Ramon Novarro

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Ramón Novarro
Ramon Novarro.jpg
Ramon Novarro (1934) photo by Carl Van Vechten
Born José Ramón Gil Samaniego
(1899-02-06)February 6, 1899
Durango, Mexico
Died October 30, 1968(1968-10-30) (aged 69)
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names
  • Ramon Samaniego
  • Ramón Samaniego
  • Ramon Samaniegos
Years active 1917–1968

Ramón Novarro (February 6, 1899 – October 30, 1968) was a Mexican leading man actor in Hollywood in the early 20th century. He was the next male "Sex Symbol" after the death of Rudolph Valentino. Novarro was the victim of a violent extortion attempt which resulted in his death.

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Early life[edit]

Navarro was born José Ramón Gil Samaniego on February 6, 1899 in Durango, Mexico, to Dr. Mariano N. Samaniego. He moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, to escape the Mexican Revolution in 1913.[1]

Allan Ellenberger, Novarro's biographer, writes:

...the Samaniegos were an influential and well-respected family in Mexico. Many Samaniegos had prominent positions in the affairs of state and were held in high esteem by the president. Ramon's grandfather, Mariano Samaniego, was a well-known physician in Juarez. Known as a charitable and outgoing man, he was once an interim governor for the State of Chihuahua and was the first city councilman of El Paso, Texas...
Ramon's father, Dr. Mariano N. Samaniego, was born in Juarez and attended high school in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After receiving his degree in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, he moved to Durango, Mexico, and began a flourishing dental practice. In 1891 he married Leonor Pérez-Gavilán, the beautiful daughter of a prosperous landowner. The Pérez-Gaviláns were a mixture of Spanish and Aztec blood, and according to local legend, they were descended from Guerrero, a prince of Montezuma.[2]

The family estate was called the "Garden of Eden". Thirteen children were born there: Emilio; Guadalupe; Rosa; Ramon; Leonor; Mariano; Luz; Antonio; a stillborn child; Carmen; Angel and Eduardo.

At the time of the revolution in Mexico, the family moved from Durango to Mexico City and then back to Durango. Ramon's three sisters, Guadalupe, Rosa, and Leonor, became nuns.

Career[edit]

A second cousin of the Mexican actresses Dolores del Río[3] and Andrea Palma, he entered films in 1917 in bit parts; and he supplemented his income by working as a singing waiter. His friends, the actor and director Rex Ingram and his wife, the actress Alice Terry, began to promote him as a rival to Rudolph Valentino, and Ingram suggested he change his name to "Novarro." From 1923, he began to play more prominent roles. His role in Scaramouche (1923) brought him his first major success.

In 1925, he achieved his greatest success in Ben-Hur, his revealing costumes causing a sensation, and was elevated into the Hollywood elite.[4] As with many stars, Novarro engaged Sylvia of Hollywood as a therapist (although in her tell-all book, Sylvia erroneously claimed Novarro slept in a coffin).[5] With Valentino's death in 1926, Novarro became the screen's leading Latin actor, though ranked behind his MGM stablemate, John Gilbert, as a model lover. He was popular as a swashbuckler in action roles and was considered one of the great romantic lead actors of his day. Novarro appeared with Norma Shearer in The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) and with Joan Crawford in Across to Singapore (1928). He made his first talking film, starring as a singing French soldier, in Devil-May-Care (1929). He also starred with the French actress Renée Adorée in The Pagan (1929). Novarro starred with Greta Garbo in Mata Hari (1932) and was a qualified success opposite Myrna Loy in The Barbarian (1933).

with Lupe Vélez in Laughing Boy (1934)

When Novarro's contract with MGM Studios expired in 1935, the studio did not renew it. He continued to act sporadically, appearing in films for Republic Pictures, a Mexican religious drama, and a French comedy. In the 1940s, he had several small roles in American films, including John Huston's We Were Strangers (1949) starring Jennifer Jones and John Garfield. In 1958, he was considered for a role in a television series, The Green Peacock, with Howard Duff and Ida Lupino, after the demise of their CBS Television sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve (1957-1958). The project, however, never materialized. A Broadway tryout was aborted in the 1960s. However, Novarro kept busy on television, appearing in NBC's The High Chaparral as late as 1968.

