| Enrique Acosta | |
| Birth Date: | Feb. 26, 1870 |
| Birth Place: | Mexico City |
| Death Date: | May 22, 1949 |
| Death Place: | Los Angeles |
| Occupation: | Actor |
Enrique Acosta was a Mexican American movie actor. He appeared in multiple films from 1925 to 1947, such as "Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925) and "A Message to Garcia" (1936).
Acosta emigrated with his family to Los Angeles, California, in the United States of America, from Mexico[1] after 1910, to escape the violence[2] created by the Mexican Revolution. His theater career began in Mexico, though there is not yet significant information.[3] After he emigrated, Enrique Acosta, bilingual in English and Spanish, acted in many of Hal Roach's Spanish-language shorts in the early 20th century, as well as films where he spoke English.[4] He lived with his three sons and wife, Josefa A Acosta, in Culver City near the Hal Roach studios. Some of his extended family resided in Playa del Rey, California—including his adult son, Joaquín Enrique Acosta Sr., and daughter in law, Catalina Ortiz Acosta, a pianist working with Juanita Roos,[5] [6] wife of Charles Roos[7] in the Indianist Movement.[8]
In the early 20th Century, Culver City was a Sundown town,[9] making it necessary for the Acosta family to declare themselves "white" to live and work in Culver City during that time. Declaring themselves to be white on birth certificates and other public documents was common practice for many Mexican Americans in Los Angeles County during the 20th century.[10]
Being bilingual in both Spanish and English, Acosta was able to obtain niche opportunities as a Latino supporting actor[11] in the nascent Southern California film industry,[12] Enrique Acosta was both a silent film actor then continued his acting career into "talkies", the name at the time for sound film. He was described as, "... a character actor with Mexican Indian features, a burly frame..."[13]
Behind the camera, he was the listed film director for Hollywood, City of Dreams (Spanish:Hollywood, ciudad de ensueno) in 1931. A Spanish-language film made in the United States.
His acting roles in silent films include Don Q, Son of Zorro,[14] a 1925 silent film by Donald Crisp, starring Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Astor, Enrique Acosta played Ramon. Whispering Sage in 1927, (he played Pedro). In a few short years, the Silent Film Era[15] was almost completely over by 1931, pushed into oblivion by the huge success of The Lights of New York (1928) film.
Enrique Acosta worked with many early 20th Century film stars including Laurel and Hardy in many of Hal Roach Studio's Spanish-language shorts.[16] Politiquerías[17] is a Spanish language version feature film expanded from the English language Chickens Come Home (1931) Laurel and Hardy short film by Hal Roach Studios.[18] He is cited as a Mexican American actor in many early Western films including The Texan.[19]
At age 66, he played General Calixto García[20] in A Message to Garcia (1936), starring a very young Barbara Stanwyck. In many of his film roles he usually played an authority figure such as a judge, military officer or police officer.[21] When he wasn't an authority figure, he was an elegant guest.[22] He had many other uncredited roles.[23] The filmography cross-referenced with the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.[24]
Enrique Acosta died in Culver City, California, May 22, 1949, at the age of 79.[25] He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. His wife, Josefa A. de Acosta died two years later and shares the headstone. His eldest son, Joaquin Enrique Acosta Sr., also died in 1949 and is buried nearby.
| Date | Film | media | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Don Q, Son of Zorro | silent film | Ramon | |
| 1927 | Whispering Sage | silent film | Old Pedro | |
| 1930 | El Jugador de Golf | sound film | ||
| 1930 | Tiembla y Titubea (Laurel and Hardy) | sound film | Police Chief | |
| 1930 | Huye, Faldas (Laurel and Hardy) | sound film | Father | |
| 1930 | Una Cana Al Aire'' | sound film | Sr. Gilstrom, Charlie's boss | |
| 1930 | The Texan | sound film | Sixto | |
| 1930 | Ladrones (Laurel and Hardy) | sound film | Police Chief | |
| 1930 | Un precio de un Beso'' | sound film | ||
| 1930 | Estrellados | sound film | Chamber of Commerce Pres. | |
| 1930 | Locuras de Amor | sound film | ||
| 1930 | Así es la Vida | sound film | Sr. Franklin | |
| 1931 | Monerías | sound film | El Capitán | |
| 1931 | Politiquería (Laurel and Hardy) | sound film | Judge / El Juez | |
| 1931 | El Alma de a Fiesta | sound film | Senador | |
| 1931 | Los Presidiarios | sound film | Warden | |
| 1931 | De Bote en Bote | sound film | The Warden | |
| 1932 | Thunder Below | sound film | Pacheco | |
| 1933 | Dos Noches | sound film | Manuel Jiménez Blanco | |
| 1933 | Una Viuda Romántica | sound film | Bartender | |
| 1934 | One Night of Love | sound film | Bartender | |
| 1934 | Tres Amores | sound film | Presidente | |
| 1934 | The Prescott Kid | sound film | servant | |
| 1935 | The Black Room | sound film | Judge | |
| 1935 | El Cantante de Nápoles | sound film | Papá Daspuro | |
| 1935 | Te Quiero con Lucura | sound film | Coronel | |
| 1936 | A Message to Garcia | sound film | General Calixto García | |
| 1936 | Fatal Lady | sound film | Paris café guest | |
| 1936 | Desire | sound film | Pedro | |
| 1936 | Romana | sound film | guest | |
| 1939 | Only Angels Have Wings | sound film | tourist | |
| 1940 | Argentine Nights | sound film | ||
| 1940 | Cassablanca | sound film | uncredited character | |
| 1941 | Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga | sound film | excited Cuban | |
| 1942 | Crossroads | sound film | Adolph Faylauer (assoc. judge) | |
| 1946 | Masquerade in Mexico | sound film | spectator | |
| 1947 | Twilight on the Rio Grand | sound film | Lamplighter |