Richard Martin (December 12, 1917 â€" September 4, 1994) was a
prolific RKO contract actor. He was most known for his role as Chito
Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican western comedy relief sidekick of Tim
Holt. Before their pairing, Martin originated the role in the 1943
film Bombardier.Though born in Spokane, Washington, Martin's family
moved to a Mexican neighbourhood in West Hollywood, California, where
he learned to imitate his friends. He began in films by working as a
receptionist for MGM. When a friend made a bet with his agent that the
agent couldn't get Martin an actor's contract, Martin's agent won the
bet. He became a prolific contract player for RKO Pictures in 1942
often appearing unbilled.Hollywood's World War II films often featured
many ethnic American enlisted men, and Martin first played Chito
Rafferty as a contemporary air crewman in Bombardier. He soon repeated
the role in the western Nevada opposite Robert Mitchum. He appeared
opposite a few other stars in RKO Westerns.After the war, Martin left
RKO and had the main role in the last Universal Pictures film serial
The Mysterious Mr. M as well as the title role in a 1947 Cinecolor
Western The Adventures of Don Coyote. When Tim Holt, back from the
war, was hired by producer Herman Schlom to star in a western series,
the two pondered whom they could get for a sidekick. Schlom recalled
Martin's Rafferty character from Nevada. Martin returned to RKO in the
same year in his first appearance alongside Holt in Under the Tonto
Rim, the first of 29 films together that were initially based on
stories by Zane Grey.
prolific RKO contract actor. He was most known for his role as Chito
Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican western comedy relief sidekick of Tim
Holt. Before their pairing, Martin originated the role in the 1943
film Bombardier.Though born in Spokane, Washington, Martin's family
moved to a Mexican neighbourhood in West Hollywood, California, where
he learned to imitate his friends. He began in films by working as a
receptionist for MGM. When a friend made a bet with his agent that the
agent couldn't get Martin an actor's contract, Martin's agent won the
bet. He became a prolific contract player for RKO Pictures in 1942
often appearing unbilled.Hollywood's World War II films often featured
many ethnic American enlisted men, and Martin first played Chito
Rafferty as a contemporary air crewman in Bombardier. He soon repeated
the role in the western Nevada opposite Robert Mitchum. He appeared
opposite a few other stars in RKO Westerns.After the war, Martin left
RKO and had the main role in the last Universal Pictures film serial
The Mysterious Mr. M as well as the title role in a 1947 Cinecolor
Western The Adventures of Don Coyote. When Tim Holt, back from the
war, was hired by producer Herman Schlom to star in a western series,
the two pondered whom they could get for a sidekick. Schlom recalled
Martin's Rafferty character from Nevada. Martin returned to RKO in the
same year in his first appearance alongside Holt in Under the Tonto
Rim, the first of 29 films together that were initially based on
stories by Zane Grey.
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