even acted alongside Elizabeth Taylor in The Girl Who Had Everything (1952).

Lamas worked with other studios too. He was the main star in Sangaree (1953) for Paramount Pictures. He then played the leading man for Esther Williams in Dangerous When Wet (1953). This movie was very successful. He continued to appear in many films throughout the 1950s.

Broadway and Television

Fernando Lamas wanted to play different kinds of roles. He felt he was often cast as the "romantic hero." In 1956, he performed on Broadway. He starred in the musical Happy Hunting with Ethel Merman. His performance earned him a nomination for a Tony Award.

He also started working in television. He made guest appearances on many TV shows. These included Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre and Climax!. He also appeared in Shirley Temple's Storybook. In 1960, he starred in the film The Lost World.

Working in Europe

Later, Fernando Lamas moved to Europe. He went with Esther Williams, who later became his wife. While there, he directed a film called Magic Fountain. Both he and Esther Williams starred in it. He also acted in Italian films like Duel of Fire (1962). He helped write a Western movie called A Place Called Glory (1965).

Return to the United States

After some time, Lamas came back to Hollywood. He focused more on television acting. He made guest appearances on popular shows. These included Burke's Law and The Virginian. From 1965 to 1968, he had a regular role. He played Ramon De Vega on the show Run For Your Life. He also directed some episodes of this series.

He continued to act in films like 100 Rifles (1969). He also appeared in many more TV shows. Some of these were Mission: Impossible and Charlie's Angels.

Directing for Television

Fernando Lamas became a successful television director. He directed episodes for many well-known shows. These included Mannix, Starsky and Hutch, and The Amazing Spider-Man. He also directed episodes of Falcon Crest. His son, Lorenzo Lamas, starred in Falcon Crest.

Later Years and Passing

Fernando Lamas continued to work in television. He produced a TV movie called Samurai in 1979. He was acting in a series called Gavilan when he became ill.

Fernando Lamas passed away in Los Angeles in 1982. He was 67 years old.

Personal Life

Fernando Lamas was married four times. His first marriage was to Perla Mux. They had a daughter named Christina. His second marriage was to Lydia Babacci. They had a daughter named Alexandra. His third wife was actress Arlene Dahl. They had a son named Lorenzo Lamas, who also became an actor. His longest marriage was to swimmer and actress Esther Williams. They were married from 1969 until his death in 1982.

Filmography

Film

• 1943 On the Last Floor
• 1943 Stella
• 1943 Southern Border
• 1945 Villa rica del Espíritu Santo
• 1947 The Poor People's Christmas
• 1947 Evasion as Bruno
• 1948 The Tango Returns to Paris
• 1948 Story of a Bad Woman
• 1948 La Rubia Mireya as Alberto
• 1949 The Unknown Father
• 1949 Vidalita
• 1949 The Story of the Tango as Juan Carlos Maldonado
• 1949 Corrientes, calle de ensueños
• 1949 La Otra y yo
• 1950 The Avengers as André LeBlanc
• 1951 Rich, Young and Pretty as Paul Sarnac
• 1951 The Law and the Lady as Juan Dinas
• 1952 The Merry Widow as Count Danilo
• 1953 The Girl Who Had Everything as Victor Y. Raimondi
• 1953 Sangaree as Dr. Carlos Morales
• 1953 Dangerous When Wet as Andre LaNet
• 1953 The Diamond Queen as Jean Baptiste Tavernier
• 1954 Jivaro as Rio Galdez
• 1954 Rose Marie as James Severn Duval
• 1955 The Girl Rush as Victor Monte
• 1960 The Lost World as Manuel Gomez
• 1962 Duel of Fire as Antonio Franco
• 1963 Revenge of the Musketeers as D'Artagnan
• 1963 Magic Fountain as Alberto
• 1965 A Place Called Glory
• 1967 The Violent Ones as Manuel Vega
• 1967 Kill a Dragon as Nico Patrai
• 1969 100 Rifles as General Verdugo
• 1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood as Premiere Male Star
• 1978 The Cheap Detective as Paul DuChard

Television

• 1954 Lux Video Theatre
• 1958 The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour ("Lucy Goes to Sun Valley")
• 1958 Jane Wyman Presents as Juan Bravado
• 1958 Climax! as Jose Aragon
• 1960 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Giulio Mandati / Miguel
• 1969 Shirley Temple's Storybook as Professor Fritz Bhaer
• 1965 Burke's Law as Kelly Mars / El Greco
• 1965 The Virginian as Captain Estrada
• 1965 Combat! ("Breakout") as Vertrain
• 1966 Laredo as Paco Romero
• 1966 Combat! ("The Brothers") as Leon Paulon
• 1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. as Salim Ibn Hydari / Alejandro De Sada
• 1967 Valley of Mystery as Francisco Rivera
• 1965-1968 Run for Your Life as Ramon De Vega
• 1971 The Red Skelton Show ("A Spy Is a Peeping Tom on Salary") as Harry Sneak
• 1967 Hondo ("Hondo and the Comancheros") as Rodrigo
• 1967 The High Chaparral ("The Firing Wall") as "El Caudillo"
• 1968 Tarzan ("Jungle Ransom") as Velasquez
• 1968-1970 It Takes a Thief as Paolo Monteggo / Pepe Rouchet / Francisco Arascan
• 1968-1970 Misson Impossible as Ramon Prado / Roger Toland
• 1969 Then Came Bronson ("Where Will the Trumpets Be?") as Miguel Cordova
• 1969 The Lonely Profession as Dominic Savarona
• 1970 The Name of the Game as Cesar Rodriguez
• 1971 Dan August as Tony Storm
• 1971 Alias Smith and Jones as Jim "Big Jim" Santana
• 1971 Bearcats! as Chucho Morales (Pilot Movie, "Powderkeg")
• 1971-1973 The Mod Squad as Arturo Roca / Lieutenant Ramon Sanchez
• 1973 Night Gallery as Dr. Ramirez (segment "Hatred Unto Death")
• 1974 Sesame Street as Himself (guest appearance)
• 1975 McCloud as Max Cortez
• 1975 Murder on Flight 502 as Paul Barons
• 1975 Bronk as Abriega
• 1976 Switch as Fouad
• 1977 Charlie's Angels as Jericho
• 1977 Police Woman as Carlos Rubenez
• 1978 The Love Boat as Bill Klieg / Bill Teague
• 1979 How the West Was Won as Fierro
• 1980 House Calls ("Defeat of Clay") as Dr. Langston
• 1980 The Dream Merchants as Conrad Stillman (final appearance)

Radio appearances

See also

In Spanish: Fernando Lamas para niños