Tony Martinez (actor)

Tony Martinez
Martinez (left) with Walter Brennan and Richard Crenna in The Real McCoys, 1962
Born(1920-01-27)January 27, 1920
San Juan, Puerto Rico
DiedSeptember 16, 2002(2002-09-16) (aged 82)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film, television and theatre actor
SpouseMyra Martinez[1]
Children5[1]

Tony Martinez (January 27, 1920 – September 16, 2002) was an American film, television and theatre actor. He was perhaps best known for playing "Pepino" in the American situation comedy television series The Real McCoys.[2]

Life and career

Martinez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[3] He first studied music,[1] in which Martinez later moved to New York City, attending Juilliard.[3] He played five instruments, and formed his own musical ensemble, "Tony Martinez and His Mambo" in New York City.[1] In 1956, his group appeared in the film Rock Around the Clock.[1] Later, Martinez studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.[1]

Martinez began his film and television career appearing in small roles.[1] In 1957 he was cast in the role of Pepino, the hired Mexican Farmhand farmworker in the ABC situation comedy television series The Real McCoys.[3][4] He won the role as he was discovered by the creator Irving Pincus and producer Norman Pincus,[1] while Martinez was just with his musical ensemble performing on the Sunset Strip.[4]

In his theatre career, Martinez had appeared in over 2,245 performances in the Broadway play Man of La Mancha.[4] He played Sancho Panza.[5] After The Real McCoys ended in 1963, Martinez guest-starred in a few television programs including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., F Troop, My Favorite Martian, Accidental Family and Storefront Lawyers. He then wrote music for numerous films in Mexico.[4] Martinez retired his career in 2000, in which he last appeared on the cable network The Nashville Network.[3]

Death

Martinez died in September 2002 of natural causes in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 82.[1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i McLellan, Dennis (September 21, 2002). "Tony Martinez, 82; Actor Was Among First Latinos on TV". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Associated Press (September 28, 2002). "Tony Martinez, 82, Television Actor". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Leszczak, Bob (June 25, 2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 217–218. ISBN 9781442242746 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c d e Variety Staff (September 25, 2002). "Tony Martinez". Variety. Retrieved November 13, 2002.
  5. ^ "Tony Martinez". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved November 13, 2021.