Fernando Lamas

Fernando Lamas (born January 9, 1916 in Buenos Aires, Argentina; died October 8, 1982 in Los Angeles, California) was an Argentine actor and director.

Related Topics:
January 9 - 1916 - Buenos Aires - Argentina - October 8 - 1982 - Los Angeles, California - Actor

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He was born Fernando Alvaro Lamas in Buenos Aires. By 1942, he was an established movie star in Argentina. In 1951, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and went to the United States to play "Latin Lover" roles.

Related Topics:
Buenos Aires - 1942 - Movie - Star - Argentina - 1951 - Contract - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - United States

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Lamas was married four times, to Pearl Mux (married 1940-divorced 1944), Lydia Barachi (married 1946-divorced 1952), actress Arlene Dahl (married 1954-divorced 1960), and swimmer and actress Esther Williams (married 1969-his death 1982).

Related Topics:
1940 - 1944 - 1946 - 1952 - Actress - Arlene Dahl - 1954 - 1960 - Swimmer - Esther Williams - 1969 - 1982

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He and Mux had one daughter. He and Barachi had one daughter. And he and Dahl had one son, actor Lorenzo Lamas (born January 20, 1958).

Related Topics:
Lorenzo Lamas - January 20 - 1958

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Lamas directed for the first time in 1963. It was a Spanish movie titled Magic Fountain starring his wife Esther Williams. He was most active directing on television, doing episodes that included Mannix, The Violent Ones, Alias Smith and Jones, Starsky and Hutch and Falcon Crest. The latter show co-starred his son, Lorenzo.

Related Topics:
1963 - Magic Fountain - Esther Williams - Television - Mannix - The Violent Ones - Alias Smith and Jones - Starsky and Hutch - Falcon Crest

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Lamas lived on in popular culture via the "Fernando" character developed by Billy Crystal on Saturday Night Live in the mid-1980s. The character was outlandish and exaggerated, but reportedly inspired by a remark Crystal heard Lamas utter on The Tonight Show; "It is better to look good than to feel good." This was one of the Fernando character's two catchphrases along with the better-remembered "You look marvelous!"

Related Topics:
Billy Crystal - Saturday Night Live - The Tonight Show

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Fernando Lamas died of cancer in Los Angeles, California.

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