Peter Mamakos

Peter Mamakos (December 14, 1918 April 27, 2008) was an American film and television actor.

Peter Mamakos
Born
Peter Mamakos

(1918-12-14)December 14, 1918
DiedApril 27, 2008(2008-04-27) (aged 89)
OccupationActor
Years active1949-1990

Early life

Mamakos was of Greek descent.[1] Mamakos' father owned Pilgrim restaurants in New England. Mamakos was sent to California to scout locations for restaurants, but he liked Hollywood so much that he decided to stay, declining his father's offers of $50,000 in cash and a $250,000 nightclub of his own if he returned to Boston. He told a reporter, "I feel right at home in Hollywood. A hot kitchen and a hot sound stage are alike -- you're surrounded by hams in both."[2]

Career

Peter Mamakos was perhaps best known for playing Greek, Indian, Hispanic, French, Italian and Middle Eastern villains[1] from 1940s up until the 1990s.

Film

Mamakos was in eight movies in his first seven months in Hollywood.[2] Mamakos appeared in Trail of the Yukon (1949), in which he and other supporting players offered what a Variety review called "stock performances."[3]

Television

He had a recurring role as Jean Liffite on the ABC western The Adventures of Jim Bowie. He also appeared as a Lionian Henchman in Tarzan and the Slave Girl (1950) starring Lex Barker. Mamakos made three guest appearances on Perry Mason from 1962–66, including the role of killer Nick Paolo in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the Stand-in Sister," Juan Carlos Ramirez in the 1964 episode, "The Case of a Place Called Midnight" and murder victim Olaf Deering in the 1966 episode, "The Case of the Sausalito Sunrise." He also appeared in 1966 in episodes 41 and 42 of Batman. He appeared in several episodes of the TV Show, The Lone Ranger.

Mamakos is also remembered as Happy J. King, the Metropolis crime boss who engaged a European criminal scientist to invent "synthetic kryptonite". Kidnapping Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, King came closer than any other criminal in ridding the Earth of Superman (George Reeves). This event was recounted in "The Defeat of Superman," the sixth episode of the second season of The Adventures of Superman which first aired on October 24, 1953. He co-starred on Daniel Boone in 1970 as a Cherokee Chief in episode 18 "A Run for the Money."

Personal life

Mamakos was married and had a daughter who was born in 1955.[4]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1949Bride of VengeanceFerrara's CrossbowmanUncredited
1949Tuna ClipperCapt. Manuel Pereira
1949House of StrangersBank GuardUncredited
1949Trail of the YukonHenchman Rand
1950MalayaHenchmanUncredited
1950Cargo to CapetownGomezUncredited
1950Tarzan and the Slave GirlLionian HenchmanUncredited
1950South Sea SinnerMan at TableUncredited
1950Between Midnight and Dawn'Cootie' Adams
1950KimConspiratorUncredited
1951Flame of StamboulPierreUncredited
1951Pier 23Nick Garrison
1951SiroccoMerchant BusinessmanUncredited
1951China CorsairJuan (bartender)Uncredited
1951Silver CanyonLaughing Jack
1951Mask of the AvengerSergeantUncredited
1951The Mark of the RenegadePirateUncredited
1951Comin' Round the MountainGangster in Night Club
1951Let's Go Navy!Chief NuramoUncredited
1951The People Against O'HaraJames KorvacUncredited
1952Harem GirlSarab
1952Viva Zapata!SoldierUncredited
1952Tarzan's Savage FuryPilotUncredited
1952Captain PirateCoulevain's First MateUncredited
1952Horizons WestLt. SalazarUncredited
1952The Prisoner of ZendaDe Gautet - ConspiratorUncredited
1953City Beneath the SeaCaptain Pedro Mendoza
1953The Bandits of CorsicaDiegas
1953Fort VengeanceBroken LanceUncredited
1953The Glory BrigadeCol. KalliclesUncredited
1953ForbiddenSam
1953El AlaméinCpl. Singh Das
1953Private EyesChico
1954The Miami StoryGangsterUncredited
1954Captain Kidd and the Slave GirlPirateUncredited
1954The Gambler from NatchezEtienneUncredited
1954The Adventures of Hajji BabaChief ExecutionerUncredited
1955Pirates of TripoliKeppaUncredited
1955The ProdigalGuardUncredited
1955A Bullet for JoeyShip CaptainUncredited
1955I Cover the UnderworldCharlie Green
1955The MaraudersRamos
1955Ain't Misbehavin'Andy, Greek Fisherman
1955The Twinkle in God's EyeCruishankUncredited
1955Desert SandsPvt. Lucia Capella
1956The ConquerorBogurchi
1956When Gangland StrikesMr. ThorndykeUncredited
1956Miracle in the RainHeadwaiterUncredited
1956The SearchersJerem FuttermanUncredited
1956Quincannon, Frontier ScoutBlackfoot Sam
1956The Best Things in Life Are FreeHenchmanUncredited
1956The Ten CommandmentsChief Driver
1957Spook ChasersSnap Sizzolo
1957My Gun Is QuickLaRoche - Smuggler Chief
1957Looking for DangerHassan
1957The Crooked CircleNick
1957Sabu and the Magic RingMazufar
1958Fort BowieSgt Kukas
1958Merry AndrewVittorio Gallini
1958The Man Who Died TwiceDeli CountermanUncredited
1959The Rabbit TrapTruck DriverUncredited
1962Terror at Black FallsJuan Avila
1963The VirginianWalzchekEpisode "The Final Hour"
1963Drums of AfricaChavera
1963Island of LoveNick
1964TaggartCantina OwnerUncredited
1965Ship of FoolsReligious ManUncredited
1967Catalina CaperBorman
1968The Heart Is a Lonely HunterSpirmonedes
1969JustineKawwassUncredited
1969A Dream of KingsFalconis
1970Triangle
1971The Resurrection of Zachary WheelerPremier Mabulla
1974For Pete's SakeDominic
1977The Other Side of MidnightCocyannis
1980The Man with Bogart's FaceSpoony Singh

References

  1. Maays, Stan (1969-11-30). "Greek Character Actor Makes Peace with His Ego". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. p. 11G. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  2. McPherson, Virginia (1949-09-22). "Doing Hollywood". The Ponoma Progress Bulletin. Retrieved 2020-05-20 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Film review: Trail of the Yukon". Variety. 175 (8). 1949-08-03. p. 16 via Proquest.
  4. "Births". Variety. 199 (8). 1955-07-27. p. 127 via Proquest.
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