George J. Lewis

George J. Lewis (December 10, 1903December 8, 1995) was a Mexican-born actor who appeared in many films and eventually TV series from the 1920s through the 1960s, usually specializing in westerns. He is probably best known for playing Don Alejandro de la Vega, who was Don Diego de la Vega's father in the 1950s Disney television series Zorro. Lewis co-starred in Zorro's Black Whip and had a minor role in Ghost of Zorro before starring as Don Alejandro in the Disney series.
Career
Lewis broke into films in the 1920s, and his handsome presence led to leading roles in a Universal Pictures short-subject series, The Collegians. The arrival of sound movies came as a blessing for Lewis, who was bilingual. He spoke English without any trace of accent, and could play character or dialect roles of practically any ethnicity. His language skills earned him leading roles in Spanish-dialogue features, produced by American studios for international release. He also played supporting roles in Educational Pictures shorts.
Most of Lewis' screen work was in low-budget films, although he can be seen in a few major productions (in Casablanca he's an Arab peddler with a monkey). Some of his roles were sympathetic; he played the male leads in the 1944 serial Zorro's Black Whip and in the Vera Vague comedy shorts of the 1940s. Usually, George J. Lewis played villains in westerns and serials, chiefly at Republic Pictures. Cast as a sinister henchman, Lewis would carry out the villain's diabolical orders, setting death traps and ambushes week after week. The high point of Lewis's serial career was probably the 1945 Republic cliffhanger Federal Operator 99, in which he was the full-fledged villain of the piece, playing "Moonlight Sonata" on a piano while plotting crimes. Holding the heroine captive, the nonchalant Lewis asks the hero: "What will it be? Cash for me... or incineration for Miss Kingston?" He appeared in Three Stooges films as Vernon Dent's knife-wielding conspirator in the Stooge short Malice in the Palace, and its remake, Rumpus in the Harem. He was also featured with the Stooges (as George Lewis) in Hollywood's final two-reel comedy release, Sappy Bull Fighters.
Many low-budget filmmakers scored successes in early television, and many familiar faces turned up in half-hour action fare.
Lewis appeared in the first two episodes of The Lone Ranger which were "Enter the Lone Ranger" and "The Lone Ranger Fights On". He was a villain who helped betray a group of Texas Rangers and led them all into a deadly ambush, with the series star of course being the lone survivor. He played a Native American in an Adventures of Superman episode called "Test of a Warrior."
Lewis was cast as General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo in the 1956 episode, "The Bear Flag" of the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. The episode explains the tensions in 1846 between established Hispanic families in California and the newly-arrived white settlers from the United States. General Vallejo seeks accommodation with the forces headed by Ezekiel "Stuttering Zeke" Merritt (Don C. Harvey) in establishing the short-term Bear Flag Republic.
Lewis continued to work in dozens of television episodes including Daniel Boone & Cheyenne until he retired in 1969.
Death
Lewis died of a stroke in 1995, two days before his 92nd birthday.
Selected filmography
The Spanish Dancer (1923) - (uncredited)
Code of the Sea (1924) - Party Guest (uncredited)
Captain Blood (1924) - Henri d'Ogeron
Three Women (1924) - College Boy (uncredited)
The Lady Who Lied (1925) - Mahmud
Sherlock Sleuth (1925) - Party Boy (uncredited)
His People (1925) - Sammy Cominsky
Devil's Island (1926) - Léon Valyon
The Old Soak (1926) - Clemmy Hawley
The Collegians (1926) - Ed Benson
Benson at Calford (1926) - Ed Benson
Fighting to Win (1926) - Ed Benson
Making Good (1926) - Ed Benson
The Last Lap (1926) - Ed Benson
Around the Bases (1927) - Ed Benson
The Fighting Spirit (1927) - Ed Benson
The Relay (1927) - Ed Benson
The Cinder Path (1927) - Ed Benson
Flashing Oars (1927) - Ed Benson
Breaking Records (1927) - Ed Benson
Crimson Colors (1927) - Ed Benson
The Winning Five (1927) - Ed Benson
The Dazzling Co-Ed (1927) - Ed Benson
A Fighting Finish (1927) - Ed Benson
Samson at Calford (1927) - Ed Benson
The Winning Punch (1927) - Ed Benson
The Fourflusher (1928) - Andy Wittaker
13 Washington Square (1928) - Jack De Peyster
Honeymoon Flats (1928) - Jim Clayton
We Americans (1928) - Phil Levine
Jazz Mad (1928) - Leopold Ostberg
Give and Take (1928) - 'Jack' Bauer Jr.
