George Thomas Regas (

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

: Γεώργιος Θωμάς Ρεγάκος; November 9, 1890 – December 13, 1940) was a

Greek American Greek Americans ( el, Ελληνοαμερικανοί ''Ellinoamerikanoí'' ''Ellinoamerikánoi'' ) are Americans of full or partial Greek ancestry. The lowest estimate is that 1.2 million Americans are of Greek descent while the highest es ...

actor.

Biography

Regis was born in the village of Goranoi near

Sparta, Greece Sparta (Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referred t ...

, the brother of actor

Pedro Regas Petros 'Pedro' Regas (born Panagiotis Thomas Regakos; April 18, 1897 – August 10, 1974 in Hollywood, Los Angeles), a veteran stage actor, Regas was spotted on the Broadway stage by Mary Pickford who persuaded him to go to Hollywood and be ...

. He was a stage actor in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

before coming to the United States. In

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

he played Romeo in a Grecian version of ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

''.''Character People'', First Edition, Citadel Press, 1977; In 1921, Regas acted in his first motion picture, ''

The Love Light ''The Love Light'' is a 1921 American silent drama film starring Mary Pickford. The film was written and directed by Frances Marion. Pickford selected the story as she wanted to play an adult and not another adolescent role. Plot Based upon a ...

'' with

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

. This film was produced by Pickford's production company. He would go on to create character roles in over one hundred films. His rugged looks and Mediterranean complexion allowed him to play a wide variety of nationalities in action and adventure films. He was married to actress

Reine Davies Reine Davies (born Irene Douras; June 6, 1883 – April 5, 1938) was an American singer and actress. Life and career Davies was born on June 6, 1883, in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Bernard J. Douras, a lawyer and judge in New York City; ...

, the sister of

Marion Davies Marion Davies (born Marion Cecilia Douras; January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. Educated in a religious convent, Davies fled the school to pursue a career as a chorus girl ...

. He starred as Mateo in ''

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' is a collection of twelve short stories by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, first published on 14 October 1892. It contains the earliest short stories featuring the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, w ...

'' (1939). On Broadway, Regas portrayed Pedro in ''Zombie'' (1932).

Death

Regas died In St. Vincent's Hospital after an operation for a throat infection on December 13, 1940, in Hollywood,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, at age fifty. His last film role was Sergeant Gonzales in '' The Mark of Zorro''. He is entombed at

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...

alongside his brother.

Partial filmography

* ''

'' (1921) - Tony * ''

The Dangerous Moment ''The Dangerous Moment'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Marcel De Sano and starring Carmel Myers,Lule Warrenton and George Regas.Munden p.167 Cast * Carmel Myers as Sylvia Palprini * Lule Warrenton as Mrs. Tarkides * George ...

'' (1921) - Movros Tarkides * '' Omar the Tentmaker'' (1922) - Emissary to the Shah * ''The Rip-Tide'' (1923) - The Philosopher * ''

Fashionable Fakers ''Fashionable Fakers'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by William Worthington and starring Johnnie Walker, Mildred June and Lillian Lawrence.Munden p.231 It was released in Britain with the alternative title ''A Going Concern''. ...

'' (1923) - A. Turk * ''

The Sea Hawk ''The Sea Hawk'' is a 1915 novel by Rafael Sabatini. The story is set over the years 1588–1593 and concerns a retired Cornish seafaring gentleman, Sir Oliver Tressilian, who is villainously betrayed by a jealous half-brother. After being ...

'' (1924) - Oarsman (uncredited) * '' The Wanderer'' (1925) - Gaal * ''

That Royle Girl ''That Royle Girl'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by D. W. Griffith and released by Paramount Pictures. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Edwin Balmer, and starred Carol Dempster, W. C. Fields and Harri ...

'' (1925) - Baretta's Henchman * ''

Desert Gold Desert Gold may refer to: * ''Geraea canescens'', a wildflower also known as Desert Sunflower * Desert Gold (horse), a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse **Desert Gold (1919 film), ''Desert Gold'' (1919 film), an Australian film about the racehorse ...

'' (1926) - Verd * ''

Beau Geste ''Beau Geste'' is an adventure novel by British writer P. C. Wren, which details the adventures of three English brothers who enlist separately in the French Foreign Legion following the theft of a valuable jewel from the country house of a rel ...

'' (1926) - Maris * '' The Rescue'' (1929) - Wasub * ''

Redskin Redskin is a slang term for Native Americans in the United States and First Nations in Canada. The term ''redskin'' underwent pejoration through the 19th to early 20th centuries and in contemporary dictionaries of American English it is lab ...

'' (1929) - Notani * ''

Wolf Song ''Wolf Song'' is a 1929 American silent Western romance film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Gary Cooper and Lupe Vélez. Based on a story by Harvey Fergusson, the film is about a man who heads out west in 1840 looking for adventure and ...

