Date of Birth

11 December 1905, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico

Date of Death

15 May 1994, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso

Luis Antonio Damaso de Alonso, later known as Gilbert Roland, was born in 1905 in Mexico. Following his parents to the USA, he did not become the bullfighter he had dreamed of being but became an actor instead. His Mexican roots, his half macho half romantic ways, his handsome virile figure helped him land roles in movies from the early twenties to 1982. A long and varied career in which Roland was in turns an extra, a matinée idol (Armand Duval in Camille (1926/I)), a Latin Lover, a star of English-speaking films made in Hollywood in the early 1930s, a Mexican bandit in B-Movies, The Cisco Kid in a series of six popular Westerns, a brilliant character in major A movies (John Huston's We Were Strangers (1949), Vincente Minnelli's The Bad and the Beautiful (1952); Anthony Mann's Thunder Bay (1953), John Ford's Cheyenne Autumn (1964)), a sinister character in Spaghetti Westerns... When he retired in 1982, twelve years before he died, he could be satisfied. His career had spanned six decades, the coming of sound had not ended it, he had played in all kinds of movies, he had held the most beautiful women in his arms, and maybe the most important thing, he had been given the opportunity to show his acting talents. Not every actor can boast such a life achievement.

Gilbert Roland chose his screen name in homage to his two favorite movie stars, John Gilbert and Ruth Roland.

Involved in an affair with Norma Talmadge that resulted in her divorce from Joe Schenck. However, Norma lost interest before she and Gilbert were to be married and eventually tied the knot with comedian George Jessel.

Brother of Francisco Day.

He is the only man to have portrayed both the villain and the hero of a single serial.

Daughters with Constance Bennett: Lorinda Roland and Gyl Roland.

During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Force.

Father-in-law of Dan Barton.

Price:  £60.00