Alfredo Mayo

• Name — Alfredo Mayo • Birth Name — Alfredo Fernández Martínez • Born — 17 May 1911 • Birthplace — Barcelona, Spain • Died — 19 May 1985 • Place of death — Palma, Spain • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1935-1985

After studying medicine, in 1929 Mayo made his debut in the theatre with the company of Ernesto Vilches. He fought for Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War in aviation. He starred in propaganda films such as Escuadrilla (1941), Harka (1941), A mí la legión (1942) but is perhaps best known for Raza, written by Francisco Franco under the name of Jaime de Andrade. He became a major star in comedies, dramas and historical films such as Malvaloca (1942), by Luis Marquina; Deliciosamente tontos (1943), by Juan de Orduña, or La leona de Castilla (1951). In the 1950s he acted in supporting roles in such films as El último cuplé (1957), Una muchachita de Valladolid (1958) and 55 Days at Peking (1963), directed in Spain by Nicholas Ray. His career had a second golden age during his collaborations with Carlos Saura in La Caza (1966) and Peppermint Frappé (1967). He appeared in more than 175 other films until his death. He acted in El bosque del lobo (1970), by Pedro Olea, Patrimonio Nacional (1980), by Luis García Berlanga. In Paul Naschy's Los cántabros (1980), he played a druid. He was also in Bearn o la sala de las muñecas (1982), by Jaime Chávarri and starred in the TV series Cañas y barro for Televisión Española.