College Love (1929) - Robert Wilson
Tonight at Twelve (1929) - Tony Keith
En nombre de la amistad (1930)
El último de los Vargas (1930) - José Vargas
La gran jornada (1931) - Raul Coleman
Cuerpo y alma (1931) - Ted
Marido y mujer (1932) - Eddie Collins
South of the Rio Grande (1932) - Corporal Ramon Ruiz
Águilas frente al sol (1932) - Frank Richardson
A Parisian Romance (1932) - Pierre
The Heart Punch (1932) - Lefty Doyle
Call Her Savage (1932) - Party Guest (uncredited)
The Whispering Shadow (1933, Serial) - Bud Foster [Ch.1, 8] (uncredited)
Her Resale Value (1933) - Dr. Ted Harris
The Wolf Dog (1933) - Bob Whitlock
No dejes la puerta abierta (1933) - Darmant
The Pecos Dandy (1934) - The Pecos Dandy
Lazy River (1934) - Armand Lescalle
Allez Oop (1934) - The Great Apollo
Two Heads on a Pillow (1934) - Anthony Populopulini
The Merry Widow (1934) - Escort (uncredited)
Red Morning (1934) - Mao
Storm Over the Andes (1935) - Garcia
The Headline Woman (1935) - O'Shay, Reporter
Under the Pampas Moon (1935) - Aviator
Alas sobre El Chaco (1935) - El operador de la radio
The Fighting Marines (1935, Serial) - Sgt. William Schiller [Chs. 1-4]
Captain Calamity (1936) - Pierre
El capitan Tormenta (1936) - Pedro
Dummy Ache (1936) - The Actor
Ride Ranger Ride (1936) - Lieutenant Bob Cameron
El carnaval del diablo (1936)
Back Door to Heaven (1939) - Bob Hale
Di que me quieres (1939) - Carlos Madero
Man of Conquest (1939) - Man at Tennessee Rally (uncredited)
Beware Spooks! (1939) - Danny Emmett
The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair (1939) - Nicholas Makaroff
Outside the Three-Mile Limit (1940) - Ed Morrow
Men Against the Sky (1940) - Lt. Norval (uncredited)
They Met in Argentina (1941) - Reporter at the Racetrack (uncredited)
The Get-Away (1941) - Hoodlum in Montage (uncredited)
Kansas Cyclone (1941) - Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
It Started with Eve (1941) - Maitre d' (uncredited)
Death Valley Outlaws (1941) - Bank Teller (uncredited)
Outlaws of the Desert (1941) - Yussuf
No Hands on the Clock (1941) - Dave Paulson
Riders of the Badlands (1941) - Henchman Kirk (uncredited)
Road Agent (1941) - Henchman Lace (uncredited)
Gang Busters (1942, Serial) - Joey Morrison - aka Mason
Spy Smasher (1942, Serial) - Stuart, Warehouse Spy [Ch. 8] (uncredited)
Perils of Nyoka (1942) - Batan, Arab Henchman
A Yank in Libya (1942) - Sheik Ibrahim
Halfway to Shanghai (1942) - Brakeman (uncredited)
Sin Town (1942) - Oil Man (uncredited)
Phantom Killer (1942) - Kramer
The Falcon's Brother (1942) - Valdez
Outlaws of Pine Ridge (1942) - Henchman Ross
Casablanca (1942) - Haggling Arab Monkey Seller (uncredited)
G-Men vs the Black Dragon (1943, Serial) - Lugo
They Got Me Covered (1943) - Foreign Correspondent (uncredited)
The Blocked Trail (1943) - Freddy
Flesh and Fantasy (1943) - Harlequin (uncredited)
Daredevils of the West (1943) - Turner - Henchman
Batman (1943, Serial) - Henchman Burke (uncredited)
Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943, Serial) - Kaba [Ch.9] (uncredited)
The Masked Marvel (1943) - Philip Morton (uncredited)
Black Hills Express (1943) - Henchman Vic Fowler
The Texas Kid (1943) - Murdered Stage Driver
Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943) - Ali Baba Hassan (uncredited)
