Richard Martin (actor)
Richard Martin (December 12, 1917 – September 4, 1994) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Chito Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican
Biography
Though born in Spokane, Washington, Martin's family moved to a Mexican neighbourhood in West Hollywood, California, where he learned to imitate his friends.[1] He began in films by working as a
Hollywood's World War II films often featured many ethnic American enlisted men, and Martin first played Chito Rafferty as a contemporary air crewman in Bombardier. He soon repeated the role in the western Nevada opposite Robert Mitchum. He appeared opposite a few other stars in RKO westerns.[4]
After the war, Martin left RKO and essayed the main role in the last
As B westerns and exclusive studio contracts gradually ended in the 1950s, Martin found himself out of work and unable to find any due to his ethnic characterisation. He became an insurance salesman, coming back for one last western, Four Fast Guns, in 1960.
Chito Rafferty
Martin originated the Mexican-Irish character of Chito Rafferty, whose full name was "Chito Jose Gonzales Bustamonte Rafferty", in 1943's
Personal life
Martin met his wife, former fashion model and actress Elaine Riley, on a film set in Carmel, where a scheduled four-day shoot stretched to three weeks because of fog[6] He was married to Elaine Riley from 1946 until his death. They worked together only once, in Rider from Tucson (1950), but were regarded as one of Hollywood’s happiest couples.[7] When Howard Hughes cancelled Martin’s contract at RKO in 1953, he left Hollywood to set up an insurance business. The couple had no children.
Quotes
The Irish in me is for fight; the Mexican for love
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1942 | Call Out the Marines | Marine Corporal in Café | Uncredited |
1942 | Mexican Spitfire at Sea | Steward | Uncredited |
1942 | My Favorite Spy | Nightclub Patron | Uncredited |
1942 | The Mayor of 44th Street | Office Clerk | Uncredited |
1942 | Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost | Epping's Chauffeur | Uncredited |
1942 | Thundering Hoofs | Man at Dance | Uncredited |
1942 | The Big Street | Minor Role | Uncredited |
1942 | The Falcon's Brother | Steamship Official | Uncredited |
1942 | Army Surgeon | Soldier-Patient | Uncredited |
1942 | Seven Days' Leave | Soldier | Uncredited |
1942 | Seven Miles from Alcatraz | Second Radio Operator | Uncredited |
1942 | Red River Robin Hood | Robbed Rancher's Son | Uncredited |
1943 | Hitler's Children | Gestapo Man | Uncredited |
1943 | Ladies' Day | Sox Player | Uncredited |
1943 | Bombardier | Chito Rafferty | |
1943 | The Leopard Man | Raoul Belmonte | Uncredited |
1943 | The Falcon in Danger | George Morley | |
1943 | The Adventures of a Rookie | Bob Prescott | |
1943 | The Iron Major | David 'Davie' Cavanaugh | |
1943 | Gangway for Tomorrow | Jules | Uncredited |
1943 | Tender Comrade | Mike Dumbrowski | |
1944 | Marine Raiders | Pfc. Jimmy Fowler | |
1944 | Nevada | Chito Rafferty | |
1945 | Having Wonderful Crime | Lance Richards | |
1945 | Wanderer of the Wasteland | Chito Rafferty | |
1945 | West of the Pecos | ||
1946 | The Bamboo Blonde | Jim Wilson | |
1946 | The Mysterious Mr. M | Detective Lieutenant Kirby Walsh | |
1947 | The Adventures of Don Coyote | Don Coyote | |
1947 | Thunder Mountain | Chito Rafferty | |
1947 | Under the Tonto Rim | Chito Rafferty | |
1947 | Wild Horse Mesa | Chito Rafferty | |
1948 | Western Heritage | Chito Rafferty | |
1948 | The Arizona Ranger | Chito Rafferty | |
1948 | Guns of Hate | Chito Rafferty | |
1948 | Indian Agent | Chito Rafferty | |
1948 | Gun Smugglers | Chito Rafferty | |
1949 | Brothers in the Saddle | Chito Rafferty | |
1949 | Rustlers | Chito Rafferty | |
1949 | Stagecoach Kid | Chito Rafferty | |
1949 | Masked Raiders | Chito Rafferty | |
1949 | The Mysterious Desperado | Chito Rafferty | |
1950 | Riders of the Range | Chito Rafferty | |
1950 | Dynamite Pass | Chito Rafferty | |
1950 | Storm Over Wyoming |
Chito Rafferty | |
1950 | Rider from Tucson | Chito Rafferty | |
1950 | Border Treasure | Chito Rafferty | |
1950 | Rio Grande Patrol | Chito Rafferty | |
1951 | Law of the Badlands | Chito Rafferty | |
1951 | Saddle Legion | Chito Rafferty | |
1951 | Gunplay | Chito Rafferty | |
1951 | Pistol Harvest | Chito Rafferty | |
1951 | Hot Lead | Chito Rafferty | |
1951 | Overland Telegraph | Chito Rafferty | |
1952 | Trail Guide | Chito Rafferty | |
1952 | Road Agent | Chito Rafferty | |
1952 | Target | Chito Rafferty | |
1952 | Desert Passage | Chito Rafferty | |
1952 | The Raiders | Felipe de Ortega | |
1957 | Hell Bound | Dock Worker | Uncredited |
1960 | Four Fast Guns | Quijano | (final film role) |
Notes
- ^ "Richard Martin | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos".
- ^ "Richard Martin". IMDb.
- ^ "Richard Martin, 75, Actor in Westerns". The New York Times. 7 September 1994.
- ^ "Tim Holt and the B Western".
- ^ p.187 Rothel, David Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks 1984 Scarecrow Press
- ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 5 September 1994.
- ^ "Elaine Riley, actress - obituary". 31 December 2015.
External links
- Richard Martin at IMDb