Remembering José Suárez

Born José Suárez Sánchez on September 19, 1919 in Trubia, Spain. He was working as a train conductor when he was noticed by director Gonzalo Delgrás who cast him in his next film “Altar Mayor” in 1944. He would appear in two more Delgrás directed films before becoming a leading man in 1948. He became a Spanish heartthrob in the 1950's along with such Spanish actors as Francisco Rabal, Jorge Mistral and Alfredo Mayo. He would star in such films as “Condenados” (1953) and “Calle Mayor” (1956). Suárez became the president of the Spanish Actors Guild and then went to work in Italian films with such directors as Luigi Zampa and Francesco Rosi where he attracted a new following of fans. He returned to Spain in the 1960s and made several Spaghetti Westens including “Texas Addio” (1966), “The Forgotten Pistolero” (1969), “The Price of Power” (1970), and “A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die” (1972). His last film appearance was in 1975's “La trastienda”. José Suárez died on August 6, 1981 in Madrid. We remember him today on what would have been his 90th birthday.