Duncan Renaldo
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Duncan Renaldo (April 23, 1904 - September 3, 1980) was an American actor.
Born Renault Renaldo Duncan, probably in Spain, he is best remembered for his portrayal of the Cisco Kid on early American television.
[edit] Early years
An orphan, Renaldo never knew his biological parents and was raised in several European countries. He said he was not sure himself where he had been born, though his earliest memories were of Spain. At other times, the actor claimed to have been born in New Jersey and some say Romania. At any rate, Renaldo never had a real Spanish accent, even while portraying the Cisco Kid. Renaldo emigrated to America in the 1920s. Failing to support himself as a portrait painter, he tried producing short films. He eventually took up acting and signed with MGM in 1928. In 1934 he was arrested for illegal entry into the United States, but eventually was pardoned by President Franklin Roosevelt and returned to acting.
Though he starred mostly in B-films, Renaldo played roles in higher budgeted films as well, including in Spawn of the North (1938) with George Raft, Henry Fonda, and John Barrymore, and For Whom the Bell Tolls with Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. He was also a producer, writer and director.
In the late 1940s he starred in several Hollywood westerns as the Cisco Kid.
[edit] Television star
In 1950 Renaldo began playing the role in a popular television series that ran until 1956. In the age of black and white television, the show was filmed in color. As the Cisco Kid, Renaldo roamed the Old West on a black and white horse named "Diablo", accompanied by his constant companion "Pancho", played by Leo Carrillo. The Cisco Kid always helped where needed, and unlike most westerns he never killed anyone.
Duncan Renaldo illustrated a book of poetry by Moreton B. Price titled Drifter's Dreams. His illustrations are ink sketches of idyllic scenes, primarily seascapes and landscapes.
For his contributions to the television industry, Duncan Renaldo has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1680 Vine Street.
He died of lung cancer in 1980 at age 76 in Goleta, California.
[edit] External links
- Duncan Renaldo page [1]
- Biography on the Internet Movie Database [2]
- Films by Duncan Renaldo [3]
- Duncan Renaldo at Find A Grave
