Ricardo Cortez

Ricardo Cortez

Ricardo Cortez (September 19, 1900 – April 28, 1977) was an American film actor who began his career during the silent film era. Born Jacob Krantz in New York City into a Jewish family, he worked on Wall Street in a broker's office and as a boxer before his looks got him into the film business. Hollywood executives changed his name to Cortez to appeal to film-goers as a "Latin lover" to compete with such highly popular actors of the era as Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro and Antonio Moreno. When rumour began to circulate that Cortez was not actually Spanish, the studios tried to pass him off as a different type of Latin, French, before they finally admitted his (supposedly) Viennese origin. Cortez appeared in over 100 films. He played opposite Joan Crawford in Montana Moon in 1930, played Sam Spade in the original The Maltese Falcon in 1931, co-starred with Charles Farrell and Bette Davis in The Big Shakedown and Wonder Bar (with Al Jolson and Dolores del Río) in 1934. He also played Perry Mason in the 1936 film The Case of the Black Cat. Although he began his career playing romantic leads with actresses like Greta Garbo, when sound cinema arrived, his powerful delivery and New York accent made him an ideal villain and conman, and he switched from sex symbol to character actor. Cortez was married to silent film actress Alma Rubens until her death of pneumonia in 1931. When he retired from the film business, Cortez went to work as a stockbroker for Solomon Brothers on New York's Wall Street. He died in New York City in 1977 and was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx. He was the older brother of noted cinematographer Stanley Cortez (born Stanislaus Krantz).
Known For: Acting
Birthday: 1900-09-17
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
Also Known As: Jacob Krantz, Jack Crane

Movies List of Ricardo Cortez

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Tomorrow We Live

1942 Movie
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The Walking Dead

1936 Movie
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Charlie Chan in Reno

1939 Movie
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Hollywood

1923 Movie
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White Shoulders

1931 Movie
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The Maltese Falcon

1931 Movie
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The Locket

1946 Movie
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Blackmail

1947 Movie
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Bunco Squad

1950 Movie
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Murder Over New York

1940 Movie
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In the Name of Love

1925 Movie
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Midnight Mary

1933 Movie
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Torch Singer

1933 Movie
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The Inner Circle

1946 Movie
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Special Agent

1935 Movie
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Thirteen Women

1932 Movie
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The Last Hurrah

1958 Movie
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Make Your Own Bed

1944 Movie
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Mockery

1927 Movie
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Bad Company

1931 Movie
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The Big Shakedown

1934 Movie
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Ten Cents a Dance

1931 Movie
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Illicit

1931 Movie
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Transgression

1931 Movie
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Montana Moon

1930 Movie
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Big Business Girl

1931 Movie
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I Killed That Man

1941 Movie
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Flesh

1932 Movie
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Torrent

1926 Movie
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Wonder Bar

1934 Movie
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Her Man

1930 Movie
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Behind Office Doors

1931 Movie
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Frisco Kid

1935 Movie
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I Am a Thief

1934 Movie
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Postal Inspector

1936 Movie
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Hat, Coat and Glove

1934 Movie
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The Bedroom Window

1924 Movie
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City Girl

1938 Movie
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Is My Face Red?

1932 Movie
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Men of Chance

1931 Movie
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The Sorrows of Satan

1926 Movie
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No One Man

1932 Movie
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West of Shanghai

1937 Movie
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The White Cockatoo

1935 Movie
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Mystery in Mexico

1948 Movie
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Shadow of Doubt

1935 Movie
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A Lost Lady

1934 Movie
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The Firebird

1934 Movie
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The Lost Zeppelin

1929 Movie
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The Californian

1937 Movie
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Her Husband Lies

1937 Movie
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Broadway Bad

1933 Movie
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Mandalay

1934 Movie
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The Spaniard

1925 Movie
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The Eagle of the Sea

1926 Movie
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The Swan

1925 Movie
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Feet of Clay

1924 Movie
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Woman of Destiny

1928 Movie
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Reckless Living

1931 Movie
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The Pony Express

1925 Movie
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Excess Baggage

1928 Movie
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Hollywood Newsreel

1934 Movie
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Man Hunt

1936 Movie
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Rubber Racketeers

1942 Movie
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Breakdowns of 1936

1936 Movie
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A Shot in the Dark

1941 Movie
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Children of Jazz

1923 Movie
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Manhattan Moon

1935 Movie
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New York

1927 Movie
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Breakdowns of 1937

1937 Movie
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New Orleans

1929 Movie
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Complicated Women

2003 Movie
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The Next Corner

1924 Movie
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Who Is Hope Schuyler?

1942 Movie
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Talk of the Devil

1936 Movie
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The Cat's Pajamas

1926 Movie
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This Woman

1924 Movie
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Midstream

1929 Movie
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World Premiere

1941 Movie
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Not So Long Ago

1925 Movie
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A Society Scandal

1924 Movie
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Big Executive

1933 Movie
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Argentine Love

1924 Movie
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Volcano

1926 Movie