The Impostor (1944) - Soldier (uncredited)
Captain America (1944, Serial) - Bart Matson
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) - Paul Arranto
The Laramie Trail (1944) - John Emerson, aka Blackie Mason
The Tiger Woman (1944) - Morgan
The Desert Hawk (1944, Serial) - Captain of Emir's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Raiders of Ghost City (1944) - Fred (uncredited)
The Falcon in Mexico (1944) - Domingo (uncredited)
Haunted Harbor (1944) - Dranga
Oh, What a Night (1944) - Rocco
Shadow of Suspicion (1944) - Paul Randall
Black Arrow (1944, Serial) - Snake-That-Walks
Zorro's Black Whip (1944) - Vic Gordon
Brazil (1944) - Messenger (uncredited)
Can't Help Singing (1944) - Cavalry Officer (uncredited)
Federal Operator 99 (1945, Serial) - Jim Belmont
The White Gorilla (1945) - Hutton
Lady on a Train (1945) - Reporter (uncredited)
The Gay Senorita (1945) - Torreon (uncredited)
South of the Rio Grande (1945) - Miguel Sanchez
Mexicana (1945) - Caballero
Wagon Wheels Westward (1945) - Lunsford
Song of Mexico (1945) - Arturo Martinez
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946) - Corporal (uncredited)
Because of Him (1946) - Reporter (uncredited)
The Phantom Rider (1946, Serial) - Blue Feather
Gilda (1946) - Huerta (uncredited)
Perilous Holiday (1946) - Florist (uncredited)
The Gay Cavalier (1946) - Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Rainbow Over Texas (1946) - Jim Pollard
Passkey to Danger (1946) - Julian Leighton
South of Monterey (1946) - Carlos Mandreno
The Missing Lady (1946) - Jan Field
Under Nevada Skies (1946) - Chief Flying Eagle
The Thrill of Brazil (1946) - Bartender in Production Number (uncredited)
Beauty and the Bandit (1946) - Capitan
Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947) - Captain Gonzáles
Web of Danger (1947) - Masher at Restaurant (uncredited)
Slave Girl (1947) - Dialogue Captive Sailor (segment "He's in the same boat we are', etc.) (uncredited)
Blackmail (1947) - Blue Chip Winslow
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947) - Cowpuncher (uncredited)
Pirates of Monterey (1947) - Pirate (uncredited)
The Woman from Tangier (1948) - Albert Franz - the Pilot (uncredited)
To the Ends of the Earth (1948) - Ship's Cook Who Is Lying About Fire (uncredited)
Docks of New Orleans (1948) - Police Sgt. Dansiger
Oklahoma Blues (1948) - Henchman Slip Drago
Casbah (1948) - Detective (uncredited)
Lulu Belle (1948) - Capt. Ralph (uncredited)
One Touch of Venus (1948) - Detective #2 (uncredited)
Silver Trails (1948) - José Esteban
Tap Roots (1948) - Confederate (uncredited)
The Sheriff of Medicine Bow (1948) - Henchman Buckeye
The Gallant Blade (1948) - Servant (uncredited)
Adventures of Frank and Jesse James (1948) - Rafe Henley
Renegades of Sonora (1948) - Chief Eagle Claw
The Feathered Serpent (1948) - Capt. Juan Gonzalez
Crashing Thru (1949) - Henchman Jarvis
Shockproof (1949) - Border Patrolman (uncredited)
The Big Sombrero (1949) - Juan Vazcaro
Ghost of Zorro (1949) - Moccasin
The Lost Tribe (1949) - Steve 'Whip' Wilson
Malice in the Palace (1949) - Ginna Rumma
Prison Warden (1949) - Yardbird Refusing Quarry Work (uncredited)
Bandits of El Dorado (1949) - Colonel José Vargas
The Dalton Gang (1949) - Chief Irahu
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King (1949) - Lt. Manuel Agura
Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1950) - Giovanni
Buccaneer's Girl (1950) - Sailor (uncredited)
Hostile Country (1950) - Jim Knowlton - the Oliver imposter
One Way Street (1950) - Capt. Rodriguez
Cody of the Pony Express (1950) - Mortimer Black
Marshal of Heldorado (1950) - Nate Tulliver
Crooked River (1950) - Deke Gentry
Colorado Ranger (1950) - Henchman Tony
West of the Brazos (1950) - Manuel
Fast on the Draw (1950) - Henchman Pedro
Crisis (1950) - Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Branded (1950) - Andy (uncredited)
Southside 1-1000 (1950) - Gornoy
King of the Bullwhip (1950) - Henchman Rio
Short Grass (1950) - Diego
Al Jennings of Oklahoma (1951) - Sammy Page
The Sword of Monte Cristo (1951) - Conspirator (uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) - Torpedo Al (uncredited)
Saddle Legion (1951) - Mexican Police Captain
Appointment with Danger (1951) - Leo Cronin
The Golden Horde (1951) - Noyou (uncredited)
South of Caliente (1951) - Gypsy Henchman (uncredited)
The Kid from Amarillo (1951) - Don José Figaroa
Red Mountain (1951) - Quantrell Man
Thunder in the East (1951) - Bartender (uncredited)
Viva Zapata! (1952) - Rurale (uncredited)
Hold That Line (1952) - Mike Donelli
Wagon Team (1952) - Carlos de la Torre
The Raiders (1952) - Vicente
The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) - Uhlan Guard at Hunting Lodge (uncredited)
The Iron Mistress (1952) - Col. Wells
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) - 'Far Away Mountain' Test Actor #2 (uncredited)
The Bandits of Corsica (1953) - Arturo
Desert Legion (1953) - Lt. Lopez
Shane (1953) - Ryker Man (uncredited)
Cow Country (1953) - Sanchez
Devil's Canyon (1953) - Colonel Jorge Gomez
The Veils of Bagdad (1953) - Captain (uncredited)
Border River (1954) - Sanchez
Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954) - Gendarme Duval (uncredited)
Saskatchewan (1954) - Lawson
Drum Beat (1954) - Capt. Alonzo Clark
The Prodigal (1955) - Guard (uncredited)
Davy Crockett (1955)
Hell on Frisco Bay (1956) - Father Larocca
Rumpus in the Harem (1956) - Ginna Rumma (archive footage)
The First Texan (1956) - Mexican Military Doctor (uncredited)
Santiago (1956) - Pablo
A Cry in the Night (1956) - George Gerrity
Lust for Life (1956) - Gendarme (uncredited)
The Big Land (1957) - Dawson
Jeanne Eagels (1957) - Foreman (uncredited)
The Brothers Rico (1957) - El Camino Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
The Tall Stranger (1957) - Chavez
Gunman's Walk (1958) - Cattleman (uncredited)
Sappy Bull Fighters (1959) - Jose
Guns of the Timberland (1960) - Jud (uncredited)
The Comancheros (1961) - Chief Iron Shirt (uncredited)
Kid Galahad (1962) - Romero's Trainer (uncredited)
7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) - Mr. Frisco (uncredited)
Indian Paint (1965) - Nopawallo
Batman (1966) - Spanish Delegate (uncredited)
Selected television
References
External links
1903 births
1995 deaths
American male film actors
American male television actors
Mexican emigrants to the United States
Hispanic and Latino American male actors
Mexican male film actors
Mexican male television actors
Male film serial actors
Male actors from Guadalajara, Jalisco
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American comedians