Tom Hernández

Biography

Tom Hernández (born in October 9, 1915 in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) - died in June 2, 1984, Los Angeles, California) was a Spanish born - American actor of films and television whose characters were always secondary. However, he is best known in the San Diego´s city (California) by their interpretation of character Don Diego at the Del Mar Fair annual fair in this city during almost of four decades until his death in 1984, being more known by the people that passed by the fair by his greeting in Spanish "¡Bienvenidos, Amigos!" ("Welcome Friends!"). So, he held the position of goodwill ambassador, promoting the fair. His younger brother Pepe Hern was also an actor. He was also the uncle of present day actor Justin Lopez from The Three Stooges 2012. Biography He was born Domingo Tomás Hernández Bethencourt in October 9, 1915 in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). In 1920, Hernandez immigrated with his parent and an eldest brother to the United States when he was five. He also had a little brother who already was born in the U.S., twelve years after his arrival there, the future actor Pepe Hern. After extensive theater training in this country, he can start his career to Hollywood. His characters were usually of little importance in the American movies in which they appeared. However, he had important roles in the Spanish films El reflejo del alma, Cuatro locos buscan manicomio, Fuerza mortal and Tunka, el guerrero. Addition, since the 1947 year, Hernández start to interpret the character Don Diego at the annual fair Del Mar Fair in San Diego (California), appearing as master of ceremonies for the annual meeting and occupying the work of promoter the fair, being goodwill ambassador in this fairgrounds. He combined film, television and its role as master of ceremonies for the fair until the last years of his life. He died in June 2, 1984 in Los Angeles, California. Trivia The character "Don Diego" was based on the landowner Don Diego Alvarado, owner of a great land in what is now Del Mar, in 1800 year. In the beauty contest of the fair Hernández met to a girl named Raquel Tejada, that more late would the actress Raquel Welch. She was a of the contestants of this contest. Filmography as actor: 1983 Tunka el guerrero El gran sabio 1982 Othello, el comando negro Fergusson 1981 Asalto al casino 1981 Homo hominis opus I (short) Dictador 1980 Fuerza mortal Simpson 1980 Cuatro locos buscan manicomio Gerente 1974 La dynamite est bonne à boire 1972 Trouble Man Police Sergeant (as Tom Hernandez) 1971 Dead Men Tell No Tales (TV movie) Spanish Bartender (uncredited) 1969 Daniel Boone (TV series) – The Grand Alliance (1969) … Surgeon 1969 Family Affair (TV series) – Lost in Spain: Part 3 (1969) … Captain 1966 Mission: Impossible (TV series) – Wheels (1966) … The Desk Sergeant (as Tom Hernandez) 1965 Choque de Sentimentos 1963 Fun in Acapulco Photographer (uncredited) 1962 The Virginian (TV series) – Riff-Raff (1962) … The Spanish Officer 1962 Target: The Corruptors (TV series) – Babes in Wall Street (1962) 1962 Tender Is the Night Nobelman (uncredited) 1962 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (uncredited) 1961 The Comancheros Croupier (uncredited) 1960 Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV series) – Witch Woman (1960) … Carlos (as Tom Hernandez) 1960 Bourbon Street Beat (TV series) – Last Exit (1960) … Victor (as Tom Hernandez) 1960 De moordenaar en de brunette Desk Clerk 1959 Laramie (TV series) – The Run to Tumavaca (1959) … Montero Rios 1959 Wagon Train (TV series) – The Stagecoach Story (1959) … Old Woman/Man on stagecoach (as Tom Hernandez) 1959 It Started with a Kiss Minor Role (uncredited) 1959 Holiday for Lovers Portrait Painter (uncredited) 1958 Party Girl Sketch Artist, Canetto Trial (uncredited) 1957 State Trooper (TV series) – Beef ala Murder (1957) … Pepe Soto (as Tom Hernandez) 1956 Anything Goes Frenchman (uncredited) 1956 Cheyenne (TV series) – Fury at Rio Hondo (1956) … Ramon (as Tom Hernandez) 1955 Letter to Loretta (TV series) – The Waiting Game (1955) … Angelo 1955 Death Valley Days (TV series) – The Valencia Cake (1955) 1955 The Last Command Aide (uncredited) 1955 My Little Margie (TV series) – Papa and Mambo (1955) … Hernando 1954 Moord in de Rue Morgue Gendarme Lara (uncredited) 1953 Latin Lovers Nora's Dancing Partner (uncredited) 1953 The Desert Song Legionnaire (uncredited) 1953 Sombrero Man in Cafe (uncredited) 1953 Salome Townsman (uncredited) 1952 Yankee Buccaneer Guard (uncredited) 1951 The Adventures of Kit Carson (TV series) – A Ticket to Mexico (1951) … Lieutenant (as Tom Hernandez) 1950 Tarzan and the Slave Girl Molo (uncredited)