Background and career
Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos (January 9, 1915 – October 8, 1982) was an Argentine-American actor and director of the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. He is the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas.
Fernando Álvaro Lamas y de Santos was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this country, his movies included En el último piso (1942), Frontera Sur (1943), Villa rica del Espíritu Santo (1945), and Stella (1946). Lamas was also seen in The Poor People's Christmas (1947), The Tango Returns to Paris (1948), and The Story of a Bad Woman (1948). He had the lead in La rubia Mireya (1949) alongside Mecha Ortiz, and a key role in De padre desconocido (1949), Vidalita (1949) and The Story of the Tango (1950). He also appeared in Corrientes, calle de ensueños (1949), and La otra y yo (1950). He was reportedly the third biggest star in the country. His first American film was The Avengers (1950) for Republic Pictures, shot on location in Argentina. Some scenes were filmed in the US, leading to Lamas going to Hollywood.
In September 1949, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and went on to play mainly "Latin lover" roles and occasionally sing in musicals. In 1951, Lamas starred as Paul Sarnac in the musical, Rich, Young and Pretty with Jane Powell. He supported Greer Garson and Michael Wilding in The Law and the Lady (1952), which was a flop. MGM gave him a star tenor part as Lana Turner's love interest in the popular operetta The Merry Widow (1952) by Franz Lehár. He romanced Elizabeth Taylor in The Girl Who Had Everything (1952), which was also successful. Lamas went to Paramount Pictures, where he was top-billed in Sangaree (1953). Back at MGM, he was Esther Williams' leading man in Dangerous When Wet (1953), a big success. At Warner Bros. Lamas starred in The Diamond Queen (1954). He did Jivaro (1954) at Paramount then returned to MGM for a remake of Rose Marie (1954) supporting Howard Keel and Ann Blyth. It was popular, but failed to recoup its cost. At Paramount, he was Rosalind Russell's leading man in The Girl Rush (1955). Lamas started appearing on television, including an adaptation of Hold Back the Dawn for Lux Video Theatre. "I couldn't break the Latin lover image", Lamas later claimed. He co-starred on Broadway in the 1956 musical Happy Hunting with Ethel Merman, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.
Lamas did episodes of Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre ("The Bravado Touch"), Climax! ("Spider Web"), Pursuit ("Eagle in a Cage"), Shirley Temple's Storybook, and Zane Grey Theatre, but returned to features with The Lost World (1960). He also guest starred in one episode of The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour Lamas also appeared in the TV show "Combat!" (season five, episode four) "Brothers."
Lamas moved to Europe with Esther Williams, who became his wife. He directed a film in which both starred, Magic Fountain, shot in 1961 and never released in the US. He went to Italy for Duel of Fire (1962), and Revenge of the Musketeers (1963). He helped write the Western A Place Called Glory (1965).
Lamas returned to Hollywood. As an actor, he focused on television, with guest appearances on Burke's Law, The Virginian, Laredo, Combat!, The Red Skelton Hour, Hondo, and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.. From 1965 to 1968, Lamas had a regular role as Ramon De Vega on Run for Your Life, which starred Ben Gazzara; Lamas also directed some episodes. He had a support role in Valley of Mystery (1967), a pilot for a series that did not proceed. He directed another feature film, The Violent Ones, which was released in 1967 and co-starred Aldo Ray and David Carradine. He was in Kill a Dragon (1967) and 100 Rifles (1969), and had guest roles on The High Chaparral, How the West Was Won, Tarzan, Then Came Bronson, It Takes a Thief, Mission: Impossible, The Name of the Game, Dan August, Alias Smith and Jones, Bearcats!, Mod Squad, Night Gallery, and McCloud.
