Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez was an American
character actor
best known for his appearances in a number of John Wayne
movies.
Born Ramiro Gonzalez-Gonzalez in Aguilares
, Texas
to a Mexican American
father and a Spanish
mother, Gonzalez-Gonzalez grew up in a talent-filled home. His father was a trumpet
player, and his mother was a dancer. 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 World War II
. After the war he performed stand-up comedy
for Spanish-speaking audiences.
In 1953, he appeared on the Groucho Marx
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". "What does your wife call you; Gonzalez-Gonzalez or Gonzalez? He replied "She calls me 'Pedro'". "If we got together as an act, what would it be called?" After Gonzalez-Gonzalez replied "Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Marx," Marx made an aside: "Do you believe that? Two men in the act, and I get third billing!."
John Wayne saw his appearance on the program and cast him as comic relief in a number of movies including Rio Bravo, The High and the Mighty
and Hellfighters
. He also made guest appearances in shows such as Gunsmoke
and Wanted: Dead or Alive, as well as the Jerry Lewis
film, Hook, Line & Sinker
. Wayne also had Burt Kennedy
write a TV series for Gonzalez-Gonzales that was never made.
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 is the grandfather of actor Clifton Collins Jr.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
best known for his appearances in a number of John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
movies.
Born Ramiro Gonzalez-Gonzalez in Aguilares
Aguilares, Texas
Aguilares is an unincorporated community in Webb County, Texas, United States.-History:Aguilares dates back from 1870, it was named after first settlers and ranchers José, Locario, Francisco, Próspero, and Librado Aguilar. It became a stop on the Texas-Mexican railroad in 1881 and was granted a...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to a Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
father and a Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
mother, Gonzalez-Gonzalez grew up in a talent-filled home. His father was a trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player, and his mother was a dancer. 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
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
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 World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war he performed stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
for Spanish-speaking audiences.
In 1953, he appeared on the Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
quiz show You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life is an American quiz show that 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 debuted on ABC Radio in October 1947, then moved to CBS Radio in September...
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". "What does your wife call you; Gonzalez-Gonzalez or Gonzalez? He replied "She calls me 'Pedro'". "If we got together as an act, what would it be called?" After Gonzalez-Gonzalez replied "Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Marx," Marx made an aside: "Do you believe that? Two men in the act, and I get third billing!."
John Wayne saw his appearance on the program and cast him as comic relief in a number of movies including Rio Bravo, The High and the Mighty
The High and the Mighty (film)
The High and the Mighty is a 1954 American "disaster" film directed by William A. Wellman and written by Ernest K. Gann who also wrote the novel on which his screenplay was based. The film's cast was headlined by John Wayne, who was also the project's co-producer...
and Hellfighters
Hellfighters (film)
Hellfighters is a 1968 American film starring John Wayne, Katharine Ross, Bruce Cabot, Jim Hutton, Jay C. Flippen and Vera Miles. The movie, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, is about a group of oil well firefighters, based loosely on the life of Red Adair...
. He also made guest appearances in shows such as Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
and Wanted: Dead or Alive, as well as the Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
film, Hook, Line & Sinker
Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)
Hook, Line & Sinker is a 1969 American film. It was filmed from April 1-June 20, 1968. It was released on June 6, 1969 by Columbia Pictures. This film was also Lewis' last for Columbia.-Plot:...
. Wayne also had Burt Kennedy
Burt Kennedy
Burt Kennedy was an American screenwriter and director known for mainly directing film Westerns.After World War II service in the 1st Cavalry Division, Muskegon, Michigan-born Kennedy found work writing for radio, then used his training as a cavalry officer to secure a job as a fencing trainer and...
write a TV series for Gonzalez-Gonzales that was never made.
As a result of playing comic relief roles, he was accused of perpetuating negative stereotypes
Ethnic stereotype
An ethnic stereotype is a generalized representation of an ethnic group, composed of what are thought to be typical characteristics of members of the group.Ethnic stereotypes are commonly portrayed in ethnic jokes.-Ethnic stereotypes:*African Americans...
about Hispanic men. However, Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
said of Gonzalez-Gonzalez at the time of his death that he "inspired every Latino actor."
He is the grandfather of actor Clifton Collins Jr.
External links
- Hollywood.com "Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez dies" 16 February 2006, retrieved 17 February 2006