Who Are Those Guys ~ Gonzalo Esquiroz

 

Spanish character actor Gonzalo de Esquiroz) was born on June 13, 1930 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Esquiroz spent no less than 15 years, between the ages of 25 and 40, shooting films until completing a record of 280 including stunt work and as a character actor in Spanish and International films.

Gonzalo summarizes his childhood like this: "I remember very little about Santa Cruz because my father was in the military and before he was a year old we went to Cádiz, then to Lugo, and, later, on a tour of almost the entire geography of Spain".

He entered the world of cinema "by chance, through some friends. My profession was military and I was always well prepared physically. I was a champion of Spain in athletics and in 1953 I won the prestigious Jean Bouin race in Barcelona". I learned "without school of any kind. Around the filming, learning took place almost spontaneously, from horseback riding to fencing to handling the sword. There was nothing organized as such, but I was ruthless and learned by practice, and that was the same in my case".

Esquiroz, like other pioneers, actively participated in the two most important moments of the Spanish film industry in the 20th century: on the one hand, the film factory of producer Samuel Bronston in the 1950s and on the other, those known as the "spaghetti westerns" in the 1960s. Of the latter, he appeared in ninety films, not only as a specialist but also as an actor because "sometimes the director asked you to and you had to do it". He then worked with mythical directors of the genre such as Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci. Those were times of artisan cinema and that is why Esquiroz appears in a multitude of credits, the kind that are reflected on the screen at the end of the film, after "The end". In all Gonzalo appeared in nearly 300 films.

Esquiroz also dubbed many actors, but he remembers, for example, "Charlton Heston in El Cid , the first of this series of major productions in Spain, “55 days in Beijing” and “The Pride and the Passion”. Also, Steve McQueen in “Papillon” in a shoot that began in Spain and ended in Jamaica. Without forgetting others like Alain Delon or Dustin Hoffman. In my case, I not only dubbed but also acted, because those were times when the director said that you had to play an Indian or a villain and one put on the makeup and costume and learned the script".

To round off such an interesting life, after turning 40, Gonzalo Esquiroz entered Televisión Española, where he produced for many years the mythical debate program "La Clave" that during this transition was presented and directed by José Luis Balbín, to which Gonzalo, with a lot of diplomacy.

ESQUIROZ, Gonzalo (Gonzalo de Esquiroz) [6/13/1930, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain –     ] – director, stuntman, film, TV, voice actor, married to ? father of two girls and one son Ignacio Esquiroz.

Shadow of Zorro – 1962 (Dan’s henchman)

Torrejón City – 1962 (rider)

Welcome Padre Murray – 1962 (gunfighter)

Gunfight at Red Sands – 1963 (Kincaid Wilson)

The Implacable Three – 1963 (McCoy henchman)

Murieta! - 1963 (rapist)

The Sign of the Coyote – 1963 (Lenny henchman)

Bullets and Flesh – 1964 (Robby)

Bullets Don’t Argue – 1964 (Manny/Manuel’s deputy)

Charge of the 7th – 1964 (Confederate major)

The Colt is My Law – 1965 (deputy)

A Place Called Glory – 1965 (Vallone henchman)

The Relentless Four – 1965 (Anders’ ranch hand)

7 Hours of Gunfire – 1965 (Indian)

Vengeance Ranch – 1965 (bandit_

Django Does Not Forgive – 1966 (Private Nichols)

A Few Dollars for Django – 1966 (Carver)

The Hellbenders – 1966 (Search party serg eant)

The Ugly Ones – 1966 (Bill)

Any Gun Can Play – 1967 (Charo Ruiz)

For a Few Bullets More – 1967 (Travis henchman)

John the Bastard – 1967 (bandit on train)

A Train for Durango – 1967 (Lobo henchman)

Between God, the Devil and a Winchester – 1968

Killer, Adios – 1968 (townsman)

Quinto: Fighting Proud – 1969 (Vincent) [master of arms]

Dead Men Ride – 1971 (Redfield henchman)

Raise Your Hands Dead Man, You’re Under Arrest – 1971 Lolito

These Damned Pounds of Gold – 1971 (stagecoach passenger)

Sonny & Jed – 1972 (Franciscus deputy)

The Stranger and the Gunfighter – 1974 (deputy)