'' (1929) - Black Wolf * ''

The Wheel of Life ''The Wheel of Life'' is a famous boulder problem in the sport of rock climbing. Located in Hollow Mountain Cave in the Grampians of Australia and initially graded , it is now commonly considered to be . Route The problem, which consists of ...

'' (1929) - Bit Role (uncredited) * '' Sea Fury'' (1929) - Captain * ''

Acquitted In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as criminal law is concerned. The finality of an acquittal is dependent on the jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the ...

'' (1929) - Tony (billed as George Rigas) * ''Alma de Gaucho'' (1930) - Don Casimiro * '' The Lonesome Trail'' (1930) - The Ring Tailored Roarer * ''

Beau Ideal ''Beau Ideal'' is a 1931 American pre-Code adventure film directed by Herbert Brenon and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film was based on the 1927 adventure novel ''Beau Ideal'' by P. C. Wren, the third novel in a series of five novels base ...

'' (1931) - The Emir * ''

Caught Cheating ''Caught Cheating'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer from a screenplay by W. Scott Darling. The film stars Charles Murray, George Sidney, and Nita Martan, and it was released by Tiffany Productions on January ...

'' (1931) - Giuseppe * ''

Riders of the North ''Riders of the North'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western (genre), Western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Bob Custer, Blanche Mehaffey and Eddie Dunn (actor), Eddie Dunn. Cast * Bob Custer as Mountie Sergeant Stone * Blanche Meha ...

'' (1931) - Leclerc * '' Trapped'' (1931) - Jim Moore * '' City Streets'' (1931) - Machine Gunner (uncredited) * '' Newly Rich'' (1931) - Lippo (uncredited) * ''

Hell-Bent for Frisco ''Hell-Bent for Frisco'' is a 1931 American pre-Code action film directed by Stuart Paton and starring Charles Delaney, Vera Reynolds and Carroll Nye.Darby, p. 107 Synopsis After his girlfriend's brother is murdered, a San Francisco newspaper ...

'' (1931) - Tony * '' Danger Island'' (1931, Serial) - Lascara * ''

Battling with Buffalo Bill ''Battling with Buffalo Bill'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western serial film directed by Ray Taylor and starring Tom Tyler, Lucile Browne, William Desmond, Rex Bell, and Francis Ford. Based on the book ''The Great West That Was'' by Wi ...

'' (1931) - Henchman Breed Johns * ''

Mounted Fury ''Mounted Fury'' is a 1931 American drama film directed by Stuart Paton and written by Betty Burbridge. The film stars John Bowers, Blanche Mehaffey, Robert Ellis, Frank Rice, George Regas and Lina Basquette. The film was released on Decembe ...

'' (1931) - Pierre LeStrange * '' The Golden West'' (1932) - Chief Black Wolf (uncredited) * '' Destination Unknown'' (1933) - Tauru * '' Central Airport'' (1933) - Havana Mechanic (uncredited) * ''

The Phantom of the Air ''The Phantom of the Air'' is a 12-episode 1933 Pre-Code Universal film serial directed by Ray Taylor. The film stars Tom Tyler, who was cast most often in Westerns. Other actors include Gloria Shea, LeRoy Mason, Craig Reynolds and William Desm ...

'' (1933, Serial) - Ship Captain (uncredited) * '' The Way to Love'' (1933) - Pedro * ''

Blood Money Blood money may refer to: * Blood money (restitution), money paid to the family of a murder victim Films * Blood Money (1917 film), ''Blood Money'' (1917 film), a film starring Harry Carey * Blood Money (1921 film), ''Blood Money'' (1921 film ...

'' (1933) - Charley * '' Sixteen Fathoms Deep'' (1934) - Theo Savanis * ''

Viva Villa! ''Viva Villa!'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Jack Conway and starring Wallace Beery as Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. The screenplay was written by Ben Hecht, adapted from the 1933 book '' Viva Villa!'' by Edgecumb Pinchon a ...

'' (1934) - Don Rodrigo * ''

Grand Canary Gran Canaria (, ; ), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa which is part of Spain. the island had a population of that c ...

'' (1934) - El Dazo (uncredited) * '' Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back'' (1934) - Singh * ''

Fighting Trooper ''Fighting Trooper'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor. The film is also known as ''The Trooper'' in the United Kingdom. Cast *Kermit Maynard as NWMP Trooper Burke *Barbara Worth as Diane La Farge *LeRoy Mason as Andre La ...

'' (1934) - Henri * ''

Kid Millions ''Kid Millions'' (1934) is an American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and starring Eddie Cantor. Its elaborate "Ice Cream Fantasy Finale" production number was filmed in three-strip Technicolor, one ...

