photo:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KETk_nJdn6M/SsBQrto_31I/AAAAAAAAAGs/1W37PXkE4eM/s400/pedro+armendariz.jpg
When Pedro finished his studies, he moved to Mexico where he worked in trains, as a tour guide and as a journalist for the biligual magazine México Real. He was discovered by film director Miguel Zacarías when Pedro recited the monologue of Hamlet to an American tourist. He obtained his first role in a movie at the age of 22 and after that he made many films in Mexico, the United States, France, Italy and England. He received a Ariel Award in 1948 in the category of Best Actor for his role in La perla
His last appearance was in Ian Fleming's second James Bond film, From Russia with Love (1963) as Bond's ally, Kerim Bey. He has a son, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., who is also an actor, and who coincidentally played a role in the James Bond film Licence to Kill in 1989.
The Conqueror
In 1952 he had a role in the movie The Conqueror produced by Howard Hughes. This movie was filmed in the state of Utah during the time when the US government ran nuclear tests in the neighboring state of Nevada. 91 of the 220 people involved in the production of the film contracted cancer within 25 years, and 46 of these died as a consequence of this illness, among them:
John Wayne (stomach and lungs)
Susan Hayward (brain)
Agnes Moorehead (lungs)
John Hoyt (lungs)
Dick Powell (lymph glands)
Pedro Armendáriz started to suffer pain in his hips and years later it was discovered that he had cancer in these regions. Pedro learned his condition was terminal while at UCLA medical center. He reportedly acted in From Russia With Love while enduring great pain (he visibly limps in most scenes) in order to leave behind financial resources for his family after his impending death. He committed suicide soon after production of that film ended, on June 18, 1963.
Filmography
Hollywood
Captain Sindbad (1963) as El Kerim
From Russia with Love (1963) as Kerim Bey
Francis of Assisi (1961) as The Sultan
Little Savage (1959) as Capt. Tiburon
The Wonderful Country (1959) as Cipriano Castro
The Big Boodle (1957) as Col. Mastegui
Diane (1956) as Francis I
The Conqueror (1956) as Jamuga
The Littlest Outlaw (1955) as Gen. Torres
Border River (1954) as General Eduardo Calleja
The Torch (1950) as José Juan Reyes
We Were Strangers (1949) as Armando Ariete
Tulsa (1949) as Jim Redbird
3 Godfathers (1948) as Pedro "Pete' Roca Fuerte
Fort Apache (1948) as Sgt. Beaufort
The Fugitive (1947) as A Lieutenant of Police
Italian cinema
Arrivano i titani (1962) as Cadmo
Uomini e lupi (1956)
French cinema
Fortune carrée (1955) as Igricheff
Lucrèce Borgia (1953) as César Borgia
Mexican cinema
La bandida (1963) as Roberto
El tejedor de milagros (1962)
Los valientes no mueren (1962)
Los hermanos del hierro (1961) as General
El indulto (1961)
Los desarraigados (1960) as Joe
Pancho Villa y la Valentina (1960) as Pancho Villa
Aquí está Pancho Villa (1960) as Pancho Villa
Calibre 44 (1960)
La cárcel de Cananea (1960)
Dos hijos desobedientes (1960)
El impostor (1960)
Verano violento (1960)
La Cucaracha (1959) as Coronel Valentín Razo
Las Señoritas Vivanco (1959) as Gen. Inocencio Torrentera
Flor de mayo (1959) as Pepe Gamboa
Ando volando bajo (1959)
Café Colón (1959)
Sed de amor (1959)
Yo pecador (1959)
El zarco (1959)
Quiero ser artista (1958)
Los salvajes (1958)
Manuela (1957) as Mario Constanza
Así era Pancho Villa (1957) as Pancho Villa
La mujer que no tuvo infancia (1957)
La escondida (1956) as Felipe Rojano
Canasta de cuentos mexicanos (1956) as
Viva revolución (1956)
Tam tam mayumbe (1955) as Martinez
La rebelión de los colgados (1954) as Candido Costa
Reto a la vida (1954) as Diego Maldonado
Dos mundos y un amor (1954)
Mulata (1954)
El tirano de Toledo (1953) as Don Blas
El bruto (1953) as Pedro
La noche avanza (1952) as Marcos Arizmendi
Carne de presidio (1952)
Hambre nuestra de cada día (1952)
El rebozo de Soledad (1952)
Los tres alegres compadres (1952)
Camino del infierno (1951) as Pedro Uribe
Bodas de fuego (1951) as Rodolfo Carrera
Ella y yo (1951)
Por querer a una mujer (1951)
Tierra baja (1951)
Vuelve Pancho Villa (1950) as Pancho Villa
Rosauro Castro (1950) as Rosauro Castro
La loca de la casa (1950)
Por la puerta falsa (1950)
El abandonado (1949)
Al caer la tarde (1949)
El charro y la dama (1949)
La malquerida (1949)
Maclovia (1948) as José María
En la hacienda de la flor (1948)
Juan Charrasqueado (1948)
La perla (1947) as Quino
Albur de amor (1947)
La casa colorada (1947)
Enamorada (1946) as Gen. José Juan Reyes
Rayando el sol (1946)
Las abandonadas (1945) as Juan Gomez
Bugambilia (1945) as Ricardo Rojas
El Capitán Malacara (1945)
Entre hermanos (1945)
María Candelaria (1944) as Lorenzo Rafael
Alma de bronce (1944)
Las calaveras del terror (1944)
El corsario negro (1944)
La guerra de los pasteles (1944)
Flor silvestre (1943) as Jose Luis Castro
Distinto amanecer (1943) as Octavio
Guadalajara (1943) as Pedro
Konga Roja (1943)
Tierra de pasiones (1943)
La isla de la pasión (Clipperton) (1942) as El Toro
Allá en el bajío (1942)
Del rancho a la capital (1942)
La epopeya del camino (1942)
Simón Bolívar (1942)
Soy puro mexicano (1942)
Ni sangre, ni arena (1941)
El secreto del sacerdote (1941)
El zorro de Jalisco (1941)
El charro negro (1940)
El jefe máximo (1940)
Mala yerba (1940)
Los olvidados de Dios (1940)
Pobre diablo (1940)
La china Hilaria (1939)
Con los Dorados de Villa (1939)
El indio (1939)
Una luz en mi camino (1939)
La reina del río (1939)
La Adelita (1938) as Sabino Estrada
Canto a mi tierra (1938)
Mi candidato (1938)
Los millones de Chaflán (1938)
Amapola del camino (1937) as Juan Padilla
Las cuatro milpas (1937)
Jalisco nunca pierde (1937)
María Elena (1936) as Eduardo
Irma la mala (1936)
Rosario (1935)
