Ricardo Cortez (born Jacob Kranze or Jacob Krantz; September 19, 1900 – April 28, 1977) was an American actor and film director. He was also credited as Jack Crane early in his acting career.

Early years

Ricardo Cortez was born Jacob Krantz in New York City to Morris and Sarah (Lefkovitz) Krantz. Along with his brother

Stanley Cortez Stanley Cortez, A.S.C. (November 4, 1908 – December 23, 1997) was an American cinematographer. He worked on over seventy films, including Orson Welles' ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1942), Charles Laughton's '' The Night of the Hunter'' ( ...

(born Stanislaus Krantz), he was raised in a Jewish family in New York City.Letter of the Department of Health, City of New York, 8 October 2000. mentioned in: Rudolf Ulrich (Hrsg.): ''Österreicher in Hollywood.'' Neuauflage, Verlag Filmarchiv Austria, Wien 2004, , p. 597 (

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

has been incorrectly cited as his birthplace.)Cortez' obituary in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' cites Vienna as his birthplace, and the book ''A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940'' describes him as "Jacob Kranze, Viennese émigré". He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City. Prior to entering the film business, he was an amateur boxer and worked on Wall Street as a runner.

Career

Acting

Hollywood executives changed his name from Krantz to Cortez to capitalize on his handsome Latin-like features and the popularity of the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era's " Latin lovers" such as Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro and Antonio Moreno. When it began to circulate that Cortez was not actually Latin, the studios attempted to pass him off as French before a final

Viennese Viennese may refer to: * Vienna, the capital of Austria * Viennese people, List of people from Vienna * Viennese German, the German dialect spoken in Vienna * Music of Vienna, musical styles in the city * Viennese Waltz, genre of ballroom dance * ...

origin story was promoted. Cortez appeared in over 100 films. He began his career playing romantic leads, and when sound cinema arrived, his strong delivery and New York accent made him an ideal heavy. While his main focus was character acting, he occasionally was able to play leading men. He played opposite

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pict ...

in ''

Montana Moon ''Montana Moon'' is a 1930 Pre-Code Western musical film which introduced the concept of the singing cowboy to the screen. Starring Joan Crawford, Johnny Mack Brown, Dorothy Sebastian, and Ricardo Cortez, the film focuses on the budding relatio ...

'' (1930), and was the first actor to portray

Sam Spade Sam Spade is a fictional character and the protagonist of Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel '' The Maltese Falcon''. Spade also appeared in four lesser-known short stories by Hammett. ''The Maltese Falcon'', first published as a serial in the pulp ...

in the original pre-code version of '' The Maltese Falcon'' (1931); the latter film was later overshaded by the 1941 remake with

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

in the lead. He co-starred with Charles Farrell and

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her p ...

in '' The Big Shakedown'' (1934), and with Al Jolson and

Dolores del Río María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete (3 August 1904 – 11 April 1983), known professionally as Dolores del Río (), was a Mexican actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is regarded as the first major female Latin Am ...

in '' Wonder Bar'' (1934). In 1936, Cortez replaced Warren William as Perry Mason in '' The Case of the Black Cat''.

Directing

Cortez directed seven films for

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...

from 1938 through 1940, all of them "program pictures made on a shoestring for the express purpose of filling the bottom half of the mandatory double bill ..." His first film as director was '' Inside Story'', which was assigned to Cortez in the spring of 1938 but was not released until 1939. He also directed ''

Chasing Danger ''Chasing Danger'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. The film stars Preston Foster, Lynn Bari, Wally Vernon, Henry Wilcoxon, Joan Woodbury and Harold Huber. The film was re ...

'', '' The Escape'' (1939), '' Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence'' (1939), '' City of Chance'' (1940), ''

Free, Blonde and 21 ''Free, Blonde and 21'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by Frances Hyland. The film stars Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes, Joan Davis, Henry Wilcoxon, Robert Lowery, Alan Baxter and Kay Aldridge. The film was ...

'' (1940), and '' Girl in 313'' (1940).

Personal life

Cortez married silent film actress Alma Rubens on February 8, 1926. They had previously married on January 30, but it was invalid due to Rubens's divorce not being finalized. The couple separated in 1930, and she had sued him for divorce when she died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severit ...

on January 21, 1931. Cortez married Christine Conniff Lee on January 8, 1934, but they divorced in 1940. After retiring from the film business in the late 1950s, Cortez returned to New York, and began working as a

stockbroker A stockbroker is a regulated broker, broker-dealer, or registered investment adviser (in the United States) who may provide financial advisory and investment management services and execute transactions such as the purchase or sale of stock ...

for Salomon Brothers on Wall Street.

