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 Go ...

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 f ...

(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 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

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

stand-up comedy Stand-up comedy is a 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-liners, stories, ...

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 television quiz show '' You Bet Your Life'' 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 chara ...

'' 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 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 r ...

in a number of Speedy Gonzales cartoons, including "

A Taste of Catnip ''A Taste of Catnip'' is a 1966 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon directed by Robert McKimson. The short was released on December 3, 1966, and stars Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales with cameos by Sylvester the Cat and Hector the Bulldog (nam ...

" 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 about Hispanic men. However, Edward James Olmos 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.

Filmography

Film

*'' Wings of the Hawk'' (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 song. The credits show it to be written by Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel, without apportioning the work on the lyrics and music, in 1953. In ...

'' (1954) - Manuel Gonzales *''

Strange Lady in Town ''Strange Lady in Town'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Greer Garson. She plays a doctor who plans to introduce modern techniques of medicine to old Santa Fe in 1880, but is opposed by an established docto ...

'' (1955) - Trooper Martinez-Martinez *'' Bengazi'' (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 Gonz ...

'' (1955) - Chico *'' The Bottom of the Bottle'' (1956) - Luis Romero *'' Gun the Man Down'' (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 was ...

'' (1956) - Pedro *'' The Sheepman'' (1958) - Angelo *'' Rio Bravo'' (1959) - Carlos Robante *'' The Young Land'' (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) *''

'' (1966, Short) - Dr. Mañuel Jose 'Olvera Sebastian Rudolfo Ortiz Pancho Jiminez Perez III (voice) (as Gonzales Gonzales) *'' The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' (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?'' (1969) - Jose - Jungle Guide (uncredited) *'' Chisum'' (1970) - Mexican Rancher *'' Zachariah'' (1971) - Pancho the Doorman (uncredited) *''

Support Your Local Gunfighter ''Support Your Local Gunfighter'' is a 1971 American comic Western film directed by Burt Kennedy and starring James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette. The screenplay was written by James Edward Grant. The picture shares many cast and crew members ...

'' (1971) - Ortiz *'' Sixpack Annie'' (1975) - Carmello *'' Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood'' (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'' (1985) - Mexican, Hardcase Gang *''

Uphill All the Way ''Uphill All The Way'' is a 1986 American comedy Western film directed by Frank Q. Dobbs and starring Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Burl Ives, Trish Van Devere, Elaine Joyce, Frank Gorshin and Sheb Wooley. The film has developed a very ...

'' (1986) - Chicken Carlos *''Y... se hizo justicia'' (1986) *''Ghost Writer'' (1989) - Mr. Carillo *'' Down the Drain'' (1990) - Amigo Rodriguez *'' Ruby Cairo'' (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), S ...

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

Television

* '' Telephone Time'' - episode "Felix the Fourth" - Félix de la Caridad Carvajal y Soto (1956) *'' The Sheriff of Cochise'' - episode "The Great Train Robbery" - Manuel Pollo (1956) *'' The Adventures of Jim Bowie'' - 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 ...

'' - 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 enr ...

'' - 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'' - 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 mar ...

'' - 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 com ...

'' - episode "Hondo and the Death Drive" - Sancho (1967) *'' The Monkees'' - 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 characters ...

'' - 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 ...

'' - episode "Never Give the Fuzz an Even Break" - restaurant Owner (1969) *'' The Bill Cosby Show'' - 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 st ...

'' - 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