'' (1934) - Attendant (uncredited) * ''

The Marines Are Coming ''The Marines Are Coming'' is a 1934 American action drama film directed by David Howard and starring William Haines, Conrad Nagel and Esther Ralston. It was produced and distributed by the independent Mascot Pictures. It was the final film ac ...

'' (1934) - The Torch (uncredited) * ''

Red Morning ''Red Morning'' is a 1934 American adventure film directed by Wallace Fox from a screenplay by John Twist and Wallace Fox, based on a story by Gouverneur Morris. The film stars Steffi Duna, Regis Toomey, Raymond Hatton, and Mitchell Lewis. Cas ...

'' (1934) - Native (uncredited) * '' Bordertown'' (1935) - Guillermo - Jailer in Mexico (uncredited) * '' The Lives of a Bengal Lancer'' (1935) - Kushal Khan (uncredited) * ''

Under Pressure "Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's 1982 album ''Hot Space''. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, ...

'' (1935) - Ruby, the Greek (uncredited) * '' Eight Bells'' (1935) - Pedro (uncredited) * ''

The Red Blood of Courage ''Red Blood of Courage'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by John English from a screenplay by Barry Barringer. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Ann Sheridan, and Reginald Barlow. Plot Sgt. Sullivan of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police go ...

'' (1935) - Frenchy - Henchman * ''

In Caliente ''In Caliente'' (also known as ''Viva Señorita'') is a 1935 American romantic musical comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring Dolores del Río and Pat O'Brien. The film was written by Ralph Block and Warren Duff. The musical numbers wer ...

'' (1935) - First Motor Cop (uncredited) * '' Pursuit'' (1935) - Mexican Border Patrolman (uncredited) * '' Here's to Romance'' (1935) - Greek Husband (uncredited) * ''Night Cargo'' (1936) - Gus Noble * ''

Rose Marie Rose Marie (born Rose Marie Mazzetta; August 15, 1923 – December 28, 2017) was an American actress, singer, comedian, and vaudeville performer with a career ultimately spanning nine decades, which included film, radio, records, theater, night ...

'' (1936) - Boniface * '' Hell-Ship Morgan'' (1936) - Covanci * '' Robin Hood of El Dorado'' (1936) - Tomás * ''

The Girl from Mandalay ''The Girl from Mandalay'' is a 1936 American action film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Wellyn Totman and Endre Bohem. It is based on the 1931 novel ''Tiger Valley'' by Reginald Campbell. The film stars Conrad Nagel, Kay Linaker, ...

'' (1936) - Headman * '' Under Two Flags'' (1936) - Keskerdit (uncredited) * ''

Sworn Enemy Sworn Enemy is an American crossover thrash band from New York City. Biography The band formed as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential New York hardcore scene. At its original inception th ...

'' (1936) - Greek - a Gangster (uncredited) * ''

Isle of Fury ''Isle of Fury'' is a 1936 American adventure film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Humphrey Bogart, Margaret Lindsay, and Donald Woods. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The film was adapted by Robert Hardy Andrews and ...

'' (1936) - Otar * ''

Rebellion Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority. A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...

'' (1936) - Gang Member (uncredited) * ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'' (1936) - Black Eagle * ''

The Charge of the Light Brigade The Charge of the Light Brigade was a failed military action involving the British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan had intended to s ...

'' (1936) - Wazir * ''

Waikiki Wedding ''Waikiki Wedding'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, and Shirley Ross. Crosby plays the part of Tony Marvin, a PR man charged with extolling the virtues of the Territory ...

'' (1937) - Muamua * ''

Left-Handed Law ''Left-Handed Law'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Frances Guihan. It is based on the 1936 novel ''Left Handed Law'' by Charles M. Martin. The film stars Buck Jones, Noel Francis, Nina Quartero, Fran ...

'' (1937) - Sam Logan * '' Another Dawn'' (1937) - Sheik Achaben (scenes deleted) * '' The Californian'' (1937) - Ruiz * ''

The Legion of Missing Men ''The Legion of Missing Men'' is a 1937 Monogram Pictures film about the French Foreign Legion set in the French protectorate of Morocco. Directed by Hamilton MacFadden, it stars Ralph Forbes who had also served in the cinematic Foreign Legion i ...

'' (1937) - Sgt. Garcia * ''

Love Under Fire ''Love Under Fire'' is a 1937 American drama film based upon the play by Walter C. Hackett. It was directed by George Marshall and stars Loretta Young, Don Ameche and Frances Drake. The film's sets were designed by the art director Rudolph Ster ...

'' (1937) - Lieutenant De Vega * ''

Charlie Chan on Broadway ''Charlie Chan on Broadway'' (1937) is a Charlie Chan film. This is the 15th film starring Oland as Chan and produced by Fox. Plot While Charlie Chan and his number one son, Lee, are aboard a New York-bound transatlantic liner returning from Ger ...