Death

Cortez died in Doctors Hospital in New York City in 1977 at age 77 and was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in

the Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...

Recognition

Cortez has a star at 1500 Vine Street in the Motion Pictures section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.

Filmography

Ricardo Cortez Helen Twelvetrees Her Man 1930

Mary Astor-Ricardo Cortez in Behind Office Doors

*''The Fringe of Society'' (1917) (scenes deleted) (film debut) *'' The Imp'' (1919) as Minor Role (uncredited) *'' The Gentleman from America'' (1923) as Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Sixty Cents an Hour ''Sixty Cents an Hour'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Grant Carpenter and Frank Condon. Starring Walter Hiers, Jacqueline Logan, Ricardo Cortez, Charles Stanton Ogle, Lucille Ward, and Robe ...

'' (1923) as William Davis *'' Children of Jazz'' (1923) as Ted Carter *'' Hollywood'' (1923) as Himself *''

The Call of the Canyon ''The Call of the Canyon'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Richard Dix, Lois Wilson, and Marjorie Daw. Based on the novel ''The Call of the Canyon'' by Zane Grey, the film is about a returning wa ...

'' (1923) as Larry Morrison *'' The Next Corner'' (1924) as Don Arturo *'' A Society Scandal'' (1924) as Harrison Peters *'' The Bedroom Window'' (1924) as Robert Delano *'' The City That Never Sleeps'' (1924) as Mark Roth *'' Feet of Clay'' (1924) as Tony Channing *'' This Woman'' (1924) as Whitney Duane *''

Argentine Love ''Argentine Love'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Allan Dwan and based on a short story by Vicente Blasco Ibanez that stars Bebe Daniels. In the film, the legal guardians of an Argentine woman arrange her marriage ...

'' (1924) as Juan Martin *''

The Spaniard The Spaniard (foaled 1962) was a Thoroughbred gelding racehorse best known for winning the 1970 Scottish Grand National. Out of the mare Perle d'Espagne, he was sired by Sayajirao whose wins included the Irish Derby and St. Leger Stakes ...

'' (1925) as Don Pedro de Barrego *'' The Swan'' (1925) as Dr. Walter, the Tutor *''

Not So Long Ago ''Not So Long Ago'' is a 1925 American silent drama film produced by Jesse Lasky and Adolph Zukor and distributed by Paramount. It was directed by Sidney Olcott with Betty Bronson and Ricardo Cortez in the leading roles. Plot As described in a ...

'' (1925) as Billy Ballard *'' In the Name of Love'' (1925) as Raoul Melnotte *'' The Pony Express'' (1925) as Jack Weston *''

Torrent Torrent or torrents may refer to: * A fast flowing stream Animals * Torrent duck, a species of the family Anatidae * Torrent fish * Torrent frog, various unrelated frogs * Torrent robin, a bird species * Torrent salamander, a family of sa ...

'' (1926) as Don Rafael Brull *'' Volcano!'' (1926) as Stéphane Séquineau *''

The Cat's Pajamas ''The Cat's Pajamas'' is a 1926 American comedy silent film directed by William A. Wellman and written by Louis D. Lighton, Hope Loring and Ernest Vajda. The film stars Betty Bronson, Ricardo Cortez, Arlette Marchal, Theodore Roberts, Gordon ...

'' (1926) as Don Cesare Gracco *''

The Sorrows of Satan ''The Sorrows of Satan'' is an 1895 Faustian novel by Marie Corelli. It is widely regarded as one of the world's first best-sellers – partly due to an upheaval in the system British libraries used to purchase their books, and partly due to its ...

'' (1926) as Geoffrey Tempest *''

The Eagle of the Sea ''The Eagle of the Sea'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd, starring Florence Vidor and featuring Boris Karloff in an uncredited role. Incomplete prints of the film exist. Cast See also * List of American films of ...

'' (1926) as Capt. Sazarac *'' New York'' (1927) as Michael Angelo Cassidy *'' Mockery'' (1927) as Captain Dimitri *'' By Whose Hand?'' (1927) as Agent X-9 *'' The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' (1927) as Paris *''

The Orchid Dancer ''The Orchid Dancer'' (French: ''La danseuse Orchidée'') is a 1928 French silent film, silent drama film directed by Léonce Perret and starring Louise Lagrange, Ricardo Cortez and Xenia Desni.Rège p.989 It was shot at the Victorine Studios in ...

