Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez (May 24, 1925 – February 6, 2006) was an American

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

best known for his appearances in a number of

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

movies.

Life and career

His father was a

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

player, and his mother was a dancer. His brother was actor

Jose Gonzales-Gonzales Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez (December 7, 1922 – December 15, 2000) was a Mexican American character actor and the brother of actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez. Life and career Born Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez in Guadalajara, Mexico to a Mexican American ...

(1922-2000). He left school at the age of seven to join a family act called "Las Perlitas" that toured southwest Texas. As a result, he was functionally

illiterate Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, hum ...

for all of his life. As a result of his illiteracy, he memorized scripts by having his wife read them to him. Gonzalez Gonzalez married at the age of seventeen and served in the Army during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

as a driver in the United States. After the war he performed

stand-up comedy Stand-up comedy is a comedy, comedic performance to a live audience in which the performer addresses the audience directly from the stage. The performer is known as a comedian, a comic or a stand-up. Stand-up comedy consists of One-line joke ...

for Spanish-speaking audiences. In 1953, he appeared on the

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

television quiz show ''

You Bet Your Life ''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show deb ...

'' under the name Ramiro G. Gonzalez, where his banter with Marx attracted notice. Marx asked him: "What does the 'G' stand for?" to which he replied "Gonzalez", and explained that both his parents had been surnamed "Gonzalez" before being married. So Marx asked: "What does your wife call you: Ramiro or Gonzalez?" He replied "She calls me 'Pedro'", triggering rare laughter from Marx. After Gonzalez performed a 15-second comic dance to strong applause, Marx complimented his guest's comedic skill, saying: "Pedro, we could do a great act together. We could make a fortune in vaudeville, you and I. What -- what would we call our act, you know, if we went out together? 'The Two Hot Tamales'?" After Pedro deadpanned "Gonzalez Gonzalez and Marx", Marx made an aside: "That's nice billing. Two people in the act, and I get third place!" John Wayne saw his appearance on the program and cast him as comic relief in a number of movies including '' The High and the Mighty'', '' Rio Bravo'' and '' Hellfighters.'' He also made guest appearances in shows such as ''

The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television, where it ...

'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' and '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'', as well as the

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

film, '' Hook, Line & Sinker''. Wayne also had

Burt Kennedy Burton Raphael Kennedy (September 3, 1922 – February 15, 2001) was an American screenwriter and director known mainly for directing Westerns. Budd Boetticher called him "the best Western writer ever." Biography Kennedy was born in 1922 i ...

write a TV series for Gonzalez Gonzalez that was never made. Gonzalez Gonzalez played extra characters behind

Mel Blanc Melvin Jerome Blanc (born Blank ; May 30, 1908July 10, 1989) was an American voice actor and radio personality whose career spanned over 60 years. During the Golden Age of Radio, he provided character voices and vocal sound effects for comedy ra ...

in a number of

Speedy Gonzales Speedy Gonzales is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. He is portrayed as "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico" with his major traits being the ability to run extremely fast ...

cartoons, including " A Taste of Catnip" and "

Go Go Amigo ''Go Go Amigo'' is a 1965 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon directed by Robert McKimson. The short was released on November 20, 1965, and stars Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales. Plot Tired of the local Mexican villagers crowding around his di ...

," billed generally as Gonzalez Gonzalez. As a result of playing comic relief roles, he was accused of perpetuating negative

stereotypes In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can be, for example ...

about Hispanic men. However,

Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in ''Miami Vice'' (1984–1989), ''American Me'' (1992) (which he also dir ...

said of Gonzalez Gonzalez at the time of his death that he "inspired every Latino actor." He died at his home of natural causes, and was survived by his wife Leandra and three children.''Chicago Tribune'' obituary, February 19, 2006, page 7, section 4 He is the grandfather of actor

Clifton Collins Jr. Clifton Craig Collins Jr. is an American actor. After starting in 1990, with small roles in film and on television, Collins gained attention for his performance as Cpl. Ramon Aguilar, a prisoner "serving" under an imprisoned general played by R ...

Filmography

Film

*''

Wings of the Hawk ''Wings of the Hawk'' is a 1953 3-D American Western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Van Heflin and Julie Adams. It is set during the Mexican Revolution.Budd Boetticher: The Last Interview Wheeler, Winston Dixon. Film Criticism; ...

'' (1953) - Tomas *'' The High and the Mighty'' (1954) - Gonzales *'' Ring of Fear'' (1954) - Pedro Gonzales *''

Ricochet Romance "Ricochet" (sometimes rendered "Rick-o-Shay" and also as "Ricochet Romance") is a popular music, popular song. The credits show it to be written by Larry Coleman (composer), Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel, without apportioning the w ...

'' (1954) - Manuel Gonzales *'' Strange Lady in Town'' (1955) - Trooper Martinez-Martinez *''

Bengazi Benghazi () , ; it, Bengasi; tr, Bingazi; ber, Bernîk, script=Latn; also: ''Bengasi'', ''Benghasi'', ''Banghāzī'', ''Binghāzī'', ''Bengazi''; grc, Βερενίκη ('' Berenice'') and ''Hesperides''., group=note (''lit. Son of he Ghaz ...

