René Rivera, (July 20, 1935 – September 26, 2013), known professionally as Mario Montez, was one of the

Warhol superstars Warhol superstars were a clique of New York City personalities promoted by the pop artist Andy Warhol during the 1960s and early 1970s. These personalities appeared in Warhol's artworks and accompanied him in his social life, epitomizing his fam ...

, appearing in thirteen of

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...

's underground films from 1964 to 1966. He took his name as a male homage to the actress

Maria Montez María África Gracia Vidal (6 June 1912 – 7 September 1951), known professionally as Maria Montez, was a Dominican motion picture actress who gained fame and popularity in the 1940s starring in a series of filmed-in-Technicolor costume ...

, an important gay icon in the 1950s and 1960s. Before appearing in Warhol's films, he appeared in Jack Smith's important underground films ''

Flaming Creatures ''Flaming Creatures'' is a 1963 American experimental film directed by Jack Smith. The film shows performers dressed in elaborate drag for several disconnected scenes, including a lipstick commercial, an orgy, and an earthquake. It premiered Apr ...

'' and ''

Normal Love ''Normal Love'' is an experimental film project by American director Jack Smith (film director), Jack Smith. It shows the adventures of an ensemble of glamorously dressed monsters. Smith filmed the project in 1963 and began screening the work in pi ...

''. Montez also stars in the

Ron Rice Ron Rice (born Charles Ronald Rice; 1935 in New York City – 1964 in Acapulco, Mexico) was an American experimental filmmaker, whose free-form style influenced experimental filmmakers in New York and California during the early 1960s. Caree ...

film ''

Chumlum ''Chumlum'' is a 1963 American experimental short film directed by Ron Rice. Description ''Chumlum'' is largely non-narrative, with no dialogue or clear succession of events. It begins with the exterior of a building before moving to a loft insid ...

'', made in 1964. Mario Montez, was "a staple in the New York underground scene of the 1960s and '70s."''Columbia U. holds tribute to Boricua drag performer from Warhol's era.''
New York Daily News. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

Early years

Montez was born René Rivera in

Ponce, Puerto Rico Ponce (, , , ) is both a city and a municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government. Ponce, Puerto Rico's most populated city outside the San Juan metropolitan area, was founded on 12 August 1 ...

, in 1935. When he was 8, the family moved to

East Harlem East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem or and historically known as Italian Harlem, is a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City, roughly encompassing the area north of the Upper East Side and bounded by 96th Street to the south, F ...

where he grew up. In New York, he studied print and graphic arts but worked in clerical jobs.

Acting career

A cross dresser and drag queen, he took his name from the 1940s Hollywood starlet María Montez. His acting career started somewhat by chance when he met avant-garde filmmaker Jack Smith, who included him in his 1963 underground classic ''

''. Montez did not attend acting school, instead he admits he learned acting "from watching old movies".

Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the Art movement, visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore th ...

gave Montez the "superstar" status he bestowed on his protégés, but in spite of working in many of his films, Montez never developed a close relationship with the famously laconic Warhol. Montez was also a co-founder of

Charles Ludlam Charles Braun Ludlam (April 12, 1943 – May 28, 1987) was an American actor, director, and playwright. Biography Early life Ludlam was born in Floral Park, New York, the son of Marjorie (née Braun) and Joseph William Ludlam. He was raise ...

's Ridiculous Theatrical Company, which rehearsed at Montez's loft in

SoHo Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was develop ...

Retirement from the film industry

In January 1977, Montez moved to Orlando, Florida. After moving to Florida, he quit entertainment altogether and remained out of the public eye until 2006 when he appeared in a documentary about filmmaker Jack Smith. In Florida, he returned to working clerical jobs.

Honors

In March 2010, Montez was honored by Columbia University's Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race: "Mario is considered one of the most gifted performers of the underground period." In February 2012, Montez was honored with the Special Teddy Award 2012 at the

Berlinale The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

for his outstanding role in underground film history. "Mario was the first Superstar ever and the queen mom of all drag queens" John Waters in his laudation at the Teddy Award Ceremony 2012.

Death

He died of a stroke in 2013.

Filmography

Directed by Jack Smith

*''

'', 1962-63 (as Dolores Flores) *''

'', 1963–65 * ''The Borrowed Tambourine'', 1967 *''Reefers of Technicolor Island/Jungle Island'', 1967 *''No President'', 1967-1970s

Directed by Ron Rice

*''

'', 1963

Directed by Andy Warhol

*''Mario Banana No. 1'', 1964 *''Mario Banana No. 2'', 1964 *''

Batman Dracula ''Batman Dracula'' is a 1964 black and white American superhero fan film produced and directed by Andy Warhol without the permission of DC Comics, who owns the character Batman. Production background The film was screened only at Warhol's art ...

'', 1964 (unfinished) *''Mario Montez Dances'', 1964 *''

Harlot Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...

'', 1964 *''Screen Test No. 2'', 1965 *''Mario Montez'' '

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'', 1965 *''More Milk, Yvette'', 1965 *''Mario Montez and Boy'', 1965 *''Hedy'', 1966 *''Ari and Mario'', 1966 * Bufferin Commercial, 1966 *''Chelsea Girls, The Chelsea Girls'', 1966

Directed by Piero Heliczer

*''Dirt'', 1965 *''Satisfaction''

Directed by Bill Vehr

*''Avocada'', 1965 *''Brothel'', 1966 * ''Waiting for Sugar'' *''The Mystery of the Spanish Lady'' *''M. M. for M. M.'', 1967 (unfinished, lost)

Directed by José Rodriguez-Soltero

*''Life, Death and Assumption of Lupe Vélez'', 1966

Directed by Frank Simon

*''The Queen'', 1968 (cameo)

Directed by Avery Willard

*''Flaming Twenties'', 1968 * ''The Gypsy's Ball'', 1969

Directed by Takahiko Iimura

* ''Face'', 1969

Directed by Roberts Blossom

*''Movie'', 196?

Directed by Alfredo Leonardi

*''Occhio privato sul nuovo mondo'', 1970

Directed by Helio Oiticica

*''Agripina é Roma-Manhattan'', 1972 (unfinished)

Directed by Leandro Katz

*''Reel Six, Charles Ludlam's Grand Tarot'', 1987

Directed by Mary Jordan

*''

Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis ''Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis'' is a documentary film that premiered in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. It is a collection of interviews and clips by and about the revolutionary artist Jack Smith. It was directed by Mary Jordan an ...

'', 2006

Directed by Conrad Ventur

* ''Mario Banana'', 2010 * ''Mario Montez creen Test Portrait', 2010 * ''Atlantis'', 2011 * ''Boca Chica'', 2013

Directed by John Edward Heys

* ''A Lazy Summer Afternoon with Mario Montez'', 2011

Plays

* ''Conquest of the Universe or When Queens Collide'', 1967 * ''Bluebeard'', 1970 * ''Vain Victory'', 1971

Awards

*2012: Special Teddy

References

External links

* *
"A Lazy Summer Afternoon with Mario Montez" at Berlinale 2012
* Katz, Leandro, ''Bedlam Days: The Early Plays of Charles Ludlam and The Ridiculous Theatrical Company'', {{DEFAULTSORT:Montez, Mario LGBT entertainers from Puerto Rico 1935 births 2013 deaths Puerto Rican male film actors Male actors from Ponce, Puerto Rico American drag queens People associated with The Factory People from East Harlem