Fernando Rey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fernando Rey
Rey at Palazzo d'Accursio, Bologna, in April 1974
Born	Fernando Casado Arambillet (1917-09-20)20 September 1917 A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Died	9 March 1994(1994-03-09) (aged 76) Madrid, Spain
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1935–1994
Spouse(s)	Mabel Karr ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	2
Awards	Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor 1977 Elisa, vida mía

Fernando Casado Arambillet (born in A Coruña, Spain, on September 20, 1917 – died in Madrid, Spain, on March 9, 1994), known as Fernando Rey, was a famous Spanish actor. He worked in movies, theater, and television in both Europe and the United States.

Fernando Rey was known for his elegant style. He became especially famous for his roles in films by the unique director Luis Buñuel, such as Viridiana (1961) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). He also played the villain Alain Charnier in the action movies The French Connection (1971) and French Connection II (1975). Over his long career, he appeared in more than 150 films!

Interestingly, Fernando Rey found his greatest fame after he turned 50. He once said that it might have been better to be successful when he was younger, so he could enjoy it for longer.

Fernando Rey's Life and Career

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Fernando Rey was born in A Coruña, Spain. His parents were Fernando Casado Veiga and Sara Arambillet Rey. He started studying architecture at university. However, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) interrupted his studies. After the war, his family faced hard times.

In 1936, Rey began his acting journey by working as an extra in films. This means he appeared in the background without speaking lines. It was then that he chose his stage name, Fernando Rey. He kept his first name and used his mother's second surname, Rey, which is a short and meaningful name. "Rey" means "King" in Spanish.

His first speaking role was in 1944, playing the Duke of Alba in a film called Eugenia de Montijo. Four years later, he played King Felipe I el Hermoso in the popular Spanish movie Locura de amor.

This was the start of a very busy career in films, radio, theater, and television. Fernando Rey was also a talented dubbing actor. This means he lent his voice to characters in movies, often for foreign films translated into Spanish. His voice was considered strong and unique. He narrated important Spanish films like Bienvenido Mr. Marshall (1953) and Marcelino Pan y Vino (1955). He even narrated a re-dubbed version of Orson Welles' Don Quixote. In fact, Rey acted in four different film versions of Don Quixote in various roles!

After a successful lead role in the film Cómicos (1954), Rey felt a bit down because he saw himself so much in the character. But he soon found a great friend and partner in director Luis Buñuel. Rey became Buñuel's favorite actor.

Becoming an International Star

Fernando Rey with Gloria Grahame in Tarot (The Magician, 1973).

Fernando Rey's first international movie was The Night Heaven Fell (1958), a French-Italian film. He acted alongside big stars like Brigitte Bardot. Before this, he had appeared in an American TV series called It happens in Spain.

In 1959, he starred in an Italian "sword and sandal" film called The Last Days of Pompeii. He also appeared in "European Westerns" like The Savage Guns (1961) and sequels to The Magnificent Seven.

His work with famous directors Orson Welles and Luis Buñuel in the 1960s and 1970s made him known around the world. He became the first truly "international Spanish actor." He starred in many of Buñuel's films, including Viridiana (1961) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. For Orson Welles, he acted in Chimes at Midnight (1966) and The Immortal Story (1968).

Rey famously played the French villain Alain Charnier in the American film The French Connection (1971). The director, William Friedkin, originally wanted another Spanish actor. But when Rey showed up, Friedkin realized the other actor didn't speak English or French, so he kept Rey! Rey played the role again in French Connection II (1975).

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Rey appeared in many international movies. Some of these were small but memorable appearances. One of his big successes during this time was Elisa, vida mía (1977), a Spanish drama.

Later Career in Spain

Fernando Rey, as Don Quixote, with Alfredo Landa, as Sancho Panza, in El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes (1992).

In his later years, Fernando Rey preferred to work in Spain. He had successes in films like Padre Nuestro (1985) and El bosque animado (1987). A very memorable role was his portrayal of Don Quixote in the TV series El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes (1992). He acted alongside Alfredo Landa, who played Sancho Panza.

His very last film role was a supporting part in the Spanish comedy El cianuro ... ¿sólo o con leche? (1994).

Awards and Recognition

Fernando Rey received many awards for his acting. In 1971, he won the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival for his role in La duda.

His collaboration with Luis Buñuel on That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 1977, Rey won the Best Actor award at the famous Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Elisa, vida mía.

He won the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival again in 1988 for his roles in two films: Diario de invierno and El Aire de un Crimen. Fernando Rey also received the gold medal from the Spanish Movie Arts and Sciences Academy.

Personal Life

In 1960, Fernando Rey married the Argentine actress Mabel Karr. They had one son, Fernando Casado Campolongo.

In 1992, he became the chairman of the Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España, which is like the Spanish film academy.

Fernando Rey passed away in Madrid on March 9, 1994, from bladder cancer. His wife, Mabel Karr, passed away later in 2001.

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Fernando Rey para niños

• Cinema of Spain