| Tom Hernández | |
| Birthname: | Domingo Tomás Hernández |
| Birth Place: | Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) |
| Death Place: | Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Nationality: | Spanish, American |
Domingo Tomás Hernández Bethencourt (October 9, 1915 – June 2, 1984), known professionally as Tom Hernández (or Tommy Hernandez), was an 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. He was brother of also actor Pepe Hern and uncle of present-day actor Justin Lopez from The Three Stooges (2012 film).[1]
Hernández was born on October 9, 1915, in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain),[2] to Domingo Hernández and Dominga Bethencourt.[3] 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.[2]
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),[3] 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),[4] [5] appearing as master of ceremonies for the annual meeting [4] and occupying the work of promoter the fair, being goodwill ambassador in this fairgrounds.
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.[2]
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) |
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 | |
| 1960 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Carlos | Witch Woman S3 E14 | |
| 1962 | 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 |