Duncan Renaldo

Renault Renaldo Duncan (April 23, 1904 – September 3, 1980),^[1] better known as Duncan Renaldo, was an American actor who portrayed The Cisco Kid in films and on the 1950-1956 American TV series, The Cisco Kid.

Biography

Early years

Movie poster for Tiger Fangs, left to right: Arno Frey, J. Farrell MacDonald, Howard Banks, June Duprez, Frank Buck, Duncan Renaldo

Renaldo told some interviewers that he actually did not know where he was born.^[2] Various sources claim that he was born in Oancea, Galaţi County, Romania as Vasile Dumitru V. Couyanos or Basil Couyanos.^[3][4][5] Renaldo apparently never knew his biological parents and was raised in several European countries.^[3] His birthplace has been generally stated as Romania and he said his first childhood memories were in Romania.^[3] He emigrated to America in the 1920s. Failing to support himself as a portrait painter, he tried producing short films. He eventually took up acting and signed with MGM in 1928. In 1934, he was arrested for illegal entry into the United States, but eventually was pardoned by President Franklin Roosevelt and returned to acting.^[6]

Though he starred mostly in B-films, for example Tiger Fangs (1943), Renaldo played roles in mainstream films as well, including in Spawn of the North (1938) with George Raft, Henry Fonda and John Barrymore; and For Whom the Bell Tolls with Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. He was also a producer, writer and director.

Television star

Renaldo as The Cisco Kid with Diablo

In the late 1940s, Renaldo starred in several Hollywood Westerns as The Cisco Kid, and in 1950, he began playing the role in a popular television series that ran until 1956. In the age of black-and-white television, the show was filmed in color. As Cisco, Renaldo roamed the Old West on a black-and-white horse named Diablo, accompanied by his constant companion, Pancho, played by Leo Carrillo, who was 24 years Renaldo's senior. The Cisco Kid always helped where needed, and unlike most Western heroes, rarely killed anyone.

Renaldo illustrated a book of poetry by Moreton B. Price titled Drifter's Dreams. His illustrations are ink sketches of idyllic scenes, primarily seascapes and landscapes.

Death

Renaldo died of lung cancer in 1980, aged 76, in Goleta, California. His interment took place in Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara, California.

Legacy

For his contributions to the television industry, Renaldo has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1680 Vine Street.^[1] He is pictured with the band War on their 1974 album, War Live, which includes the group's 1973 song, "The Cisco Kid".

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Hollywood Star Walk Duncan Renaldo". Los Angeles Times. http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/duncan-renaldo/. Retrieved 2010-04-16. 
2. ^ "Duncan Renaldo". www.b-westerns.com. http://www.b-westerns.com/renaldo1.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-16. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Reports - December 13, 1933". Leagle.com. http://174.123.24.242/leagle/xmlResult.aspx?page=1&xmldoc=193320468F2d136_1160.xml&docbase=CSLWAR1-1950-1985&SizeDisp=1. Retrieved 2010-06-19. 
4. ^ "Renaldo Applies For Citizenship". The Spokesman Chronicle. 9 June 1936. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ztVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4939,2768834&dq=rumanian&hl=en. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
5. ^ "The Cisco Kid Duncan Renaldo is dead". Ellensburg Daily Record. 4 September 1980. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w4dUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Qo8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3756,4774694&dq=romanian&hl=en. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
6. ^ "DUNCAN RENALDO (1904–1980)". noblebandits.asu.edu. http://noblebandits.asu.edu/Bio/Renaldo.html. Retrieved 2010-04-16. 

External links

Biography portal

• Duncan Renaldo at the Internet Movie Database

• Video: Frank Buck and Duncan Renaldo in Tiger Fangs

Persondata
Name	Renaldo, Duncan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 23, 1904
Place of birth
Date of death	September 3, 1980
Place of death