Gardel

Carlos Gardel was born in France, but his mother moved to Argentina to avoid the humiliation she faced for having a child out of wedlock. Though Gardel is known for his music, he was also an actor. His first movie was in 1917, and his first talkie was in 1931’s Las Luces de Buenos Aires. He worked in the United States and France for Paramount. He has 22 acting credits, some of which allowed him to shine as a singer. He remains a popular figure in Latin America, especially in Argentina. An upcoming film directed by Armand Mastroianni will depict his life.

Notable film: Cuesta abajo

José Ferrer

Puerto Rican José Ferrer was born in 1912. He first worked as a Broadway actor, and his first movie role was in 1948’sJoan of Arc, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Ferrer’s refined way of speaking brought him roles as academics and snobs. Ferrer is the first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award for 1950’s Cyrano de Bergerac. In Caine Mutiny, he proved that even in small doses, he could hold his own against Hollywood great Humphrey Bogart.

Notable film: Caine Mutiny

Jorge Negrete

Born in Mexico, Jorge Negrete worked in a hospital before starting his singing career. He signed a contract with NBC Television for a program that featured Cuban and Mexican artists. In 1937, he was given the lead role in La madrina del diablo. He continued to make movies, and his brother even got him a contract with 20th Century Fox, where he would film Spanish movies for Hollywood.