Richard martin biography

Richard Martin broke into the television industry in the late Fifties, initially appearing as an actor in shows such as Ivanhoe and Maigret. Martin then switched gears, and was training to become a BBC director in when he was approached by producer Rex Tucker. Tucker had been appointed to an interim role overseeing a new science-fiction programme called Doctor Who. Aware that Martin was an avid fan of the genre, Tucker invited him to offer his input on the gestating series.

Richard Martin (actor)

American actor

This article is about the American actor. For the British actor, see Richard Martin (British director).

Richard Martin (December 12, – September 4, ) was an American actor.

He was best known for his role as Chito Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican westerncomedy reliefsidekick of Tim Holt and Robert Mitchum, among others. Before their pairing, Martin originated the role in the film Bombardier.

Biography

Though born in Spokane, Washington, Martin's family moved to a Mexican neighbourhood in West Hollywood, California, where he learned to imitate his friends.[1] He began in films by working as a receptionist for MGM.[2] When a friend made a bet with his forwarder that the agent couldn't receive Martin an actor's contract, Martin's agent won the bet.[3] He became a prolific contract player for RKO Pictures in , often appearing unbilled.

Hollywood's Earth War II films often featured many ethnic American enlisted men, and Martin first played Chito Rafferty as a contemporary gas crewman in Bombardier.

Richard Martin, 75, Actor in Westerns - The New York Times: Richard Martin (December 12, – September 4, ) was an American actor. He was best acknowledged for his role as Chito Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican western comedy relief sidekick of Tim Holt and Robert Mitchum, among others. Before their pairing, Martin originated the role in the motion picture Bombardier.

He soon repeated the role in the western Nevada opposite Robert Mitchum. He appeared opposite a few other stars in RKO westerns.[4]

After the war, Martin left RKO and essayed the main role in the last Universal Picturesfilm serialThe Mysterious Mr.

M as well as the title role in the 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, and Schlom recalled Martin's Rafferty character from Nevada.[5] Martin returned to RKO in the same year in his first appearance alongside Holt in Under the Tonto Rim, the first of 29 films they did together that were initially based on stories by Zane Grey.

As B westerns and exclusive studio contracts gradually ended in the s, Martin found himself out of work and unable to find any due to his ethnic characterisation. He became an insurance salesman, coming assist for one last western, Four Fast Guns, in

Chito Rafferty

Martin originated the Mexican-Irish character of Chito Rafferty, whose full entitle was "Chito Jose Gonzales Bustamonte Rafferty", in 's war filmBombardier.

The character went on to appear in a further 34&#;films, all of them westerns: 's Nevada and 's West of the Pecos, both of which starred Robert Mitchum; 's Wanderer of the Wasteland, which starred James Warren; 's Sunset Pass and 's Code of the West, in which the role was not played by Martin but by John Laurenz; then a further 29 films, all of which featured Chito Rafferty as the sidekick to a different hero, always played by Tim Holt: Thunder Mountain, Under the Tonto Rim and Wild Horse Mesa in , Western Heritage, The Arizona Ranger, Guns of Hate, Indian Agent and Gun Smugglers in , Brothers in the Saddle, Riders of the Range, Rustlers, Stagecoach Kid, The Mysterious Desperado and Masked Raiders in , Storm Over Wyoming, Rider from Tucson, Dynamite Pass, Border Treasure, Rio Grande Patrol and Law of the Badlands in , Saddle Legion, Gunplay, Pistol Harvest, Hot Lead and Overland Telegraph in , and Trail Guide, Road Agent, Target and Desert Passage in The character, particularly in the films with Tim Holt's personality, was presented as a committed sidekick and ladies' man who was afraid to commit to long term relationships with the women to whom he was attracted.

Richard Martin December 12, — September 4, was an American actor. Before their pairing, Martin originated the role in the film Bombardier. Though born in Spokane, WashingtonMartin's family moved to a Mexican neighbourhood in West Hollywood, Californiawhere he learned to imitate his friends. He soon repeated the role in the western Nevada opposite Robert Mitchum.

Typical plot lines showed Chito flirting with either the female lead character, or supporting character, at the beginning of the film, only to scamper away from a romantic promise at the end.

Personal life

Martin met his wife, former fashion model and actress Elaine Riley, on a film set in Carmel, where a scheduled four-day shoot stretched to three weeks because of fog[6] He was married to Elaine Riley from until his death.

They worked together only once, in Rider from Tucson (), but were regarded as one of Hollywood’s happiest couples.[7] When Howard Hughes cancelled Martin’s contract at RKO in , he left Hollywood to set up an insurance business.

The couple had no children.

Quotes

The Irish in me is for fight; the Mexican for love

Filmography

Notes

External links