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Perry Lopez

American actor (1929–2008) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perry Lopez
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Perry Lopez (born Julio César Lopez; July 22, 1929 – February 14, 2008)[1][2][3] was an American film and television actor. His acting career spanned 40 years.

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Biography

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Lopez was born in New York City[3] of Puerto Rican descent.[1] Lopez began his acting career in theatre, based in New York.[3]

He was signed to a contract at Warner Bros. Studios in 1954, his first credited appearance being Bogus Charlie in Drum Beat. Lopez appeared as Spanish Joe in Battle Cry (1955), as Rodrigues in Mister Roberts in 1955, then had the leading role in The Steel Jungle (1956) and appeared as Toro in Cry Tough in 1959. He also played in a number of B-movies and Westerns early on in his career, including the Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), The Young Guns (1956) and The Lone Ranger.[3]

Although he was part of the supporting cast in Mister Roberts, his role was prominent – he played opposite Henry Fonda and James Cagney, who were both established stars at the time. However, he was perhaps best known as Lieutenant Lou Escobar in the 1974 film Chinatown, which he appeared opposite Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.[3] He reprised the role sixteen years later (with Escobar promoted to Captain) in The Two Jakes in 1990.[2] Also right before this time he starred opposite Charles Bronson playing drug gang leader Ed Zacharias in 1987's Death Wish 4: The Crackdown.[4]

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Lopez (right) with Patrick Wayne in McLintock! (1963)

Among his many television appearances, one of his more well-known roles is that of Esteban Rodriguez in the Star Trek episode "Shore Leave". Lopez also appeared in an episode of Bonanza as the cold-blooded outlaw Duke Miller, who kills a man over being first in line to get a haircut. He was Joaquín Castenada, a peon who fought to free his people, in four episodes of Zorro, starring Guy Williams. Lopez also appeared in episode 14, "Night Of The Long Knives" originally airing December 16, 1966, of The Time Tunnel television series; in the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea episode "Savage Jungle"; McLintock! (1963) as Davey Elk; in Juan Moreno's Body[5] as a migrant Mexican fruit picker accused of murdering the son of the owner of the orchard; and in Kelly's Heroes (1970) as Private Petuko.[6]

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Death

Lopez died of lung cancer at The Rehabilitation Centre of Beverly Hills in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, at age 78.[2][3] He was survived by several nieces and nephews.[3] His ashes were interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[citation needed]

Filmography

References

External links

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