'' (1937) - Hindu (uncredited) * ''

Ali Baba Goes to Town ''Ali Baba Goes to Town'' is a 1937 musical film directed by David Butler and starring Eddie Cantor, Tony Martin, and Roland Young. Cantor plays a hobo named Aloysius "Al" Babson, who walks into the camp of a movie company that is making th ...

'' (1937) - Bearded Arab (uncredited) * '' Clipped Wings'' (1937) - Fernando - Moran's Henchman * ''

The Mysterious Pilot ''The Mysterious Pilot'' is a 15-episode 1937 Columbia movie serial based on the book by William Byron Mowery and starring the record-breaking aviator Frank Hawks. This was the second serial produced by Columbia. In the serial, Hawks plays a fl ...

'' (1937, Serial) - RCAF Constable Remington (uncredited) * ''

Hawaiian Buckaroo ''Hawaiian Buckaroo'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Daniel Jarrett. The film stars Smith Ballew, Evalyn Knapp, Harry Woods, Pat J. O'Brien, George Regas and Benny Burt. The film was released on January ...

'' (1938) - Regas * ''

Torchy Blane in Panama ''Torchy Blane in Panama'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by William Clemens (film director), William Clemens and starring Lola Lane, Paul Kelly (actor), Paul Kelly, and Tom Kennedy (actor), Tom Kennedy. Released on May 7, 1938, the fi ...

'' (1938) - Gomez * ''

Four Men and a Prayer ''Four Men and a Prayer'' is a 1938 American adventure film directed by John Ford and starring Loretta Young, Richard Greene and George Sanders. Plot After Loring Leigh (C. Aubrey Smith), a British Army Officer, is cashiered in India followin ...

'' (1938) - Egyptian Policeman (uncredited) * ''

The Toy Wife ''The Toy Wife'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Luise Rainer and Melvyn Douglas. The period film was produced by Merian C. Cooper and written by Zoë Akins. Plot Set before the American Civil War, ''The T ...

'' (1938) - Man Shot in Court (uncredited) * '' Mr. Moto Takes a Chance'' (1938) - Bokor * '' Arrest Bulldog Drummond'' (1938) - Soongh * '' Scouts to the Rescue'' (1939) - Lokola -Indian Tribe High Priest * '' Gunga Din'' (1939) - Thug Chieftain (uncredited) * ''

The Oklahoma Kid ''The Oklahoma Kid'' is a 1939 Western film starring James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. The film was directed for Warner Bros. by Lloyd Bacon. Cagney plays an adventurous gunslinger in a broad-brimmed cowboy hat while Bogart portrays his blac ...

'' (1939) - Pedro (uncredited) * ''

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Paci ...

'' (1939) - Indian Hearing Mollie's Telegraphy (uncredited) * ''

Code of the Secret Service ''Code of the Secret Service'' is a 1939 film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Ronald Reagan. It is the second of four films in the U.S. Secret Service Agent Brass Bancroft series, having been preceded by ''Secret Service of the Air'' (19 ...

'' (1939) - Mexican Police Officer * ''

'' (1939) - Arab Scout (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) - Matteo * ''

The Rains Came ''The Rains Came'' is a 1939 20th Century Fox film based on an American novel by Louis Bromfield (published in June 1937 by Harper & Brothers). The film was directed by Clarence Brown and stars Myrna Loy, Tyrone Power, George Brent, Brenda ...

'' (1939) - Rajput (uncredited) * '' The Cat and the Canary'' (1939) - Indian Guide * '' The Mad Empress'' (1939) - Mariano Escobedo * ''

The Light That Failed ''The Light That Failed'' is the first novel by the Nobel Prize-winning English author Rudyard Kipling, first published in ''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine'' in January 1891. Most of the novel is set in London, but many important events through ...

'' (1939) - Cassavetti * ''

Virginia City Virginia City is a census-designated place (CDP) that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada, and the largest community in the county. The city is a part of the Reno– Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Virginia City developed as a boom ...

'' (1940) - Murrell's Halfbreed Henchman (uncredited) * ''

'Til We Meet Again ''Til We Meet Again'' is a 1940 romance film directed by Edmund Goulding and Anatole Litvak and starring Merle Oberon and George Brent as two doomed, star-crossed lovers. It is a remake of the 1932 film ''One Way Passage'' and itself was remade i ...

'' (1940) - Mexican Bartender (uncredited) * ''

Torrid Zone The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

'' (1940) - Sergeant of Police * '' North West Mounted Police'' (1940) - Freddie (uncredited) * '' The Mark of Zorro'' (1940) - Sergeant Gonzales (final film role)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Regas, George 1890 births 1940 deaths Greek emigrants to the United States Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Greek male film actors Greek male stage actors Male Western (genre) film actors People from Laconia