Charles Stevens (actor)

Charles Stevens (May 26, 1893 – August 22, 1964) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 200 films between 1915 and 1961. A close friend of actor Douglas Fairbanks, Stevens appeared in nearly all of Fairbanks' films.[1]

Charles Stevens
Born(1893-05-26)May 26, 1893
DiedAugust 22, 1964(1964-08-22) (aged 71)
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery, North Hollywood
OccupationActor
Years active1915–1961
SpouseLila Stevens (1918–?) (1 child)

Early years

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Stevens was born in Solomonville, Arizona, and his father was a white Arizona sheriff named George Stevens and mother a Mexican woman named Eloisa Michelena.[2] Stevens was not, as many bios claim, the grandson of Geronimo.[3] That erroneous information could be attributed to Stevens himself, who claimed such kinship, and film studios that promoted the supposed lineage.[4]

Career

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Stevens began his career during the silent era, playing mostly Native Americans and Mexicans in Westerns. During the 1930s and 1940s, he had roles in the film serials Wild West Days and Overland Mail. In the 1950s, Stevens guest-starred on several television series, including The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, The Adventures of Kit Carson, Sky King, The Lone Ranger, Zorro, and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. In two of those appearances in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, in 1954 and 1958, he played Geronimo.

He made his last onscreen appearance in the film The Outsider (1961), starring Tony Curtis.

