
Acting · St. Louis, Missouri, USA · Born December 12, 1928
Tall, and slim, 6-foot-5, versatile, Euro-Indigenous Latino American character actor. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Armendariz' in the classic western adventure film, "Gold of the Seven Saints" (1961), which also starred Clint Walker, Roger Moore, and Letícia Román. He is also best remembered for playing the role of 'Angelo' in the episode entitled, "The Vaqueros," of the classic western television series, "The Rifleman," which originally aired on October 2, 1961, and which also starred Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, and Paul Fix. He was born to Jaime Contreras (1900-1975), and his wife Catalina Coin Contreras in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 12, 1928. Was of Euro-Indigenous Mexican descent. He made his actual film debut playing an undetermined role in the Spanish jungle adventure film, "The Rebellion of the Hanged" (1954), which also starred Pedro Armendáriz, Ariadne Walker, Victor Junco, and Amanda del Lindo. Besides, "The Rebellion of the Hanged" (1954), and "Gold of the Seven Saints" (1961), his many other film credits include, "En carne viva" (1954), "The Beast of Hollow Mountain" (1956), "The Black Scorpion" (1957), "Ride a Violent Mile" (1957), "The Flame Barrier" (1958), "The Badlanders" (1958), "Holiday for Lovers" (1959), "The Miracle" (1959), "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), "California" (1963), "Rio Conchos" (1964), "Mara of the Wilderness" (1965), "Brainstorm" (1965), "Marriage on the Rocks" (1965), "Alvarez Kelly" (1966), "The Last Challenge" (1967), "Chubasco" (1968), "Topaz" (1969), "Pets" (1973), "El extraño caso de Rachel K" (1973), "Cantata de Chile" (1976), "Miguel's Navidad" (1976), "Black Samurai" (1976), "The Dark" (1979), "The Day Time Ended" (1979), "Barbarosa" (1982), "Scarface" (1983), "Streets of Justice" (1985), "Blue City" (1986), and "The Under Achievers" (1987). Besides, the episode entitled, "The Vaqueros," of the classic western television series, "The Rifleman," his many other television credits include, "Telephone Time," "Broken Arrow," "Maverick," "The Walter Winchell File," "The Adventures of Jim Bowie," "The Magical World of Disney," "Zorro," "Border Patrol," "Cimarron City," "Sugarfoot," "26 Men," "The Rough Riders," "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," "Riverboat," "Colt .45," "Law of the Plainsman," "The Texan," "Tombstone Territory," "The Westerner," "Gunslinger," "Wanted: Dead of Alive," "Mister Ed," "Have Gun-Will Travel," "Zane Grey Theatre," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Ripcord," "The Dick Powell Theatre," "Outlaws," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Thriller," "Frontier Circus," Cheyenne," "77 Sunset Strip," "Temple Houston," "Kraft Suspense Theatre," "Dr. Kildare," "Wendy and Me," "Rawhide," "Run for Your Life," "Get Smart," "Burke's Law," "Laredo," "The Invaders," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre," "The Big Valley," "The Fugitive," "Rango," "The F.B.I.," "Death Valley Days," "Men at Law," "Ironside," "The High Chaparral," "Mission: Impossible," "Insight," "The Cowboys," "Cannon," "Police Story," "Kung Fu," "Switch," "Chico and the Man," "The Next Step Beyond," "Simon & Simon," and "Amazing Stories." His last role was playing 'Cruz's Grandfather' in the biographical crime film, "Blood In, Blood Out" (1993), which also starred Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, and Benjamin Bratt.
MovieBound by Honor
1993
as Cruz's Grandfather
TVAmazing Stories
1985
as trustee
MovieScarface
1983
as Rebenga
MovieBarbarosa
1982
as Cantina Owner
TVSimon & Simon
1981
MovieThe Day Time Ended
1980
as Gas Station Attendant
MovieThe Dark
1979
as Max
MovieBlack Samurai
1976
as Chavez
MovieCantata de Chile
1976
TVSwitch
1975
as Rojo
MoviePets
1973
as The Gardener
TVPolice Story
1973
TVKung Fu
1972
as Regas
TVCannon
1971
MovieTopaz
1969
as Muñoz
TVThe High Chaparral
1967
as Pedro
MovieThe Last Challenge
1967
as Hotelero (uncredited)
TVIronside
1967
TVThe Invaders
1967
as Guide
MovieThe Professionals
1966
as Bandit (uncredited)
TVMission: Impossible
1966
as Captain Avila
MovieMara of the Wilderness
1965
as Friday
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Munoz
TVGet Smart
1965
as Blue Skies
TVLaredo
1965
TVThe Big Valley
1965
as Rafael Ruiz
MovieBrainstorm
1965
as Asylum Inmate (uncredited)
MovieRio Conchos
1964
as Mexican at Corral (uncredited)
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
TVBurke's Law
1963
as General Salazar
TVThe Fugitive
1963
as Diego - Patient
MovieCalifornia
1963
as Lt. Sanchez
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Santos Esqueda
MovieGold of the Seven Saints
1961
as Armenderez, Gondora Gunman
TVGunslinger
1961
as Tomas
TVMister Ed
1961
MovieThe Magnificent Seven
1960
as Villager (uncredited)
TVThe Westerner
1960
as Pedro
TVThe Barbara Stanwyck Show
1960
as Joe Jack Rabbit
TVThriller
1960
as 2nd Guerrilla
TVLaw of the Plainsman
1959
as Frank Ramay
MovieHoliday for Lovers
1959
as Policeman
TVRawhide
1959
as Hombre
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Santos
TVThe Rifleman
1958
TVThe Texan
1958
TVWanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Jimanez
MovieThe Flame Barrier
1958
as Village Indian
MovieThe Black Scorpion
1957
as Chumacho (uncredited)
TVThe Walter Winchell File
1957
TVMaverick
1957
as Alfredo
TVHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Palza
TVThe Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
MovieThe Beast of Hollow Mountain
1956
as Carlos
TVTelephone Time
1956
TVCheyenne
1955
TVThe Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
MovieEn carne viva
1955
MovieRebellion of the Hanged
1954
as (uncredited)