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Carlos Rivas

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Actor

The Resume

    (February 16, 1925-June 16, 2003)
    Born in El Paso, Texas
    Birth name was Oscar von Weber
    Also billed as Oscar Carlos Rivas Weber
    Matinee idol of Cine Mexicano
    Best known for his American debut, as Lun Ta in 'The King & I' (1956)
    Also known for roles in 'True Grit' (1969) and 'Topaz' (1969)
    Acted in 'The Beast of Hollow Mountain,' 'The Big Boodle,' 'The Black Scorpion,' 'The Deerslayer,' 'The Unforgiven,' 'Tarzan and the Valley of Gold,' and 'The Undefeated'
    Guest starred on episodes of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Barnaby Jones and Daniel Boone

Why he might be annoying:

    He guest starred on an episode of The Addams Family.
    His voice was dubbed as Lun Ta in 'King & I.'
    As it was, he was a Mexican cast in a Burmese role (back when ethnic minorities were deemed interchangeable).
    He was discovered at a Mexican bar, because he was the only one there who could speak English (the director asked him if he was an actor; he wasn't, but he said 'yes' anyway).
    His mid-sixties career was inconsistent (small roles in international films, leads in Mexico films, supporting roles in American films).
    Case in point, he starred in a prestigious little made-for-TV Sci-Fi flick titled 'They Saved Hitler's Brain.'
    He turned down movie roles in his later years because 'the scripts were bad' (choosing to do low-quality Mexican telenovelas, instead).
    He recalled having an awkward interaction with Yul Brynner during their first rehearsal when he ascended a staircase to deliver a scroll to the King. When Yul stood up, he realized that the 6 foot tall Rivas was the same height as he was, despite being four steps below him, shooting Rivas a dirty look as a result.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the son of German-American father and Mexican mother.
    He played opposite Mexico's two premiere leading ladies, Maria Felix and Dolores Del Rio.
    He was awarded the Golden Eagle Award for Lifetime Achievement, shortly before his death.
    He was good friends with Rita Moreno, even before making two films with her.
    After he secured the Lun Ta role, he was sent a wire asking if he would work with a woman of color (he said 'of course').
    His and Moreno's 'We Kiss in a Shadow' number, initially filmed on the Fox soundstage, was so popular with studio execs that they flew him back from Mexico to reshoot it outdoors in a real garden.
    He glowed about Deborah Kerr, whenever asked, speaking warmly of 'a big star like her' being accommodating to a newcomer like himself (who even gave him her address in case he wanted to rehearse with her).
    He had to put up with the washed up Errol Flynn on the set of 'Big Boodle' (who was so drunk that he had to double for him during one scene).
    He was a favorite castmate of John Wayne's for the same reason Yul Brynner detested him (The Duke found not having to bend over to do scenes with him refreshing).
    He is a founding member of Nosostros, which works for the betterment of the representation of Latinos in entertainment (along with Ricardo Montalban and Henry Darrow).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 15 Votes: 26.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 40.0% Annoying