'' (1928) as Yoanes Etchegarry dit Jean Barliave * '' Ladies of the Night Club'' (1928) as George Merrill *'' Prowlers of the Sea'' (1928) as Carlos De Neve *''

The Grain of Dust ''The Grain of Dust'' is a lost 1928 silent film drama directed by George Archainbaud and starring Ricardo Cortez and Claire Windsor. It was produced by John M. Stahl and released through Tiffany Pictures. Cast *Ricardo Cortez as Fred Norman ...

'' (1928) as Fred Norman *'' Excess Baggage'' (1928) as Val D'Errico * '' The Gun Runner'' (1928) as Julio *''

The Younger Generation ''The Younger Generation'' is a 1929 American part-talkie drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Ricardo Cortez. It was produced by Jack Cohn for Columbia Pictures. It was Capra's first sound film. While mostly silent, the film has ...

'' (1929) as Morris Goldfish *''

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

'' (1929) as Jim Morley *'' Midstream'' (1929) as James Stanwood *'' The Phantom in the House'' (1929) as Paul Wallis *'' The Lost Zeppelin'' (1929) as Tom Armstrong *''

'' (1930) as Jeff *'' Her Man'' (1930) as Johnnie *'' Illicit'' (1931) as Price Baines *'' Ten Cents a Dance'' (1931) as Bradley Carlton *''

Behind Office Doors ''Behind Office Doors'' is a 1931 pre-Code American drama film directed by Melville W. Brown, from a screenplay by Carey Wilson and J. Walter Ruben, based on Alan Schultz's 1929 novel, ''Private Secretary''. It starred Mary Astor, Robert A ...

'' (1931) as Ronnie Wales *'' White Shoulders'' (1931) as Lawrence Marchmont *'' The Maltese Falcon'' (1931) as

*''

Big Business Girl ''Big Business Girl'' is a 1931 pre-Code First National sound comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Loretta Young, then eighteen years old. It was released theatrically through First National's parent company Warner Bros. Pl ...

'' (1931) as Robert J. Clayton *'' Transgression'' (1931) as Don Arturo de Borgus *'' Reckless Living'' (1931) as Curly *'' Bad Company'' (1931) as Goldie Gorio *''

Men of Chance ''Men of Chance'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud, starring Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor, and John Halliday. Plot A destitute Marthe Preston is in dire straits in Paris until gambler Richard Dorval comes to ...

'' (1931) as Johnny Silk *'' No One Man'' (1932) as Bill Hanaway *''

Symphony of Six Million ''Symphony of Six Million'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Ricardo Cortez, Irene Dunne and Gregory Ratoff. Based on the story ''Night Bell'' by Fannie Hurst, the film concerns the rise of a Jewish ph ...

'' (1932) as Dr. Felix 'Felixel' Klauber *'' Is My Face Red?'' (1932) as William Poster *'' Thirteen Women'' (1932) as Police Sergeant Barry Clive *'' The Phantom of Crestwood'' (1932) as Gary Curtis *'' Flesh'' (1932) as Nicky Grant *'' Broadway Bad'' (1933) as Craig Cutting *''

Midnight Mary ''Midnight Mary'' is a 1933 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Franchot Tone. Plot The very scary story begins with an indifferent Mary Martin (Young) sitting in a c ...

'' (1933) as Leo Darcy *'' Torch Singer'' (1933) as Tony Cummings *'' Big Executive'' (1933) as Victor Conway *'' The House on 56th Street'' (1933) as Bill Blaine *'' The Big Shakedown'' (1934) as Dutch Barnes *'' Mandalay'' (1934) as Tony Evans *'' Wonder Bar'' (1934) as Harry *''

Hat, Coat and Glove ''Hat, Coat and Glove'' is a 1934 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Worthington Miner from a screenplay by Francis Faragoh. It starred Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins, and John Beal. Plot Cast * Ricardo Cortez as Robert Mitchel ...

'' (1934) as Robert Mitchell *'' The Man with Two Faces'' (1934) as Ben Weston *''

A Lost Lady ''A Lost Lady'' is a 1923 novel by American writer Willa Cather. It tells the story of Marian Forrester and her husband, Captain Daniel Forrester, who live in the Western town of Sweet Water along the Transcontinental Railroad. Throughout the ...

