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Gilbert Roland (December 11, 1905 – May 15, 1994) was an American actor.

He was born Luis Antonio Damaso de Alonso in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He initially intended to follow in his father's footsteps and become a bullfighter but when the family moved to the United States, he became interested in acting when he was literally picked off the streets for a role as an extra. He chose his screen name by combining the names of two of his favorite actors, John Gilbert and Ruth Roland. His dashing good looks helped him find work immediately although he was often cast in the typical "Latin Lover" role.

His first major role was as one of Clara Bow's love interests in the collegiate comedy The Plastic Age (1925). In 1927, he played Armand in Camille opposite Norma Talmadge, with whom he was romantically linked. He went to star opposite Talmadge in several more films but when sound ended her career, Roland's voice was well suited for the new medium and his career continued uninterrupted. He starred in several Spanish language adaptations of American films and continued as a romantic lead.

Beginning in the 1940s, Roland's roles became smaller but critics began to take notice of his acting and he was praised for his supporting roles in John Huston's We Were Strangers (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and Cheyenne Autumn. He also appeared in a series of films in the mid 40s as the popular character "The Cisco Kid." Catholic viewers probably know him best as Hugo, the agnostic (and totally fictional) friend of the three shepherd children in The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, which is based on the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917. His last appearance was in the 1982 western movie Barbarosa.

He was married to actress Constance Bennett from 1941 to 1946. His second marriage to Guillermina Cantu in 1954 lasted until his death in 1994.

Roland died of cancer in 1994 at the age of 88. Roland was nominated twice for a Golden Globe Award, for his roles in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964).

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Gilbert Roland has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6730 Hollywood Blvd.

External links

• Original letter from Greta Garbo to Gilbert Roland (1943)

References

• Monush, Barry. The Encyclopedia of Film Actors From The Silent Era to 1965. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2003.

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