George J. Lewis (December 10, 1903 â€" December 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 (in which a Zorro-like
character was a woman played by Linda Stirling) and had a minor role
in Ghost of Zorro before starring as Don Alejandro in the Disney
series.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.
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 (in which a Zorro-like
character was a woman played by Linda Stirling) and had a minor role
in Ghost of Zorro before starring as Don Alejandro in the Disney
series.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.
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