Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez

Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Born	Ramiro Gonzalez-Gonzalez (1925-05-24)May 24, 1925 Aguilares, Texas, U.S.
Died	February 6, 2006(2006-02-06) (aged 80) Culver City, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	character actor
Years active	1953-1998
Spouse(s)	Leandra (1942-2006; his death; 3 children)

Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez (May 24, 1925 – February 6, 2006) was an American character actor best known for his appearances in a number of John Wayne movies.

Life and career

Born Ramiro Gonzalez-Gonzalez in Aguilares, Texas to an American father and a Spanish mother with identical surnames, Gonzalez-Gonzalez grew up in a talent-filled home. His father was a trumpet player, and his mother was a dancer. His brother was actor Jose Gonzales-Gonzales (1922-2000). 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", and explained that both his parents had been surnamed "Gonzalez" before being married. So Marx asked: "What does your wife call you: Ramiro or Gonzalez?" He replied "She calls me 'Pedro'", triggering audience laughter. After Gonzalez performed a 15-second comic dance to strong applause, Marx complimented his guest's comedic skill, saying: "Pedro, we could do a great act together. We could make a fortune in vaudeville, you and I. What -- what would we call our act, you know, if we went out together? 'The Two Hot Tamales'?" After Pedro deadpanned "Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Marx", Groucho made an aside: "That's nice billing. Two people in the act, and I get third place!"

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 The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, 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-Gonzalez that was never made.

Gonzalez-Gonzalez played extra characters behind Mel Blanc in a number of Speedy Gonzales cartoons, including "A Taste of Catnip" and "Go Go Amigo," billed generally as Gonzalez Gonzalez.

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 died at his home of natural causes, and was survived by his wife Leandra and three children.

He is the grandfather of actor Clifton Collins Jr.

Filmography

• The High and the Mighty - Gonzales (1954)
• Ring of Fear - Pedro Gonzales (1954)
• Gun the Man Down - Hotelman (1956)
• Man in the Vault - Pedro (1956)
• Rio Bravo - Carlos Robante (1959)
• Hostile Guns - Angel Dominguez (1967)
• Hellfighters - Hernando (uncredited) (1968)
• The Love Bug - Mexican Driver (1968)
• Chisum - Mexican Rancher (1970)
• Zachariah - Pancho the Doorman (uncredited) (1971)
• Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood - Mexican Protectionist (1976)
• Lust in the Dust - Mexican, Hardcase Gang (1985)
• On the Set - Video Documentary Short for the The High and the Mighty (2005)

Television

• The Sheriff of Cochise - episode - The Great Train Robbery - Manuel Pollo (1956)
• The Adventures of Jim Bowie - episode - Ursula - Manuel (1958)
• The Texan - Stampede - Pedro Vasquez - (1959)
• The Texan - Showdown at Abilene - Pedro Vasquez - (1959)
• The Texan - The Reluctant Bridegroom - Pedro Vasquez - (1959)
• The Texan - Trouble on the Trail - Pedro Vasquez - (1959)
• Cheyenne - episode - Counterfeit Gun - Hotel Clerk (uncredited) (1960)
• Wanted: Dead or Alive - episode - Triple Vise - Tomas (1960)
• The Texan - Lady Tenderfoot - Pedro Martinez - (1960)
• Wanted: Dead or Alive - episode - Baa-Baa - Pedro Hernandaz (1961)
• Wide Country - episode - Farewell to Margarita - The Bus Driver (1963)
• Gunsmoke - episode - The Quest for Asa Jahn - Bartender (1963)
• Perry Mason - episode - The Case of the Wednesday Woman - 'Royce' Dell (1964)
• Laredo - episode - The Treasure of San Diablo - Gonzales (1966)
• I Spy - episode - The Conquest of Maude Murdock - Jaime (1966)
• I Dream of Jeannie - episode - My turned On Master - Pedro (1967)
• Hondo - episode - Hondo and the Death Drive - Sancho (1967)
• The Monkees - episode - A Nice Place to Visit - Lupe (1967)
• Laredo - episode - Scourge of San Rosa - Liveryman (1967)
• Mayberry R.F.D. - episode - Sister Cities - Santos (1969)
• I Dream of Jeannie - episode - See You in C-U-B-A - Jose (1969)
• The MOD Squad - episode - Never Give the Fuzz an Even Break - restaurant Owner (1969)
• The Bill Cosby Show - episode - The Sesame Street Rumble - Bob (1971)
• Adam-12 - episode - Anniversary - Rudolf Diaz (1971)

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Shorts

• Go Go Amigo - Various (Merrie Melodies Short) (1965)
• A Taste of Catnip - Dr. Mañuel Jose 'Olvera Sebastian Rudolfo Ortiz Pancho Jiminez Perez III (Merrie Melodies Short) (1966)
• Daffy Rents - Additional Voices (Looney Tunes Short) (1966)

External links

• Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez at IMDb
• Hollywood.com "Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez dies" 16 February 2006, retrieved 17 February 2006