Tom Hernández
| Tom Hernández | |
|---|---|
Tom Hernández in one episode of Mission: Impossible (in "Wheels", 1966), playing to "The Desk Sergeant"
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| Born |
Domingo Tomás Hernández Bethencourt October 9, 1915 Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) |
| Died |
June 2, 1984 (aged 68) Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | Spanish and American |
| Occupation | Actor |
Domingo Tomás "Tom" Hernández Bethencourt (October 9, 1915 - June 2, 1984), better known as Tom Hernández, was a Spanish-born 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 in the San Diego´s city (California) by their interpretation of Don Diego character at the 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).
He was born Domingo Tomás Hernández Bethencourt on October 9, 1915, in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), to Domingo Hernández and Dominga Bethencourt. 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.
Eventually, Hernandez became interested in film, and got jobs of helper, which led 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 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), in which he had already begun to work from the 40s.
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