'' (1934) as Ellinger *'' The Firebird'' (1934) as Herman Brandt *'' I Am a Thief'' (1934) as Pierre *'' The White Cockatoo'' (1935) as Jim Sundean *'' Shadow of Doubt'' (1935) as Sim Sturdevant *''

Manhattan Moon ''Manhattan Moon'' is an American romantic comedy directed by Stuart Walker, and stars Ricardo Cortez and Dorothy Page. It was released on August 5, 1935. Plot Cast * Ricardo Cortez as Dan Moore * Dorothy Page as Yvonne/Doris * Henry Moll ...

'' (1935) as Dan Moore *'' Special Agent'' (1935) as Alexander Carston *'' Frisco Kid'' (1935) as Paul Morra *'' The Murder of Dr. Harrigan'' (1936) as George Lambert *'' Man Hunt'' (1936) as Frank Kingman *'' The Walking Dead'' (1936) as Nolan *'' Postal Inspector'' (1936) as Inspector Bill Davis *'' The Case of the Black Cat'' (1936) as Perry Mason *''

Talk of the Devil ''Talk of the Devil'' is a 1936 British crime film directed by Carol Reed and starring Ricardo Cortez, Sally Eilers and Basil Sydney. Reed had previously been working for Ealing Studios, but he made the film for the independent producer Herbe ...

'' (1936) as Ray Allen *'' Her Husband Lies'' (1937) as J. Ward Thomas *''The Californian'' (1937) as Ramon Escobar *''

West of Shanghai ''West of Shanghai'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by John Farrow and starring Boris Karloff as a Chinese warlord. It is based on the 1920 Porter Emerson Browne play '' The Bad Man''. Three other films, all titled ''The Bad Man'', ...

'' (1937) as Gordon Creed *'' City Girl'' (1938) as Charles Blake *''

Mr. Moto's Last Warning ''Mr. Moto's Last Warning'' is the sixth in a series of eight films starring Peter Lorre as Mr. Moto. The film is an original story featuring the character created by John P. Marquand. Plot The British Navy in Port Said is making plans for naval ...

'' (1939) as Fabian *''

Charlie Chan in Reno ''Charlie Chan in Reno'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, based on an original story "Death Makes a Decree" by Philip Wylie. Plot Mary Whit ...

'' (1939) as Dr. Ainsley *''

Murder Over New York ''Murder Over New York'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. The cast also features Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery and Ricardo Cortez.Backer p.128-29 Chan must solve a murder myst ...

'' (1940) as George Kirby *''

Romance of the Rio Grande ''Romance of the Rio Grande'' (also: En kärleksnatt vid Rio Grande) is a 1929 American pre-Code Western film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Warner Baxter, Mona Maris, Mary Duncan and Antonio Moreno. It was produced and distributed by ...

'' (1940) as Ricardo de Vega *'' A Shot in the Dark'' (1941) as Philip Richards *'' World Premiere'' (1941) as Mark Saunders *''

I Killed That Man ''I Killed That Man'' is a 1941 American film directed by Phil Rosen that was a remake of his 1933 film '' The Devil's Mate''. It starred Ricardo Cortez and was produced by the King Brothers. Plot summary The film begins with a disparate grou ...

'' (1941) as Roger Phillips *'' Who Is Hope Schuyler?'' (1942) as Anthony Pearce *''

Rubber Racketeers ''Rubber Racketeers'' is a 1942 American crime film directed by Harold Young and starring Ricardo Cortez and Rochelle Hudson. The film was inspired by tire rationing. Plot summary Gilin is a gangster who has just gotten out of prison. One ...

'' (1942) as Gilin *'' Tomorrow We Live'' (1942) as The Ghost, Alexander Caesar Martin *'' Make Your Own Bed'' (1944) as Fritz Alden *'' The Inner Circle'' (1946) as Duke York *'' The Locket'' (1946) as Mr. Bonner *''

Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...

'' (1947) as Ziggy Cranston *'' Mystery in Mexico'' (1948) as John Norcross *'' Bunco Squad'' (1950) as Tony Weldon - aka Anthony Wells *'' The Last Hurrah'' (1958) as Sam Weinberg (final film)

Notes

References

Bibliography

*Van Neste, Dan. ''The Magnificent Heel: The Life and Films of Ricardo Cortez''. Albany, GA: BearManor Media, 2017.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cortez, Ricardo 1900 births 1977 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male silent film actors American people of Austrian-Jewish descent American stockbrokers Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York) Jewish American male actors Male actors from New York City Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Stock and commodity market managers 20th-century American businesspeople Film directors from New York City 20th-century American Jews