Wikipedia

Fernando Lamas

In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisLamasand the second or maternal family name isde Santos.

Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos(January 9, 1915 – October 8, 1982) was an Argentine-American actor and director, and the father of actorLorenzo Lamas.

Fernando Lamas
Lamas in the 1960s
Born
Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos

(1915-01-09)January 9, 1915[1]or 1916[2][3]
Buenos Aires,Argentina
DiedOctober 8, 1982(1982-10-08)(aged 67)[4]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Years active1942–1982
Spouses
Perla Mux
​
​
(m.1940;div.1944)​
Lydia Babacci
​
​
(m.1946;div.1952)​
​
​
(m.1954;div.1960)​
​
(m.1969)​
Children3, includingLorenzo Lamas
RelativesAJ Lamas(grandson)
Shayne Lamas(granddaughter)

Biography

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Argentina

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Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos[3][5]was born inBuenos Aires,Argentina.

In this country his movies includedEn el último piso(1942),Frontera Sur(1943),Villa rica del Espíritu Santo(1945), andStella(1946). Lamas was also seen inThe Poor People's Christmas(1947),The Tango Returns to Paris(1948), andThe Story of a Bad Woman(1948). He had the lead inLa rubia Mireya(1949) alongsideMecha Ortiz,and a key role inDe padre desconocido(1949),Vidalita(1949) andThe Story of the Tango(1950). He also appeared inCorrientes, calle de ensueños(1949), andLa otra y yo(1950). He was reportedly the third biggest star in the country.[6]His first American film wasThe Avengers(1950) forRepublic Picturesshot on location in Argentina. Some scenes were filmed in the US, leading to Lamas going to Hollywood.[7]

MGM

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Lamas with co-starDanielle DarrieuxinRich, Young and Pretty

In September 1949, he signed acontractwithMetro-Goldwyn-Mayerand went on to play mainly "Latin Lover"roles and occasionally sing in musicals.[8] In 1951, Lamas starred as Paul Sarnac in the musical,Rich, Young and PrettywithJane Powell.He supportedGreer GarsonandMichael WildinginThe Law and the Lady(1952) which was a flop.[9]

MGM gave him a startenorpart asLana Turner's love interest in the popular operettaThe Merry Widow(1952) byFranz Lehár.He romancedElizabeth TaylorinThe Girl Who Had Everything(1952), which was also successful. Lamas went toParamount Pictureswhere he was top billed inSangaree(1953). Back at MGM he wasEsther Williams' leading man inDangerous When Wet(1953), a big success. AtWarner Bros.Lamas starred inThe Diamond Queen(1954). He didJivaro(1954) at Paramount then returned to MGM for a remake ofRose Marie(1954) supportingHoward KeelandAnn Blyth.It was popular but failed to recoup its cost.[9]At Paramount he wasRosalind Russell's leading man inThe Girl Rush(1955). Lamas started appearing on television, including an adaptation ofHold Back the DawnforLux Video Theatre.

"I couldn't break the Latin lover image", Lamas later claimed.[10]He co-starred on Broadway in the 1956 musicalHappy HuntingwithEthel Merman,for which he was nominated for aTony Award.

Television

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Lamas did episodes ofJane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre( "The Bravado Touch" ),Climax!( "Spider Web" ),Pursuit( "Eagle in a Cage" ),Shirley Temple's Storybook,Zane Grey Theatrebut returned to features withThe Lost World(1960).[citation needed]He also guest starred in one episode ofThe Lucy Desi Comedy Hour Lamas also appeared in the TV show "Combat!" (season 5 episode 4) "Brothers."

Europe

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Lamas moved to Europe withEsther Williamswho became his wife. He directed a film both starred in,Magic Fountain,shot in 1961 and never released in the US. He went to Italy forDuel of Fire(1962), andRevenge of the Musketeers(1963). He helped write the WesternA Place Called Glory(1965).[citation needed]

Return to the U.S.

