Carlos Rivas (actor)


Carlos Rivas was an American actor, best remembered as Lun Tha in The King and I, Dirty Bob in True Grit, and Hernandez in Topaz.

Early life

Rivas was born in El Paso, Texas, to a German father and Mexican mother. English was his first language and he was also known as Oscar von Weber and Karl Weber.

Career

Carlos Rivas was discovered in a bar in Mexico. He began his career in Mexican and Argentinian Westerns, though his Argentinian films were actually filmed in Mexico.
His American debut was in The King and I opposite Rita Moreno. After this career highlight, he was quickly reduced to supporting roles. That same year, he appeared as Johnny Bravo in the TV Western Cheyenne in the episode titled "Johnny Bravo", and in the 1961 episode of Maverick titled "Poker Face" starring Jack Kelly. Rivas had co-starring roles in two science-fiction films, The Beast of Hollow Mountain and The Black Scorpion. Rivas played Chingachgook in The Deerslayer with Lex Barker, Forrest Tucker, and Rita Moreno.
In 1970, Rivas joined Ricardo Montalbán, Henry Darrow, and other Latino actors in co-founding the Nosotros Foundation, a Los Angeles-based organization devoted to improving the way Hispanics are depicted in entertainment and to advocating for Latinos in the movie and television industry.

Partial filmography

A Life in the Balance - Police officer Amor en cuatro tiempos - Antonio del RíoLa vida tiene tres días - JoséFury in Paradise De carne somos - Mario VidalComanche - Wounded Comanche The King and I - Lun ThaThe Beast of Hollow Mountain - Felipe SanchezThe Big Boodle - Carlos 'Rubi' Rubin The Deerslayer - ChingachgookLa ciudad de los niños - Padre OliverThe Black Scorpion - Artur RamosPanama Sal - Manuel OrtegoLivets vår - Folke Sundqvist Where Are Our Children Going? - EduardoMachete - CarlosPueblo en armas - GorgonioSonatas - Juan GuzmánThe Miracle - CarlitosThe Unforgiven - Lost BirdYo sabia demasiado! The Dalton That Got Away - Grey Wolf¡Viva la soldadera! Pepe - CarlosMi guitarra y mi caballo - La máscara roja - Sebastián CarrilloMatar o morir They Saved Hitler's Brain - Camino Padua/Teo PaduaUna cara para escapar Los viciosos El Club del clan - Chico Novarro Duelo de pistoleros Tarzan and the Valley of Gold - RomuloThe Chinese Room - Nicolás VidalHang Your Hat on the Wind - Tall BanditTrue Grit - Mexican BobThe Undefeated - DiazTopaz - HernandezThe Phantom Gunslinger - SamThe Gatling Gun - Two-KnifeDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze - KulkanTarjeta verde Young Rebels - Mr. VincenzoDiscriminación maldita Gas Food Lodging - PadreMi Vida Loca - Sad Girl's Father