Tom Hernández

Domingo Tomás "Tom" Hernández Bethencourt (October 9, 1915 - June 2, 1984), better known as Tom Hernández (or Tommy Hernandez), was a Spanish-born American theater, films, and television actor, who played supporting roles, usually Hispanics, throughout his career. He was mainly known for their roles in the American film The 3rd Voice (1960), and in the Spanish films "Fuerza Mortal" (1980) and "Tunka, el guerrero" (1983). However, he is best remembered by his interpretation of Don Diego character at the San Diego's fair (California) Del Mar Fair during almost of four decades until his death in 1984. He held the position of goodwill ambassador of the fair, promoting it and he welcomed people that came to the fair with his greeting in Spanish "¡Bienvenidos, Amigos!" ("Welcome Friends!"), greeting for which he was known.[1] He was brother of also actor Pepe Hern and uncle of present-day actor Justin Lopez from The Three Stooges (2012 film).[2]

Tom Hernández
Tom Hernández in one episode of Mission: Impossible (in "Wheels", 1966), playing to "The Desk Sergeant"
Born
Domingo Tomás Hernández

October 9, 1915 (1915-10-09)
DiedJune 2, 1984 (1984-06-03) (aged 68)
NationalitySpanish and American
OccupationActor

Biography

Hernández was born on October 9, 1915, in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain),[3] to Domingo Hernández and Dominga Bethencourt.[4] In 1920, Hernandez emigrated with his parents and an eldest brother to the United States when he was five. He also had a younger brother (who was born in the U.S., twelve years after his arrival there), the future actor Pepe Hern.[3]

Eventually, Hernandez became interested in film, and got jobs of helper, which led him to small roles with marked Hispanic roots. Domingo chosen the Tom Hernandez stage name, seeking a certain approach to their host country, but without completely abandoning their roots.

After working in theater for a long time, he was offered a small role in Tarzan and the Slave Girl (1950), and during the '50s was common to see him at many American films and some episodes of some American TV series, playing supporting roles.

The film in which, perhaps, had the greater role in his Hollywood career was "The 3rd Voice" (1960)

That brief moment of brilliance on the big screen in the early 60 allowed to Tom Hernandez access to more regular jobs in renowned television series as " The Virginian" (1962), "Mission: Impossible" (1965) and "Daniel Boone" (1969), one of the last TV series in which he worked. Already into the '70s, his appearances on screen were losing relevance, focusing thereafter, basically, in his job as goodwill ambassador in the Del Mar Fair, in San Diego (California),[4] in which he had already begun to work from the 40s.

Although he continued to participate in some movies, highlighting its roles in the Spanish films Cuatro locos buscan manicomio (1980), Fuerza mortal (1980) and Tunka, el guerrero (1983).

By other way, since 1947 Hernández began to interpret Don Diego's character at the Del Mar Fair in San Diego (California),[5][6] appearing as master of ceremonies for the annual meeting [5] and occupying the work of promoter the fair, being goodwill ambassador in this fairgrounds.[1]

He combined his work in films and its role as master of ceremonies for the fair until the last years of his life. He died on June 2, 1984 in Los Angeles, California.[3]

Legacy

  • On the death of Hernandez, the council of Del Mar Fair decided to expose a bronze statue of 16 feet dedicated to Hernández as Don Diego, created by artist Maher Morcos, at the entrance to the fair. The statue was presented in 1985.[1]
  • In honor to him was created also The Don Diego Fund in 1986, a nonprofit scholarship program of the San Diego County Fair to economically help to the outstanding San Diego County high school students who have participated in the annual San Diego County Fair or other events concluded by the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Thus, this fund has delivered over $556,000 in scholarships and grants along its trajectory and has helped more than 130 students achieve a college degree. The Don Diego Fund is also a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.[7]

Trivia

  • The character "Don Diego" was based on the landowner Don Diego Alvarado, owner of a great land in what is now Del Mar, California, in 1800 year.[5]
  • In the beauty contest at the fair, Hernández met a girl named Raquel Tejada, who was one of the contestants of this contest, and who later would become the actress Raquel Welch.[8]

Filmography

This is a list of films of Tom Hernández[9]

Year Title Role Notes
1938 Dead Men Tell No Tales Spanish Bartender
1950 Tarzan and the Slave Girl Molo Uncredited
1952 Yankee Buccaneer Guard Uncredited
1953 Salome Townsman Uncredited
1953 Trouble Along the Way Butler Uncredited
1953 Sombrero Man in Cafe Uncredited
1953 The Desert Song Legionnaire Uncredited
1953 Latin Lovers Nora's Dancing Partner Uncredited
1954 Phantom of the Rue Morgue Gendarme Lara Uncredited
1955 The Last Command Aida Uncredited
1956 Anything Goes Frenchman Uncredited
1956 Santiago Soldier Uncredited
1957 El reflejo del alma (Spanish film)
1958 Party Girl Sketch Artist, Canetto Trial Uncredited
1959 Holiday for Lovers Portrait Painter Uncredited
1959 It Started with a Kiss Minor Role Uncredited
1960 The 3rd Voice Desk´s Clerk
1961 The Comancheros Croupier Uncredited
1962 Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Headwaiter Uncredited
1962 Tender Is the Night Nobleman Uncredited
1963 Fun in Acapulco Photographer Uncredited
1965 Choque de Sentimentos (Brazilian film)
1972 Trouble Man Police Sergeant
1974 La dynamite est bonne à boire (French film)
1979 Black Jack
1980 Fuerza mortal (Big games) Simpson (Spanish film)
1980 Cuatro locos buscan manicomio Gerente (Spanish film)
1981 Asalto al casino
1981 Homo hominis opus I Dictator Short, (Spanish film)
1982 Othello black command - as Fergusson
1984 Tunka, el guerrero great sage (Spanish film) (final film role)

TV series

This is a list of television series in which he has appeared.[9]

Year Title Role episodes
1951 The Adventures of Kit Carson Tom Hernández A Ticket to Mexico
1955 Letter to Loretta Angelo The Waiting Game
1955 Death Valley Days Tony The Valencia Cake
1955 My Little Margie Hernando Papa and Mambo
1956 Cheyenne Ramón Fury at Rio Hondo
1957 State Trooper Pepe Soto Beef ala Murder
1959 Zorro chapters in 1957
1959 Laramie Montero Ríos The Run to Tumavaca
1959 Wagon Train Denny The Stagecoach Story
1960 Bourbon Street Beat Victor Last Exit
1961 Wanted: Dead or Alive Carlos witch woman
1962 Target: The Corruptors! Babes in Wall Street
1962 The Virginian The Spanish Officer Riff-Raff (chapter in 1962)
1966 Mission: Impossible The Desk Sergeant Wheels (chapter in 1966)
1969 Daniel Boone Surgeon The Grand Alliance
1969 Family Affair Captain Lost in Spain, Part 3

References

  1. San Diego Fair:Don Diego Fund
  2. IMDB: Justin Lopez
  3. El blogoferoz: Tributo a Tom Hernández. Por Salvador García Llanos. Posted on December 14, 2015.
  4. Canarias 7: Los olvidados
  5. North County Times, June 25, 2006 Archived April 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Richard A. Santillán, José M. Alamillo, Anna Bermúdez, Juan J. Canchola-Ventura and Al Ramos (2016). Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina. Page 118.
  7. "North County School Notes". Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved 2013-09-26.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. Biography for Justin Lopez (II) Archived 2011-08-21 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Tom Hernandez|Filmography
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