At the peak of his success in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he was earning more than US$100,000 per film. He invested some of his income in real estate, and his Hollywood Hills residence is one of the more renowned designs (1927) by architect Lloyd Wright.[6] After his career ended, he was still able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

In 1957, Novarro was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film.

Personal life[edit]

Novarro had been troubled all his life as a result of his conflicting views over his Roman Catholic religion and his homosexuality, and his life-long struggle with alcoholism is often traced to these issues.[7][8][9] MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer reportedly tried to coerce Novarro into a "lavender marriage", which he refused.[10] He was a friend of adventurer and author Richard Halliburton, also a celebrity in the closet, and was romantically involved with journalist Herbert Howe, who was also his publicist during the late 1920s.

In 1934, Novarro was one of the victims of the "witch hunt" for "reds" in Hollywood. With Dolores del Río, Lupe Vélez and James Cagney, he was accused of promoting communism in California. That happened after these actors attended a special screening of the film Que viva Mexico! by Sergei M. Eisenstein, which copies were claimed by Joseph Stalin from the Soviet Union to be edited.[11]

Death[edit]

Novarro was murdered on October 30, 1968, by two brothers, Paul and Tom Ferguson (aged 22 and 17, respectively),[12] whom he had hired from an agency to come to his Laurel Canyon home for sex. According to the prosecution in the murder case, the two young men believed that a large sum of money was hidden in Novarro's house.

The prosecution accused the brothers of torturing Novarro for several hours to force him to reveal where the nonexistent money was hidden. They left with a mere $20 that they took from his bathrobe pocket before fleeing the scene. Novarro died as a result of asphyxiation, choking to death on his own blood after being beaten.[13] The two brothers were later caught and sentenced to long prison terms but released on probation in the mid 1970s. Both were later rearrested for unrelated crimes, for which they served longer terms than for their murder conviction.[14]

Ramón Novarro is buried in Calvary Cemetery, in Los Angeles. Ramón Novarro's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 6350 Hollywood Boulevard.

In popular culture[edit]

Novarro's murder served as the influence for the short story by Charles Bukowski, The Murder of Ramon Vasquez, and the song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, "Tango," recorded by Peggy Lee on her Mirrors album.

In late 2005, the Wings Theatre in New York City staged the world premiere of Through a Naked Lens by George Barthel. The play combined fact and fiction to depict Novarro's rise to fame and his relationship with Hollywood journalist Herbert Howe.

Novarro's relationship with Herbert Howe is discussed in two biographies: Allan R. Ellenberger's Ramón Novarro and André Soares's Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro. A recounting of Novarro's murder can be found in Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon.

Prize-winning Greek playwright Pavlos Matesis wrote a play in two parts named "The Ghost of Mr. Ramon Novarro", which was first staged at the National Theatre of Greece in 1973.[15]

In the episode "Every Dog His Day..." (Season 3) of All Creatures Great and Small, Novarro is referenced as a crush of the housekeeper, Mrs. Hall.

Novarro's death was referenced in The Sopranos episode "Cold Stones".

