Santos Ortega
Encyclopedia
Santos Ortega was an American
actor
.
, starring in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe (1943–1944) and narrating a popular radio show called Gangbusters as well as Stroke of Fate
. Perhaps his most famous and notable radio role was Commissioner Weston on The Shadow
. He played the title role in Bulldog Drummond (1942–43) and was heard in the daytime radio serial Perry Mason
, 1948's Roger Kilgore, Public Defender, and as the title character in The Adventures of Charlie Chan
(1947–1948), The Affairs of Peter Salem from 1949 to 1953, and Hannibal Cobb (1950–1951). Throughout the 1930s and 1940s and into the 1950s and early 1960s, the prolific Ortega lent his remarkable range of voice characterizations to numerous other radio drama series such as Inner Sanctum, The Mysterious Traveler
, Suspense
, Casey Crime Photographer, The Eternal Light
, The Columbia Workshop, The Big Story
, Perry Mason
, You Are There
, Dimension X
, and X Minus One
. Ortega also originated the radio role of Inspector Queen on The Adventures of Ellery Queen
As the World Turns
, replacing actor Will Lee
in the role on the show's second episode (1956). He continued in the role until shortly before his death in 1976.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Radio
Ortega was active in radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, starring in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe (1943–1944) and narrating a popular radio show called Gangbusters as well as Stroke of Fate
Stroke of Fate
Stroke of Fate was an American radio drama in 1953.This NBC alternate history series aired 13 episodes from October 4th to December 27th featuring actors like Ed Begley, Alexander Scourby, Hal Studer and Santos Ortega. The episodes were written by Mort Lewis and George Faulkner, directed by Fred...
. Perhaps his most famous and notable radio role was Commissioner Weston on The Shadow
The Shadow
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, originally in pulp magazines, then on 1930s radio and then in a wide variety of media, that follow the exploits of the title character, a crime-fighting vigilante in the pulps, which carried over to the airwaves as a "wealthy, young man about town"...
. He played the title role in Bulldog Drummond (1942–43) and was heard in the daytime radio serial Perry Mason
Perry Mason (radio)
The radio criminal serial Perry Mason, based on the novels of Erle Stanley Gardner, was broadcast on CBS Radio from 1943-1955. The series was adapted into Edge of Night which ran on television for an additional 30 years.-Adapting Perry Mason to other media:...
, 1948's Roger Kilgore, Public Defender, and as the title character in The Adventures of Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
(1947–1948), The Affairs of Peter Salem from 1949 to 1953, and Hannibal Cobb (1950–1951). Throughout the 1930s and 1940s and into the 1950s and early 1960s, the prolific Ortega lent his remarkable range of voice characterizations to numerous other radio drama series such as Inner Sanctum, The Mysterious Traveler
The Mysterious Traveler
The Mysterious Traveler was an anthology radio series, a magazine and a comic book. All three featured stories which ran the gamut from fantasy and science fiction to straight crime dramas of mystery and suspense.-Radio:...
, Suspense
Suspense
Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work. Suspense is not exclusive to fiction, though. Suspense may operate in any situation where there is a lead-up to a big event or dramatic...
, Casey Crime Photographer, The Eternal Light
The Eternal Light
The Eternal Light is a long-running American radio and television program on the NBC Radio Network, produced in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, that was broadcast between 1944 and 1989. Featuring interviews, commentary, and award-winning dramas from the perspective of Judaism, it...
, The Columbia Workshop, The Big Story
The Big Story
The Big Story, which debuted in 2000, was an American news/talk television program on the Fox News Channel, hosted by John Gibson and Heather Nauert weekdays. It was taken off in March 2008, replaced with America's Election Headquarters, an hour of news related to the 2008 United States...
, Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial...
, You Are There
You Are There
You Are There is the fourth studio album by the Japanese instrumental rock band Mono, a double album released on 15 March 2006. The album was recorded in 2005 at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois with recording engineer Steve Albini...
, Dimension X
Dimension X
Dimension X was an NBC radio program broadcast on an unsponsored, sustaining basis from April 8, 1950 to September 29, 1951. The first 13 episodes were broadcast live, and the remainder were pre-recorded...
, and X Minus One
X Minus One
X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio drama series broadcast from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958 in various timeslots on NBC.-Overview:...
. Ortega also originated the radio role of Inspector Queen on The Adventures of Ellery Queen
The Adventures of Ellery Queen
The Adventures of Ellery Queen is the title of a radio series and four separate television series made from the 1950s through the 1970s. They were based on the fictional character and pseudonymous writer Ellery Queen.-Radio:...
Television
On television he portrayed Will Hughes (usually just referred to as "Grandpa") on the soap operaSoap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
, replacing actor Will Lee
Will Lee
Will Lee was an American actor best known for playing the store proprietor Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street, from the show's debut in 1969 until his death in 1982.-Early career:...
in the role on the show's second episode (1956). He continued in the role until shortly before his death in 1976.