Fernando Casado Arambillet (20 September 1917 â€" 9 March 1994), best
known as Fernando Rey, was a Spanish film, theatre, and television
actor, who worked in both Europe and the United States. A suave,
international actor best known for his roles in the films of
surrealist director Luis Buñuel (Tristana, 1970; Discreet Charm of
the Bourgeoisie, 1972; That Obscure Object of Desire, 1977) and as the
drug lord Alain Charnier in The French Connection (1971) and French
Connection II (1975), he appeared in more than 150 films over half a
century.The debonair Rey was described by French Connection producer
Philip D'Antoni as "the last of the Continental guys". He achieved his
greatest fame after he turned 50: "Perhaps it is a pity that my
success came so late in life", he told the Los Angeles Times. "It
might have been better to have been successful while young, like El
Cordobés in the bullring. Then your life is all before you to enjoy
it."Rey was born in A Coruña, Spain, the son of Captain Casado Veiga.
He studied architecture, but the Spanish Civil War interrupted his
university studies which led him to his success.In 1936, Rey began his
career in films as an extra, sometimes even getting credited. It was
then that he chose his stage name, Fernando Rey. He kept his first
name, but took his mother's second surname, Rey, a short surname with
a clear meaning ("Rey" is Spanish for "King").
known as Fernando Rey, was a Spanish film, theatre, and television
actor, who worked in both Europe and the United States. A suave,
international actor best known for his roles in the films of
surrealist director Luis Buñuel (Tristana, 1970; Discreet Charm of
the Bourgeoisie, 1972; That Obscure Object of Desire, 1977) and as the
drug lord Alain Charnier in The French Connection (1971) and French
Connection II (1975), he appeared in more than 150 films over half a
century.The debonair Rey was described by French Connection producer
Philip D'Antoni as "the last of the Continental guys". He achieved his
greatest fame after he turned 50: "Perhaps it is a pity that my
success came so late in life", he told the Los Angeles Times. "It
might have been better to have been successful while young, like El
Cordobés in the bullring. Then your life is all before you to enjoy
it."Rey was born in A Coruña, Spain, the son of Captain Casado Veiga.
He studied architecture, but the Spanish Civil War interrupted his
university studies which led him to his success.In 1936, Rey began his
career in films as an extra, sometimes even getting credited. It was
then that he chose his stage name, Fernando Rey. He kept his first
name, but took his mother's second surname, Rey, a short surname with
a clear meaning ("Rey" is Spanish for "King").
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