Antonio Ordóñez

Antonio Ordóñez (February 16, 1932-December 19,1998) was a famous Spanish bullfighter.

Bullfighting career

Ordóñez was born Antonio Ordóñez Araujo in Ronda, Málaga, Andalucía. He was one of the top bullfighters of his time. As a matador, Ordoñez came face to face with over 1000 bulls. He finally retired in 1968, having fought over 60 bullfights in that year alone. He was honored with a monument at the gates of the La Malaguita bullring in Málaga.

Famous friends and descendants

Ordóñez was married to Carmen Cristina González and Pilar Lezcano, and is the father of Carmen Ordóñez. His grandsons are bullfighters Francisco Rivera Ordóñez and Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez, both of whom are also sons of the late bullfighter Paquirri. Antonio is part of the bullfighter family known as the " Ordóñez dinasty ".

Ordóñez met a number of writers and actors, and he also starred in a few films. Antonio was a long time friend with Ernest Hemingway, whom he called Father Earnest. Hemingway wrote an account of Ordonez's rivalry with the matador Luis Miguel Dominguin (also Ordonez's brother in law) titled The Dangerous Summer. Ordonez also befriended Hollywood movie star Orson Welles, whose ashes were buried on Ordóñez's estate after his death.

Ordóñez died of liver cancer in 1998.