Perry Lopez (born Julios Caesar Lopez; July 22, 1929 – February 14, 2008) was an American film and television actor. His acting career lasted 40 years.

Lopez was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent. Lopez began his acting career on in theater, based in New York. He was signed to a contract at Warner Bros. Studios in 1954, his first appearance being Bogus Charlie in Drum Beat. Lopez appeared as Spanish Joe in Battle Cry (1955), as Rodrigues in Mr. Roberts in 1955, then had the leading role in The Steel Jungle and appeared as Toro in Cry Tough in 1959. He also played in a number of B-movies and Westerns early on in his career, including the Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Young Guns and The Lone Ranger.

Although he was part of the supporting cast in Mr. Roberts, his role was prominent – he played opposite Henry Fonda and James Cagney, who were both established stars at the time. However, he was perhaps best known as Lieutenant Lou Escobar in the 1974 film Chinatown, which he starred in opposite Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. He reprised the role sixteen years later (with Escobar promoted to Captain) in The Two Jakes in 1990.

Among his many television appearances, one of his more well-known roles is that of Esteban Rodriguez in the classic Star Trek episode "Shore Leave". Lopez also appeared in an episode of Bonanza, as the cold-blooded outlaw Duke Miller, who kills a man over being first in line to get a haircut. He was Joaquín Castañeda, a mestizo that fought to free his people, on Zorro, starring Guy Williams. Lopez also appeared in episode 14, "Night Of The Long Knives" originally airing December 16, 1966 of The Time Tunnel television series, in the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea episode "Savage Jungle", played Davey Elk in McLintock! (1963) and played Pvt. Petuko in Kelly's Heroes (1970).

A longtime heavy smoker, Lopez died of lung cancer in at The Rehabilitation Centre of Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California at age 78. He was survived by several nieces and nephews. His ashes were interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Biography

Entre 1954 et 1994, Perry Lopez participe à trente-et-un films américains. Un de ses rôles les plus connus est celui du policier Lou Escobar en 1974, dans Chinatown, rôle qu'il reprendra dans la suite de 1990, The Two Jakes, tous deux aux côtés de Jack Nicholson.

À la télévision, il apparaît dans trente-neuf séries, de 1956 à 1985.

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