'' (1955) - Kamal *''

I Died a Thousand Times ''I Died a Thousand Times'' is a 1955 American CinemaScope Warnercolor film noir directed by Stuart Heisler. The drama features Jack Palance as paroled bank robber Roy Earle, with Shelley Winters, Lee Marvin, Earl Holliman, Perry Lopez, Pedro ...

'' (1955) - Chico *''

The Bottom of the Bottle ''The Bottom of the Bottle'' is a 1956 CinemaScope American drama film based on the novel written by Georges Simenon during his stay in Nogales, Arizona. The novel was adapted for film by Sydney Boehm and directed by Henry Hathaway. Plot Patric ...

'' (1956) - Luis Romero *''

Gun the Man Down ''Gun the Man Down'' is a 1956 Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Arness and Angie Dickinson in her first leading role. The film was produced by Robert E. Morrison for his brother John Wayne's company Batjac Producti ...

'' (1956) - Hotel man *''

Man in the Vault ''Man in the Vault'' is a 1956 film noir about a locksmith, played by William Campbell, who is forced to help gangsters commit a robbery. The screenplay by Burt Kennedy was based on the novel ''The Lock and the Key'' by Frank Gruber. The film wa ...

'' (1956) - Pedro *''

The Sheepman ''The Sheepman'' is a 1958 American Western comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine, and Leslie Nielsen. Plot Gambler Jason Sweet (Ford) wins a flock of sheep in a poker game and proceeds to take them ...

'' (1958) - Angelo *'' Rio Bravo'' (1959) - Carlos Robante *''

The Young Land ''The Young Land'' is a 1959 American Western film directed by Ted Tetzlaff and starring Patrick Wayne, Yvonne Craig, Dennis Hopper and Dan O'Herlihy. The cinematography was by Technicolor developer Winton C. Hoch and Henry Sharp. The film wa ...

'' (1959) - Deputy Santiago *'' Chili Corn Corny'' (1965, Short) - Crows (voice) (as Gonzales Gonzales) *''

'' (1965, Short) - Mouse (voice) (as Gonzales Gonzales) *'' Daffy Rents'' (1966, Short) - Dr. Ben Crazy (voice) (as Gonzales Gonzales) *'' A Taste of Catnip'' (1966, Short) - Dr. Mañuel Jose 'Olvera Sebastian Rudolfo Ortiz Pancho Jiminez Perez III (voice) (as Gonzales Gonzales) *''

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin ''The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' is a 1967 American Western comedy film directed by James Neilson, produced by Walt Disney Productions, starring Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette, Hermione Baddeley, and Karl Malden. The film's screenpl ...

'' (1967) - Bandido *''

Hostile Guns ''Hostile Guns'' is a 1967 Western starring George Montgomery, Tab Hunter and Yvonne de Carlo. Plot Cast * George Montgomery as Sheriff Gid McCool *Tab Hunter as Mike Reno *Yvonne De Carlo as Laura Mannon *Brian Donlevy as Marshal Willett * ...

'' (1967) - Angel Dominguez *'' Hellfighters'' (1968) - Hernando (uncredited) *''

The Love Bug ''The Love Bug'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and the first in a franchise by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 19 ...

'' (1968) - Mexican Driver *'' Hook, Line & Sinker'' (1969) - Perfecto *''

The Love God? ''The Love God?'' is a 1969 American comedy film starring Don Knotts and Edmond O'Brien. It was written and directed by Nat Hiken, who died between the completion of shooting and the film's release. ''The Love God?'' marked a change of pace for Kn ...

'' (1969) - Jose - Jungle Guide (uncredited) *''

Chisum ''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the titular role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War." The supporting cast featu ...

'' (1970) - Mexican Rancher *'' Zachariah'' (1971) - Pancho the Doorman (uncredited) *'' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971) - Ortiz *''

Sixpack Annie ''Sixpack Annie'' is a 1975 American International film aimed at the drive-in theatre circuit that was advertised with tags "Lookout... She's Legal Now! She's Out to Tear the Town Apart!" and "She's got the boys glad and the sheriff mad," amongst ...

'' (1975) - Carmello *''

Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood ''Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood'' is a 1976 American comedy film directed by Michael Winner, and starring Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr and Art Carney. Spoofing the craze surrounding Rin Tin Tin, the film is notable for the lar ...

'' (1976) - Mexican Protectionist *''

Charge of the Model T's ''Charge of the Model T's'' is a 1977 American comedy spy film directed by Jim McCullough Sr. with the screenplay by Jim McCullough Jr. based upon the novel of the same name by Lee Somerville. Starring John David Carson, Carol Bagdasarian, Louis ...

'' (1977) - Sanchez *'' Dreamer'' (1979) - Too *'' There Goes the Bride'' (1980) - Mr. Ramirez *''Flush'' (1982) - Miguelito *''

Lust in the Dust ''Lust in the Dust'' is a 1985 Western comedy film starring Tab Hunter, Divine, Cesar Romero, and Lainie Kazan, and directed by Paul Bartel. Plot Dance-hall girl Rosie Velez, lost in the desert, is helped to safety by gunman Abel Wood. In the ...

