Pedro Armendáriz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pedro Armendáriz
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Pedro Armendáriz in 3 Godfathers (1948)
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Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings
May 9, 1912 Mexico City, Mexico
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| Died | June 18, 1963 (aged 51) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Burial place | Panteón Jardín, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1935–1963 |
| Spouse(s) |
Carmelita Bohr (m. 1938)
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| Children | 2, including Pedro Jr. |
Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings (born May 9, 1912 – died June 18, 1963) was a famous Mexican film actor. He starred in movies made in both Mexico and the United States. Along with Dolores del Río and María Félix, he was one of the most well-known Latin American movie stars in the 1940s and 1950s.
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Early Life and Education
Pedro Armendáriz was born in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, Pedro Armendáriz García Conde, was Mexican, and his mother, Adela Hastings, was American. He was also the cousin of actress Gloria Marín. After his mother passed away, Pedro and his younger brother Francisco lived with their uncle in Laredo, Texas.
Pedro later moved to California to study. He attended California Polytechnic State University from 1928 to 1932. At Cal Poly, he studied mechanics. He also took part in many student activities. He helped edit the student newspaper and yearbook. He also acted in several school plays. In 1932, he returned to Mexico after finishing his studies.
His Amazing Acting Career
After college, Pedro Armendáriz moved back to Mexico. He worked in different jobs, like for the railroad and as a journalist. A film director named Miguel Zacarías discovered him. Pedro was reciting a speech from Hamlet to a tourist when the director heard him.
He then met director Emilio Fernández, and they started working together on many films. Some of their first movies were Soy puro mexicano (1942), Flor silvestre (1942), and especially María Candelaria (1943).
Under Emilio Fernández's direction, Pedro Armendáriz often played strong, tough, and manly characters. He was known for playing Mexican farmers, revolutionaries, and indigenous people. He often played the famous revolutionary Pancho Villa. He also starred alongside famous actresses like Dolores del Río and María Félix.
María Candelaria helped Pedro Armendáriz become known around the world. This film won a major award, the Palme d'Or, at the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. He made other popular films with Dolores del Río, such as Las Abandonadas (1944) and Bugambilia (1944). With Maria Felix, he starred in movies like Enamorada (1946).
In the late 1940s, Pedro Armendáriz started acting in Hollywood movies. He was a favorite actor of director John Ford. Pedro appeared in three of Ford's films: The Fugitive (1947), Fort Apache, and 3 Godfathers (both 1948).
Besides his work in Mexican cinema, Pedro Armendáriz had a successful career in Hollywood and Europe. Some of his other notable Hollywood films include We Were Strangers (1949) and The Conqueror (1956). In Europe, he was in the French film Lucrèce Borgia (1953). Back in Mexico, he starred in important films like El Bruto (1953) and La Cucaracha (1959).
Pedro Armendáriz's very last movie role was in the second James Bond film, From Russia with Love (1963). He played Bond's friend, Kerim Bey. Pedro was very ill during the filming of From Russia with Love. Towards the end, he was too sick to act in some scenes. His body double, director Terence Young, helped finish his parts. Pedro Armendáriz passed away four months before the movie was released.
His Family Life
Pedro Armendáriz was married to actress Carmelita Bohr. They had two children, a son and a daughter. His son, Pedro Armendáriz, Jr., also became an actor. He even appeared in a James Bond film called Licence to Kill (1989). Pedro's daughter, Carmen Armendáriz, became a TV producer.
Illness and Passing
In 1956, Pedro Armendáriz acted in the movie The Conqueror. This film was shot in Utah at a time when the US government was testing nuclear weapons nearby in Nevada. Many years later, a large number of people who worked on The Conqueror became very sick.
Pedro Armendáriz also became ill. He learned he had a serious illness while in a hospital in Los Angeles. He continued to film From Russia with Love to help make sure his family would be financially secure.
Pedro Armendáriz passed away on June 18, 1963, at the age of 51. He is buried in the Panteón Jardín cemetery in Mexico City, Mexico.
Some Famous Films
Pedro Armendáriz starred in many movies throughout his career. Here are some of his well-known films:
- María Candelaria (1943) – A Mexican drama that brought him international fame.
- The Pearl (1947) – An American film where he played the lead role.
- The Fugitive (1947) – One of his first Hollywood films, directed by John Ford.
- 3 Godfathers (1948) – Another film directed by John Ford, where he acted alongside John Wayne.
- El Bruto (1953) – A Mexican film directed by the famous Luis Buñuel.
- The Conqueror (1956) – A Hollywood film where he played Jamuga.
- From Russia with Love (1963) – His final film, a James Bond movie.
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Armendáriz para niños
