Duncan Renaldo
Known for Acting · 68 credits
- Born
- 1904-04-23
- Died
- 1980-09-03
- Place of birth
- Oancea, Galați, Romania
- Also known as
- Renault Renaldo Duncan · Vasile Dumitru Cugheanos
Biography
To most audiences, Duncan Renaldo will always be identified as film and TV's "The Cisco Kid." However, this role occurred late in his career, which consisted of much more than just this western character. Not much is known about Renaldo's early life. In fact, his date and place of birth is still questioned. The usual given birth date is April 23, 1904. His birthplace has been generally stated as Spain--he has said that his first memories as a child were in Spain--although Romania and even New Jersey have been mentioned as well. An orphan, he never knew his actual parents and was never able to ascertain the exact date and place of his birth. He was raised and educated in various European countries and arrived in the US in the early 1920s as a stoker on a Brazilian coal ship. Entering the country on a 90-day seaman's permit, he stayed when his ship caught fire at the dock and burned to the waterline. A paltry existence as a portrait painter forced him to seek other work, and he somehow found his way into films as a producer of short features, which in turn led to on-camera work as an actor with MGM in 1928. The studio capitalized on his dashing Hispanic looks and initially typed him as a "Latin lover", but it didn't last long. In the early 1930s his career was interrupted when he was arrested and faced deportation due to his illegal immigrant status. The actor was eventually pardoned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt--his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, had bought one of Renaldo's paintings, looked into his case and persuaded her husband to pardon him. He returned to minor films for both Republic and Monogram, alternating as heroic sidekick and villain. He co-starred as one of the Three Mesquiteers in the revamped film series, and showed up regularly in 1930s and 1940s cliffhangers, including The Painted Stallion (1937), Jungle Menace (1937), Zorro Rides Again (1937), King of the Mounties (1942), Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943) The Tiger Woman (1944). In 1945 he began the Cisco Kid film series and transferred the character successfully to TV in the early 1950s, with Leo Carrillo as faithful sidekick Pancho. Renaldo made the character clean-shaven and more of a do-gooder than the roguish bandit who actually was in the books. Renaldo retired soon after the series' demise and died years later at Goleta Valley Community Hospital in California of lung cancer in 1980.
Known For
TV Shows (2)
Movies (66)
For Whom the Bell Tolls
1943
as Lt. Berrendo
Satan's Cradle
1949
as The Cisco Kid
Down Mexico Way
1941
as Juan
The Fighting Seabees
1944
as Construction Worker at Party
Rose of the Rio Grande
1938
as Sebastian
Zorro Rides Again
1937
as Renaldo
The Daring Caballero
1949
as The Cisco Kid
Spawn of the North
1938
as Ivan
In Old New Mexico
1945
as The Cisco Kid
Trader Horn
1931
as Peru
The Gay Amigo
1949
as The Cisco Kid
Mission to Moscow
1943
as Italian Reporter (uncredited)
South of the Border
1939
as Andreo Mendoza
King of the Mounties
1942
as Pierre (Ch. 1, 11-12)
The Capture
1950
as Carlos
Rocky Mountain Rangers
1940
as Rico
Rebellion
1936
as Ricardo Castillo
The Tiger Woman
1944
as José Delgado
Hands Across the Border
1944
as Juan Morales
Outlaws of the Desert
1941
as Sheik Suleiman
Around the World
1943
as Dragoman
Bad Men of Missouri
1941
as Dan
Gaucho Serenade
1940
as Gaucho Don José
The Girl from San Lorenzo
1950
as The Cisco Kid
Special Agent K-7
1936
as Tony Blank
Rough Riders' Round-up
1939
as Alcalde Don Enriguez
Covered Wagon Days
1940
as Rico Rinaldo
Border Patrol
1943
as Commandante
A Yank in Libya
1942
as Sheik David
South of the Rio Grande
1945
as The Cisco Kid
Jungle Menace
1937
as Armand Roget
Cowboys from Texas
1939
as Rico Rinaldo
Tiger Fangs
1943
as Peter Jeremy
Jungle Flight
1947
as Police Captain Costa
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
1929
as Esteban
Call of the South Seas
1944
as Commissioner Charcot
The Moth
1934
as Don Pedro
Tropic Holiday
1938
as Young Blood (uncredited)
Lady Luck
1936
as Tony Morelli
The Kansas Terrors
1939
as Renaldo
The Painted Stallion
1937
as Zamorro
San Antonio Kid
1944
as Johnny Bennett
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
as Self (archive footage)
Clothes Make the Woman
1928
Sky Racket
1937
as Count Barksi
King of the Texas Rangers
1941
as Lt. Pedro Garcia
The Cisco Kid Returns
1945
as The Cisco Kid
The Valiant Hombre
1948
as The Cisco Kid
Public Stenographer
1934
as Henchman Orsini
Trapped in Tia Juana
1932
as Lt. Kenneth Holbert / El Zorro
Moonlight Murder
1936
as Pedro
Gauchos of El Dorado
1941
as Gaucho / José Ojara
Jungle Terror
1946
as Armand Roget
Pioneers of the West
1940
as Rico
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
as Capt. Pierre LaSalle
Sheriff of Sundown
1944
as Chihuahua Ramírez
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
1939
as Juan Vasquez
Oklahoma Renegades
1940
as Rico Rinaldo
Sword of the Avenger
1948
as Fernando
Heroes of the Saddle
1940
as Rico
Ten Laps to Go
1936
as Eddie DeSylva
Mile a Minute Love
1937
as Count Ribalto
South of Panama
1941
as Captain of Police
The Mad Empress
1939
as Col. Miguel López
Two Minutes to Play
1936
as Lew Ashley
Pals of the Prairie
1929
as Francisco Valencia
About Duncan Renaldo
To most audiences, Duncan Renaldo will always be identified as film and TV's "The Cisco Kid." However, this role occurred late in his career, which consisted of much more than just this western character. Not much is known about Renaldo's early life. In fact, his date and place of birth is still questioned. The usual given birth date is April 23, 1904. His birthplace has been generally stated as Spain--he has said that his first memories as a child were in Spain--although Romania and even New Jersey have been mentioned as well. An orphan, he n… With 68 credits spanning from 1928 to 1978, Duncan Renaldo has appeared in 66 films and 2 TV shows.
Fans searching for Duncan Renaldo movies, Duncan Renaldo filmography, or the latest projects starring Duncan Renaldo can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Duncan Renaldo Movies
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) — as Lt. Berrendo
- Satan's Cradle (1949) — as The Cisco Kid
- Down Mexico Way (1941) — as Juan
- The Fighting Seabees (1944) — as Construction Worker at Party
- Rose of the Rio Grande (1938) — as Sebastian
Where to Watch Duncan Renaldo Films
Most Duncan Renaldo movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Duncan Renaldo, check our movies catalogue and browse page.