Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez Biography

Fast Facts

• Served in the U․S․ Army during World War II as a driver and was stationed in the U․S
• Made his screen acting debut in the film "Wings of the Hawk" in 1953
• Began performing in small town shows and state fairs with his family at the age of 7, in which he would sing, dance, and play makeshift instruments
• Signed with John Wayne's production company after the western film legend happened to see his comedic antics on an episode of Groucho Marx's quiz show "You Bet Your Life" in 1953
• Quote: "I never learned to speak English too good, but the audience liked it like that․"
• Appeared in several John Wayne films during his career, including "Rio Bravo," "Hellfighters," "Chisum," and "McLintock!"
• Best known for his role as Gonzales in "The High and the Mighty" and as Carlos Robante in "Rio Bravo․"
• Because he left school so early, he never learned how to read or write, and instead memorized his lines by having his wife read scripts to him
• Voiced background characters behind Mel Blanc in several "Speedy Gonzales" cartoons, including "A Taste of Catnip" and "Go Go Amigo․"
• His double last name comes from the Mexican tradition of receiving his father's last name and his mother's maiden name, which in his case happened to be the same