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1916 Joan the Woman Starving Peasant Uncredited
1917 The Jaguar's Claws Bandit Uncredited
1917 The Little American Wounded Soldier Uncredited
1917 The Hostage Uncredited
1917 The Woman God Forgot Aztec man Uncredited
1918 The Goat Uncredited
1921 A Small Town Idol Dancer as Ramón Samaniego
1921 The Concert Dancing shepherd Uncredited
1921 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Guest at Ball Uncredited
1921 Man-Woman-Marriage Dancer Uncredited
1922 Mr. Barnes of New York Antonio as Ramon Samaniego
1922 The Prisoner of Zenda Rupert of Hentzau as Ramon Samaniegos
1922 Trifling Women Henri/Ivan de Maupin
1923 Where the Pavement Ends Motauri
1923 Scaramouche André-Louis Moreau, Quintin's Godson
1924 Thy Name Is Woman Juan Ricardo
1924 The Arab Jamil Abdullah Azam
1924 The Red Lily Jean Leonnec
1925 A Lover's Oath Ben Ali
1925 The Midshipman Dick Randall
1925 Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ Judah Ben-Hur
1927 Lovers? José
1927 The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg Crown Prince Karl Heinrich
1927 The Road to Romance José Armando
1928 Across to Singapore Joel Shore
1928 A Certain Young Man Lord Gerald Brinsley
1928 Forbidden Hours His Majesty, Michael IV
1929 The Flying Fleet Ens./Ltjg Tommy Winslow
1929 The Pagan Henry Shoesmith, Jr.
1929 Devil-May-Care Armand
1930 Le chanteur de Séville Juan French version of Call of the Flesh
1930 In Gay Madrid Ricardo
1930 The March of Time Himself Unfinished film
1930 Call of the Flesh Juan de Dios
1930 Sevilla de mis amores Juan de Dios Carbajal Spanish version of Call of the Flesh
1931 Daybreak (1931 film) Willi Kasder
1931 Son of India Karim
1931 Mata Hari Lt. Alexis Rosanoff
1932 Huddle Antonio "Tony" Amatto
1932 The Son-Daughter Tom Lee/Prince Chun
1933 The Barbarian Jamil El Shehab
1934 The Cat and the Fiddle Victor Florescu
1934 Laughing Boy Laughing Boy
1935 The Night Is Young Archduke Paul "Gustl" Gustave
1936 Against the Current
–
 Director, writer
1937 The Sheik Steps Out Ahmed Ben Nesib
1938 A Desperate Adventure André Friezan Alternative title: It Happened in Paris
1940 Ecco la felicità Felice Ciatti Italian version of La comédie du bonheur
1940 La comédie du bonheur Félix French film
1942 The Saint That Forged a Country Juan Diego Mexican film
1949 We Were Strangers Chief
1949 The Big Steal Inspector General Ortega
1950 The Outriders Don Antonio Chaves
1950 Crisis Colonel Adragon
1958 Disney's Wonderful World Don Esteban Miranda 2 episodes
1960 Heller in Pink Tights De Leon
1962 Thriller Maestro Giuliano Episode: "La Strega"
1964 Dr. Kildare Gaspero Paolini 3 episodes
1964 to 1966 Combat! Charles Gireaux
Count De Roy		 2 episodes
1965 Bonanza Jose Ortega Episode: "The Brass Box"
1967 The Wild Wild West Don Tomas Episode: "The Night of the Assassin"
1968 The High Chaparral Padre Guillermo Episode: "A Joyful Noise"

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Meier, Matt S.; Gutiérrez, Margo (2003). The Mexican American Experience: An Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 284. ISBN 0-313-31643-0. 
  2. ^ Allan Ellenberger, "Ramon Novarro, A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968" (Jefferson:McFarland & Co.), 1999, pp. 5-6
  3. ^ Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the Silent Era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 188. ISBN 1-557-83551-9. 
  4. ^ http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_7443.shtml[dead link]
  5. ^ Hollywood Undressed: Observations of Sylvia As Noted by Her Secretary (1931) Brentano’s.
  6. ^ "Lloyd Wright (1890)-1978)". ArchitechGallery.com. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 
  7. ^ Soares, André; Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramon Novarro; St. Martin's Press, New York, 2002; p. 245
  8. ^ Mann, W; Behind the screen; Penguin, New York, 2002; p. 97
  9. ^ "Ramon Navarro (sic)". Olvera-street.com. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 
  10. ^ Holliday, Peter J. "Novarro, Ramon (1899–1968)". glbtq.com. Retrieved 2007-11-01 
  11. ^ Ramón, David (1997). Dolores del Río. Clío. pp. 51–52,. ISBN 968-6932-35-6. 
  12. ^ Maloney, J. J. "The Murder of Ramon Novarro". crimemagazine.com. 
  13. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2009). Ramon Novarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968 : With a Filmography. McFarland. pp. 182, 187. ISBN 0-786-44676-5. 
  14. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2009). Ramon Novarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968: With a Filmography. McFarland. p. 196. ISBN 0-786-44676-5. 
  15. ^ Archives of the Greek National Theatre (in Greek)

External links[edit]

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