Lalo Ríos (7 February 1927 – 7 March 1973) was a Mexican-born American actor best known for his lead role in The Ring (1952) as Tommy.William Anthony Nericcio. Tex[t]-Mex: Seductive Hallucinations of the "Mexican" in America, 2007. "But "Mike" is not done; Heston as Vargas grabs Risto, played with surly acerbic detachment by the late Lalo Ríos (b. 1927, Sonora, Mexico; d. 1973, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.), and demands to know where Susy (drugged and kidnapped by the ..."
Early life Ríos was born on February 7, 1927, in San Miguelito, Sonora, Mexico. At the age of 9 he moved to East Los Angeles, California, with his family. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School.Frank Javier Garcia Berumen. Brown Celluloid: Latino/A Film Icons and Images in the Hollywood. Volume 1, 2003. Page 355.Clara Rodriguez. Heroes, Lovers and Others: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood, 2008. Page 142: "Ricardo Montalbán, Anthony Quinn, Rafael Campos (born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City), and Lalo Rios (born in Mexico and raised in East Los Angeles) all took roles in a number of films that focused on life in the barrio and the place of Latinos in American society." After graduating, Ríos took a job in carpentry.
Career During Ríos' work as a carpenter he got his first acting role with the Paramount film The Lawless (1950). The film cast Ríos as a young Mexican who faces a racist lynch mob in a small North California town. Since his start, his career spanned nearly twenty years. In 1952, Ríos was then cast in his most well-known role as "Tommy", in The Ring (1952), in which he played the lead actor and protagonist. Ríos was also known for certain relevance in films such as Big Leaguer (1953), and Touch of Evil (1958). He eventually ended his career in film in 1962, with Lonely Are the Brave.
After ending his career in film, Ríos began to focus solely on television. This was a format with which he was familiar, due to his initial inclusion in Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse in 1958. His casting with the series was short lived, appearing in only two episodes, but assisted him in creating a platform to sell his craft. After 1966, he participated in multiple television series, such as Laredo (1966) and Marcus Welby, M.D. (1968). Marcus Welby was the last series in which he participated, before he left American television.
Death Ríos died in Los Angeles on March 7, 1973.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1950 The Lawless Paul Rodriguez Bandit Queen Juan, a vigilant Uncredited 1951 The Law and the Lady Panchito Uncredited 1952 Untamed Frontier Pepe Uncredited One Minute to Zero Pvt. Chico Mendoza Uncredited The Ring Tomas 'Tommy' Cantanios / Tommy Kansas 1953 City Beneath the Sea Calypso Big Leaguer Chuy Aguilar 1954 Prisoner of War Sachez Rivero Uncredited 1958 Touch of Evil Risto 1960 The Magnificent Seven Calvera henchman Uncredited 1961 Gold of the Seven Saints Mexican Robber Uncredited 1962 Lonely Are the Brave Prisoner 1968 Blue Mexican bandit Uncredited Villa Rides Mexican Soldier Uncredited
Television Year Title Role episodes 1958 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Martinez My Father, the Fool 1959 Wagon Train Juan The Stagecoach Story The Sister Rita Story 1960 Overland Trail Telegrapher Mission into Mexico 1960 Tate The Shepherd Tigrero 1961 The Untouchables Tony Diaz The Big Train, Part 1 The Big Train, Part 2 1961 Assignment: Underwater Roberto The Key 1961 Gunsmoke Little Fox Long Hours, Short Pay 1961 The Case of the Dangerous Robin Doll of Death 1966 Laredo Pepe The Calico Kid 1967 The High Chaparral First Bandit The Terrorist 1969 Marcus Welby, M.D. Sanchez Neither Punch nor Judy
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