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, 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'' and ''
Normal Love''. Montez also stars in the
Ron Rice film ''
Chumlum'', 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.''](_blank)
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 16 ...
, 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 ''
Flaming Creatures''. 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 visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...
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 rais ...
'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 develo ...
.
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
*''
Flaming Creatures'', 1962-63 (as Dolores Flores)
*''
Normal Love'', 1963–65
* ''The Borrowed Tambourine'', 1967
*''Reefers of Technicolor Island/Jungle Island'', 1967
*''No President'', 1967-1970s
Directed by Ron Rice
*''
Chumlum'', 1963
Directed by Andy Warhol
*''Mario Banana No. 1'', 1964
*''Mario Banana No. 2'', 1964
*''
Batman Dracula'', 1964 (unfinished)
*''Mario Montez Dances'', 1964
*''
Harlot'', 1964
*''Screen Test No. 2'', 1965
*''Mario Montez''
'Screen Tests'' Portrait">Screen_Tests.html" ;"title="'
'Screen Tests'' Portrait 1965
*''Camp (1965 film)">Camp'', 1965
*''More Milk, Yvette">creen Tests">'Screen Tests'' Portrait">Screen_Tests.html" ;"title="'Screen Tests">'Screen Tests'' Portrait 1965
*''Camp (1965 film)">Camp'', 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'', 2006
Directed by Conrad Ventur
* ''Mario Banana'', 2010
* ''Mario Montez [Screen 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