Death

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Stevens died on August 22, 1964, and is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood in Los Angeles County, California.[5]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1915 The Birth of a Nation Volunteer Film debut, Uncredited
The Lamb Lieutenant Uncredited
Fatherhood Looey Jim Uncredited
Martyrs of the Alamo Mexican Soldier Uncredited
Double Trouble Thief Uncredited
1916 The Good Bad-Man Bandit Uncredited
American Aristocracy Mexican Uncredited
The Matrimaniac [cy; fi] Lineman Uncredited
The Americano Col. Gargaras
1917 Wild and Woolly Pedro
The Man from Painted Post Henchman
Reaching for the Moon Boris' Lieutenant Uncredited
A Modern Musketeer Indian Uncredited
1918 Six Shooter Andy Mexican John
Mr. Fix-It Gangster Uncredited
M'Liss Mexican Uncredited
He Comes Up Smiling Townsman Uncredited
1919 His Majesty, the American Officer Uncredited
1920 The Mollycoddle Yellow Horse
The Mark of Zorro Peon Beaten by Sgt. Gonzalez Uncredited
1921 The Nut Henchman Uncredited
The Three Musketeers Planchet
1922 Moran of the Lady Letty Seaman Uncredited
The Primitive Lover Pedro
Robin Hood Prince John's Aide Alternative title: Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood
Captain Fly-by-Night Indian
1923 Where the North Begins The Fox
1924 The Thief of Bagdad Persian Prince's Awaker Uncredited
Empty Hands Indian Guide
The Iron Horse Indian Uncredited
1925 Recompense Mosheshoe
Don Q, Son of Zorro Robledo
A Son of His Father Pablo
The Vanishing American Shoie
Tumbleweeds Indian Uncredited
1926 The Black Pirate Powder Man
Mantrap Lawrence Jackfish (Indian Guide)
Across the Pacific Emilio Aguinaldo
The Temptress Argentine Reveler Uncredited
1927 The King of Kings Beggar Uncredited
Woman's Law
Now We're in the Air Knife Thrower Uncredited
The Gaucho The Gaucho's First Lieutenant
1928 Stand and Deliver Pietro
Diamond Handcuffs Niambo
1929 The Iron Mask Planchet
Tide of Empire Indian Servant Uncredited
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu Singh Uncredited
Rio Rita José Uncredited
The Taming of the Shrew Servant Uncredited
The Virginian Pedro Uncredited
1930 The Arizona Kid Mine Mexican Uncredited
The Big Trail Indian Uncredited
Tom Sawyer Injun Joe
1931 The Cisco Kid Lopez
The Conquering Horde John
The Cisco Kid Lopez
1932 The Gay Caballero Messenger Uncredited
South of the Rio Grande Pedro
The Broken Wing Chicken Thief
The Stoker Ernesto
Mystery Ranch Tonto - Henchman
Chandu the Magician Ali Uncredited
Heritage of the Desert Pancho Uncredited
Tex Takes a Holiday Henchman
The Golden West Indian Uncredited
1933 Sensation Hunters Indian Joe Uncredited
Drum Taps Indian Joe
The California Trail Juan
When Strangers Marry Chattermahl
The Woman I Stole Crewman Uncredited
Police Call Gang Leader
Fury of the Jungle Kimba
The Perils of Pauline Lee Serial, Uncredited
1934 Man of Two Worlds Eskimo Uncredited
Call of the Coyote: A Legend of the Golden West Pancho
Viva Villa! Pascal's Staff Uncredited
The Trumpet Blows Sheriff Mejias Uncredited
Grand Canary Cabbie Uncredited
La Cucaracha Pancho's Valet Short, Uncredited
Wake Up and Dream 2nd Indian Uncredited
Behold My Wife! Apache Herder Uncredited
1935 The Lives of a Bengal Lancer McGregor's Servant Uncredited
Rumba Counterfeit Lottery Ticket Vendor Uncredited
Under the Pampas Moon Groom Uncredited
Call of the Wild Francois
1936 Rose of the Rancho Peon Spy Uncredited
Here Comes Trouble Malay Mike
Give Us This Night Fisherman
Robin Hood of El Dorado Wedding Guest / Bandit Uncredited
The Country Beyond Half-Breed Uncredited
Aces and Eights Captain Felipe de Lopez
The Plainsman Injun Charley Uncredited
The Bold Caballero Captain Vargas Alternative title: The Bold Cavalier
1937 Fair Warning Miguel Uncredited
Swing High, Swing Low Panamanian at Cockfight Uncredited
The Last Train from Madrid Peasant Uncredited
Wild West Days Buckskin Frank
Ebb Tide Uncle Ned
Thank You, Mr. Moto Ning Uncredited
1938 Forbidden Valley Blackjack
The Crime of Doctor Hallet Talamu
The Adventures of Marco Polo Mongol Warrior Uncredited
Tropic Holiday Peón Uncredited
Flaming Frontiers Breed - Henchman Serial
The Renegade Ranger Manuel
Red Barry Capt. Moy Serial
Flirting with Fate Garcia's Chauffeur Uncredited
1939 Union Pacific Indian Shooting Mollie Uncredited
Man of Conquest Zavola Uncredited
The Girl and the Gambler Andres
The Oregon Trail Henchman Breed Serial
Frontier Marshal Indian Charlie
Desperate Trails Henchman Ortega
The Real Glory Captured Native Giving Guns' Location Uncredited
Geronimo Indian Uncredited
The Mad Empress Diaz's Messenger Uncredited
