(From the "L.A. Times")
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, the irrepressible character actor and comedic entertainer who appeared in dozens of movies, including "The High and the Mighty" and "Rio Bravo," has died. He was 80.
Gonzalez Gonzalez died of natural causes Feb. 6 at his home in Culver City, said his grandson, actor Clifton Collins Jr.
Gonzalez Gonzalez, a Texas native, first came to national public attention in 1953 when he appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's TV quiz show "You Bet Your Life."
The diminutive young man proved to be irresistible comic fodder for the quick-witted Marx.
"Pedro, we could do a great act together," Marx said after Gonzalez Gonzalez sang a bit of "El Rancho Grande," did a wildly funny dance demonstration and out-mugged the great comedian.
"What would we call our act if we went out together, the Two Tamales?" Marx asked.
"No," a deadpan Gonzalez Gonzalez replied, "it would be Gonzalez Gonzalez and Marx."
"That's nice billing," Marx said to the laughing audience.
"Two people in the act, and I get third place!"
John Wayne happened to see Gonzalez Gonzalez's show-stealing appearance and signed him to a seven-year contract with his production company.
From then on, he appeared in numerous Wayne films, including "The High and the Mighty," "Rio Bravo," "McLintock!," "Hellfighters" and "Chisum." He became one of the era's few recognizable Mexican Americans on the big screen and television.
He was a guest star on such TV series as "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Gunsmoke," "The DuPont Show With June Allyson" and "Burke's Law."
(Read more at
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituar...0,3059919,print.story?coll=la-news-obituaries
(Free registration may be required)
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, the irrepressible character actor and comedic entertainer who appeared in dozens of movies, including "The High and the Mighty" and "Rio Bravo," has died. He was 80.
Gonzalez Gonzalez died of natural causes Feb. 6 at his home in Culver City, said his grandson, actor Clifton Collins Jr.
Gonzalez Gonzalez, a Texas native, first came to national public attention in 1953 when he appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's TV quiz show "You Bet Your Life."
The diminutive young man proved to be irresistible comic fodder for the quick-witted Marx.
"Pedro, we could do a great act together," Marx said after Gonzalez Gonzalez sang a bit of "El Rancho Grande," did a wildly funny dance demonstration and out-mugged the great comedian.
"What would we call our act if we went out together, the Two Tamales?" Marx asked.
"No," a deadpan Gonzalez Gonzalez replied, "it would be Gonzalez Gonzalez and Marx."
"That's nice billing," Marx said to the laughing audience.
"Two people in the act, and I get third place!"
John Wayne happened to see Gonzalez Gonzalez's show-stealing appearance and signed him to a seven-year contract with his production company.
From then on, he appeared in numerous Wayne films, including "The High and the Mighty," "Rio Bravo," "McLintock!," "Hellfighters" and "Chisum." He became one of the era's few recognizable Mexican Americans on the big screen and television.
He was a guest star on such TV series as "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Gunsmoke," "The DuPont Show With June Allyson" and "Burke's Law."
(Read more at
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituar...0,3059919,print.story?coll=la-news-obituaries
(Free registration may be required)