'' (1985) - Mexican, Hardcase Gang *'' Uphill All the Way'' (1986) - Chicken Carlos *''Y... se hizo justicia'' (1986) *''Ghost Writer'' (1989) - Mr. Carillo *'' Down the Drain'' (1990) - Amigo Rodriguez *''

Ruby Cairo ''Ruby Cairo'', also known as ''Deception'', is a 1992 drama thriller film directed by Graeme Clifford. It stars Andie MacDowell, Liam Neeson and Viggo Mortensen. One scene features Aleister Crowley's ''The Book of the Law''. Plot When Bessie Fa ...

'' (1992) - Uncle Jorge *''

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit ''The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit'' is a 1998 American fantasy comedy film directed by Stuart Gordon, written by Ray Bradbury and starring Edward James Olmos, Joe Mantegna, Esai Morales, Clifton Collins Jr. (credited as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez), Si ...

'' (1998) - Landlord (final film role) *''On the Set'' - Video Documentary Short for ''The High and the Mighty'' (2005)

Television

* ''

Telephone Time ''Telephone Time'' is an American anthology drama series that aired on CBS in 1956, and on ABC from 1957 to 1958. The series features plays by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season. Frank C. Baxter hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons. The prog ...

'' - episode "Felix the Fourth" - Félix de la Caridad Carvajal y Soto (1956) *''

The Sheriff of Cochise ''The Sheriff of Cochise'' is an American police crime drama television series of 79 black-and-white episodes broadcast from 1956 to 1958. The show has two seasons of 39 episodes, and there is an additional standalone episode. Each episode runs ...

'' - episode "The Great Train Robbery" - Manuel Pollo (1956) *''

The Adventures of Jim Bowie ''The Adventures of Jim Bowie'' is an American Western television series that aired on ABC from 1956 to 1958. Its setting was the 1830s-era Louisiana Territory. The series was an adaptation of the book ''Tempered Blade'', by Monte Barrett. Synop ...

'' - episode "Ursula" - Manuel (1958) *'' The Texan'' - "Stampede" - Pedro Vasquez - (1959) *'' The Texan'' - "Showdown at Abilene" - Pedro Vasquez - (1959) *'' The Texan'' - "The Reluctant Bridegroom" - Pedro Vasquez - (1959) *'' The Texan'' - "Trouble on the Trail" - Pedro Vasquez - (1959) *''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...

'' - episode "El Toro Grande" (1960) *''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enroll ...

'' - episode "Counterfeit Gun" - Hotel Clerk (uncredited) (1960) *'' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' - episode "Triple Vise" - Tomas (1960) *'' The Texan'' - "Lady Tenderfoot" - Pedro Martinez - (1960) *'' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' - episode "Baa-Baa" - Pedro Hernandaz (1961) *'' Wide Country'' - episode "Farewell to Margarita" - The Bus Driver (1963) *''

'' - episode "The Quest for Asa Jahn" - Bartender (1963) *''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'' - episode "The Case of the Wednesday Woman" - 'Royce' Dell (1964) *'' Laredo'' - episode "The Treasure of San Diablo" - Gonzales (1966) *''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

'' - episode "The Conquest of Maude Murdock" - Jaime (1966) *'' Rango'' - episode "In a Little Mexican Town" - Drunk (1967) *''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually marrie ...

'' - episode "My Turned-On Master" - Pedro (1967) *''

Hondo Hondo may refer to: Places * Rio Hondo (disambiguation), the name of several locations, derived from the Spanish word for "deep" Canada * Hondo, Alberta, an unincorporated community United States * Hondo, New Mexico, an unincorporated co ...

'' - episode "Hondo and the Death Drive" - Sancho (1967) *''

The Monkees The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conc ...

'' - episode "A Nice Place to Visit" - Lupe (1967) *'' Laredo'' - episode "Scourge of San Rosa" - Liveryman (1967) *''

Mayberry R.F.D. ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (abbreviation for Rural Free Delivery) is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of ''The Andy Griffith Show''. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting character ...

'' - episode "Sister Cities" - Santos (1969) *''

'' - episode "See You in C-U-B-A" - Jose (1969) *''

The MOD Squad ''The Mod Squad'' is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes, Clarence Williams III as ...

'' - episode "Never Give the Fuzz an Even Break" - restaurant Owner (1969) *''

The Bill Cosby Show ''The Bill Cosby Show'' is an American sitcom television series, that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Bill ...

'' - episode "The Sesame Street Rumble" - Bob (1971) *''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'' - episode "Anniversary" - Rudolf Diaz (1971)

References

External links

*
Hollywood.com "Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez dies"
16 February 2006, retrieved 17 February 2006 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez Gonzalez, Pedro American male film actors American male television actors Male Western (genre) film actors United States Army personnel of World War II Male actors from Texas 1925 births 2006 deaths American male actors of Mexican descent American people of Spanish descent People from Webb County, Texas Hispanic and Latino American male actors 20th-century American male actors United States Army soldiers