Rafael Campos

Rafael Campos was an actor from the Dominican Republic whose credits include Blackboard Jungle in 1955, Dino in 1957, Slumber Party '57 in 1967, The Astro-Zombies in 1968, Centennial in 1978, and V in 1983. He was also for a brief period of time, married to blues singer and pianist, Dinah Washington.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, he came to the United States in 1949. From 1961 to 1962, he was married to Dinah Washington, who was eleven years his senior. In 1961, Jet Magazine published a photo with Washington embracing both Campos, reportedly husband # 7 and ex-husband Eddie Chamblee, reportedly husband # 5. He then married model Sally Boyd to whom he had two daughters.

He was diagnosed with stomach cancer and had been in hospital since December, 1984. He died from it on 9 July, 1985, aged 49. He was survived by his two daughters, five brothers and three sisters.

Campos's brother is cryptographer, artist and poet Luis Campos. Other brother is president of New York's Latin ACE awards.

Campos had a career that lasted 30 years. One day he was spotted by director Richard Brooks during a theater production of Heavenly Express. Courtesy of Brooks, he had a starring role alongside Vic Morrow, Margaret Hayes, and Sidney Poitier in the 1955 film, Blackboard Jungle. He played the part of a Chicano teenager, wrongfully accused of murdering a white girl from a rich family while at a beach party. He is being defended by a college law instructor, played by Glenn Ford.

During the 1960s on film he starred in was the Ted V. Mikels directed The Astro-Zombies, which starred John Carradine, Wendell Corey, and Tura Satana. He played the part of Juan.

...
Wikipedia