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Lamas returned to Hollywood. As an actor he focused on television, with guest appearances onBurke's Law,The Virginian,Laredo,Combat!,The Red Skelton Hour,HondoandThe Girl from U.N.C.L.E..From 1965 to 1968 Lamas had a regular role as Ramon De Vega onRun For Your Life,which starredBen Gazzara;Lamas also directed some episodes.[11]

He had a support role inValley of Mystery(1967), a pilot for a series that did not proceed. He directed another feature film,The Violent Ones,which was released in 1967 and co-starredAldo RayandDavid Carradine.He was inKill a Dragon(1967) and100 Rifles(1969) and had guest roles onThe High Chaparral,The Macahans,Tarzan,Then Came Bronson,It Takes a Thief,Mission: Impossible,The Name of the Game,Dan August,Alias Smith and Jones,Bearcats!,Mod Squad,Night Gallery,andMcCloud.[citation needed]

TV director

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Lamas started directing TV as well:The Bold Ones: The Lawyers,Mannix,Alias Smith and Jones,S.W.A.T.,The Rookies,Jigsaw John,Starsky and Hutch,The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries,The Amazing Spider-Man,Secrets of Midland Heights,Flamingo Road,andCode Red.As an actor, he was in the TV moviesThe Lonely Profession(1969) andMurder on Flight 502(1975). He could also be seen inBronk,Switch(which he also directed),Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood(1976),Quincy M.E.,Charlie's Angels,Police Woman,The Love Boat,The Cheap Detective,How the West Was Won,The Dream MerchantsandHouse Calls.

Last years and death

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Lamas produced the TV movieSamurai,released in 1979. He directed episodes ofFalcon Crestco-starring his son,Lorenzo.He also helmedBret Maverickand several episodes ofHouse Calls.

He had a supporting role in the seriesGavilanwhen he fell ill with cancer. His scenes were shot withPatrick Macnee.[12]

Fernando Lamas died ofpancreatic cancerin Los Angeles, aged 67. His ashes were scattered by close friendJonathan Goldsmithfrom his sailboat.[13][14]

Personal life

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Lamas was married four times. His first marriage was to Argentine actressPerla Mux[es]in 1940 and they had a daughter, Christina, before divorcing in 1944. His second marriage was in 1946 to Lydia Valeria Babacci; this marriage also produced a daughter, Alejandra Lydia.[15]They were divorced in 1952. His third wife was the American actressArlene Dahl.They were married in 1954. They were later divorced in 1960. Out of this marriage was born a son,Lorenzo Lamas(born January 20, 1958). His longest marriage was to swimmer and actressEsther Williamsin 1969, and they remained married until Lamas's death in 1982.[citation needed]

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His friend, actorJonathan Goldsmith,took inspiration from Lamas for the characterThe Most Interesting Man in the World.[16] The most well known parody of Fernando was on theSaturday Night Livesketches that featuredBilly Crystal. In the recurringFernando's Hideawaysketch, Crystal used Lamas's accent for inspiration, as well as a quote from the actor: "It is better to look good than to feel good."[17]

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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Radio appearances

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Year Program Episode/source
1952 Lux Radio Theatre Strictly Dishonorable[18]

References

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  1. ^Ancestry Library Edition[verification needed]
  2. ^According to this baptism certificate he was born in 1916:Baptism certificate
  3. ^ab"International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions".International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts.Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 22,2017.
  4. ^The Annual Obituary.St. Martin's. 1982. p. 487.ISBN978-0-312-03877-9.
  5. ^However, his mother was Fernández not de Santos.
  6. ^Hopper, H. (April 20, 1952). "Fernando Lamas – latest latin lover".Chicago Daily Tribune.ProQuest178278541.
  7. ^E. G. (June 26, 1949). "Argentine Odyssey".New York Times.ProQuest105947398.
  8. ^Thomas F. Brady (September 10, 1949). "Argentine Actor Signed at Metro".New York Times.ProQuest105840855.
  9. ^abThe Eddie Mannix Ledger,Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  10. ^Prelutsky, B. (March 19, 1978). "Penciling in an accent".Los Angeles Times.ProQuest158522633.
  11. ^"Fernando lamas to debut as director".Los Angeles Times.January 18, 1967.ProQuest155642242.
  12. ^"Fernando Lamas, Actor at 67".The New York Times.A.P. October 9, 1982.ProQuest424459723.
  13. ^Aradillas, Elaine (July 2, 2009)."Meet the Real Most Interesting Man in the World".People.RetrievedAugust 3,2010.
  14. ^Lamas, Lorenzo; Lenburg, Jeff (2014).Renegade at Heart: An Autobiography.BenBella Books, Inc. Kindle Edition. pp. 6–7.ISBN978-1941631256.
  15. ^Brazilian visa
  16. ^"The Most Interesting Man in the World".Fox News. September 27, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon November 12, 2020.RetrievedAugust 22,2017.
  17. ^"Saturday Night Live from 'SNL's' Most Memorable Moments".ABC News.April 14, 2020.RetrievedMay 30,2021.
  18. ^Kirby, Walter (December 7, 1952)."Better Radio Programs for the Week".Decatur Herald and Review.p. 52.RetrievedJune 14,2015– viaNewspapers.com.
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