Carlos Orellana

• Name — Carlos Orellana • Birth Name — Teodoro Carlos Orellana Martínez • Born — 28 December 1900 • Birthplace — Santiago Tezontlale, Hidalgo, Mexico • Died — 24 January 1960 • Place of death — Mexico City, Mexico • Resting Place — Panteón Jardín • Occupation — Actor, film director, screenwriter, producer • Years Active — 1916–1960 • Spouse — Paz Villegas (m. 1927) • Children — 3 Teodoro Carlos Orellana Martínez (28 December 1900 – 24 January 1960) was a prominent Mexican actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He first achieved widespread recognition for starring as Hipólito in Santa (1932), Mexico's first commercial sound feature film. Over his career, Orellana wrote screenplays for legendary titles such as Pepe el Toro (1953) and Tizoc (1957), and established himself as a versatile co-star alongside Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, and Sara García.

Orellana was born in Santiago Tezontlale, a town in the municipality of Ajacuba within the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. During his youth, his high school education was permanently disrupted when he was drafted into the revolutionary military forces commanded by Venustiano Carranza. He served in the military campaign until the assassination of President Carranza in 1920, after which he relocated to the capital to pursue a career in the arts.

Orellana began his artistic trajectory on the stage, performing in regional zarzuelas and theatre of revista. He quickly advanced into high-profile theatrical productions after securing a spot in the lyric theater company of actress Consuelo Vivanco. By age 19, his versatility as a singer, dancer, and comedic impressionist earned him prominent positions traveling with the legendary theatrical troupes of María Conesa and Montserrat Caballé. Over his early theater track, he went on to perform in over 400 stage plays.

Orellana transitioned behind the camera as a director and screenwriter in the early 1940s, launching his feature film directorial debut with Noche de recién casados (1941). Over the next twenty years, he directed more than fifteen feature films, focusing primarily on commercial family dramas and musical comedies. As an industry scriptwriter, his contribution to the Golden Age was significant. He frequently collaborated with master director Ismael Rodríguez, co-writing the screenplay for the boxing tragedy Pepe el Toro (1953) and authoring the ultimate screenplay adaptation for Tizoc (1957), which won international honors at the Berlin International Film Festival.

In December 1927, Orellana married prominent Mexican character actress Paz Villegas, whom he had met while managing theatrical projects at the Cooperativa del Teatro Ideal. The couple remained married until his death and had three children. Orellana died in Mexico City on 24 January 1960 from a pulmonary ailment at the age of 59. His remains were interred in the actors' institutional plot within the Panteón Jardín cemetery in Mexico City.

• 1932: Santa - Hipólito • 1933: El anónimo - Médico • 1933: La Llorona - Mario - criado • 1933: La noche del pecado • 1934: Juárez y Maximiliano - Doctor Basch • 1937: No te engañes corazón - Don Boni(facio) Bonafé • 1937: La Paloma - Coronel Refugio Romero • 1937: No basta ser madre • 1938: Sucedió en La Habana • 1938: El Rosario de Amozoc - Odilón • 1938: El romance del palmar • 1939: El capitán aventurero - Sgt. Carrasquilla • 1939: El hotel de los chiflados - Administrador • 1939: Three Peasants on a Donkey - Santiago Míguez • 1939: Calumnia - Dr. Pietro • 1939: Mujeres y toros • 1939: El signo de la muerte - Dr. Gallardo • 1940: Pobre diablo - Ponciano Luque • 1940: La canción del milagro - Isaac • 1940: Miente y serás feliz - Don Juan • 1940: Borrasca humana • 1940: El secreto de la monja - Don Diego de Carbajal • 1941: Noche de recién casados • 1941: Five Minutes of Love - Don Ataulfo • 1942: Dos mexicanos en Sevilla • 1942: Simón Bolívar - General José Antonio Páez • 1942: The Eternal Secret - Don Justo • 1943: Qué hombre tan simpático - Don Pancho • 1943: Land of Passions - Salvador Peredo • 1943: Arriba las mujeres - Laureano • 1944: El herrero • 1944: El pecado de una madre - Sargento Pedro Perdiguero • 1944: The Escape - Neftali • 1944: El intruso - La Valle • 1944: Alma de bronce • 1945: Amor prohibido - Don Pepe • 1945: La hora de la verdad • 1945: Escuadrón 201 - Don Matías • 1945: La Casa de la zorra - Ancona • 1946: Pepita Jiménez - Padre Belisario • 1946: Crimen en la alcoba - Don Trinidad Rojas • 1947: The Golden Boat - Tío Laureano • 1947: The Three Garcias - Señor cura • 1947: The Garcias Return - Señor cura • 1948: Enrédate y verás - Farid • 1949: Café de chinos - Señor Chang Chong • 1950: Cuando los hijos odian - Tachito • 1950: Anacleto Gets Divorced - Anacleto • 1951: ¡... Y murió por nosotros! - Don Camilo, presidente municipal • 1951: Get Your Sandwiches Here - Don Chente Mendoza • 1952: Un Príncipe de la iglesia • 1952: Cuando los hijos pecan • 1953: Del rancho a la televisión - Don Cecilio Zárraga • 1953: Dos tipos de cuidado - Don Elías • 1953: Reportaje - Policeman • 1954: Romance de fieras - Don Carlos Narváez • 1954: Borrasca en las almas - Tío Bartolomé • 1954: La Calle de los amores - Tío Alejo • 1954: Maldita ciudad - Lucas • 1955: Los Paquetes de Paquita - Orlando • 1955: Cupido pierde a Paquita - don Severo • 1955: Tú y las nubes • 1956: Las medias de seda - Pretonio • 1957: Tizoc: Amor Indio - Don Pancho García • 1958: El Castillo de los monstruos - Don Melchor • 1958: Bajo el cielo de México - Don Chavita, cobrador de taxes • 1959: Dos corazones y un cielo - Don Atanasio Turrubiates (final film role)

• 1941: Noche de recién casados • 1942: Dos mexicanos en Sevilla • 1942: El que tenga un amor • 1942: The Eternal Secret • 1943: ¡Arriba las mujeres! • 1945: El Capitán Malacara • 1945: Como México no hay dos! • 1946: Cásate y verás • 1946: Madman and Vagabond • 1948: Enrédate y verás • 1948: La casa de la Troya • 1948: Flor de caña • 1948: Mi esposa busca novio • 1949: Cara sucia • 1958: El gran premio • 1960: Un trío de tres