1940 The Man Who Wouldn't Talk Mexican Uncredited
Charlie Chan in Panama Native Fisherman Uncredited
Wagons Westward Pima
Winners of the West Snakeye Serial
Untamed Indian Trapper Uncredited
South to Karanga Native
Kit Carson Ruiz
North West Mounted Police Half-breed Archer Uncredited
The Mark of Zorro Jose Uncredited
Behind the News Carlos Marquez Uncredited
1941 White Eagle Henchman Serial, Uncredited
The Bad Man Venustiano
Blood and Sand Pablo Gómez
Forced Landing Migalos - Prisoner Uncredited
Roaring Frontiers Moccasin
The Corsican Brothers Shepherd Uncredited
1942 Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die Indian Charley
Beyond the Blue Horizon Panao
Pierre of the Plains Crying Loon
Halfway to Shanghai Ali
Manila Calling Filipino Uncredited
Overland Mail Puma - Henchman Serial
Here We Go Again Indian Uncredited
1944 Michael Strogoff Secuaz de Tártaro
El as negro
Marked Trails Denver - Henchman
The Mummy's Curse Achilles
1945 Bad Men of the Border Juan Uncredited
South of the Rio Grande Sebastian
Bandits of the Badlands Rusty Uncredited
San Antonio Sojer Harris Uncredited
Adventure Man in Cantina Uncredited
1946 Border Bandits Jose
Tangier Juan Uncredited
My Darling Clementine Indian Charlie Uncredited
1947 Sinbad the Sailor Ruri Uncredited
Buffalo Bill Rides Again White Mountain
The Homestretch Mexican Father Uncredited
Calcutta Strangler Uncredited
Ride the Pink Horse Drunk Mexican Uncredited
The Exile Painter
1948 Saigon Susan's Driver Uncredited
Fury at Furnace Creek José Artego Uncredited
Coroner Creek Indian Uncredited
Return of the Bad Men Grey Eagle Uncredited
Belle Starr's Daughter Cherokee Joe
The Feathered Serpent Manuel Uncredited
1949 The Walking Hills Cleve Uncredited
Roll, Thunder, Roll! Felipe, El Conejo rider
The Cowboy and the Indians Broken Arm
1950 Ambush Diablito
A Ticket to Tomahawk Trancos Uncredited
Fortunes of Captain Blood Juan Otlas Uncredited
The Savage Horde Morellis
The Showdown Indian Joe
Indian Territory Soma Uncredited
California Passage Pedro
1951 Oh! Susanna Charlie Grass
Warpath Courier
1952 Smoky Canyon Johnny Big Foot Uncredited
Rose of Cimarron Lone Indian on Trail Uncredited
The Lion and the Horse Deputy Britt
Wagons West Kaw Chief (credit only)
1953 Tropic Zone Macario's Grandfather Uncredited
Savage Mutiny Chief Wamai
San Antone Mexican Uncredited
Jeopardy Mexican Father Uncredited
Ride, Vaquero! Vaquero
The Stand at Apache River Apache Indian Uncredited
Conquest of Cochise Apache Brave Uncredited
Escape from Fort Bravo Eilota Uncredited
1954 Jubilee Trail Pablo
Gunfighters of the Northwest Cariboo Serial, Uncredited
Man with the Steel Whip Blackjack Sam Serial, Uncredited
Killer Leopard Tony Gonzales Uncredited
Green Fire Bandit Uncredited
1955 The Last Command Peon Villager Uncredited
The Vanishing American Quah-Tan
1956 Pardners Indian Uncredited
The Ten Commandments Slave Uncredited
1957 Duel at Apache Wells Mexican Uncredited
1959 Last Train from Gun Hill Keno Uncredited
1960 Oklahoma Territory Tom Badger Uncredited
1961 The Outsider Joseph Hayes (final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1950–1956 The Lone Ranger Red Moon / Various 5 episodes
1952–1953 The Adventures of Kit Carson Chief Gray Wolf / Various 6 episodes
1953–1960 Death Valley Days Red Cloud / Various 6 episodes
1953 Death Valley Days Bill the Indian Season 1, Episode "Claim Jumpin' Jennie"
1954–1958 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Geronimo / Pedro / Wynoki 5 episodes
1955–1956 Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Kluk-Wan, Medicine Man / Ataksuk 2 episodes
1956 My Friend Flicka Deerfoot 1 episode
1957 Broken Arrow Neche / Old Man 2 episodes
Zorro Half-breed Informer / Josafat 2 episodes
The Adventures of Jim Bowie Pinal / Medicine Man 2 episodes
1957–1958 Wagon Train Old Indian / Medicine Man 2 episodes
1958 Sugarfoot Charlie Falling Horse / Saba / Charlie 3 episodes
1958–1961 Bronco Shad / Daniel Webster / Yellow Claw 3 episodes
1959 Laramie Indian 1 episode
1960 Law of the Plainsman Escudero 1 episode
The Alaskans Chinook 2 episodes
Maverick Indian Chief 1 episode
The Magical World of Disney Old Dying Indian 1 episode
1960 Rawhide Old Indian S3:E10, "Incident of the Buffalo Soldier"
1961 Rawhide Sub-Chief S3:E20, "Incident of the Boomerang"

References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Chuck (November 20, 2010). "The Old Corral--Charles 'Charlie' Stevens". Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "Eloisa Michelena," Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/eloisa-michelena-24-1rgx7wk. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Haralson, Danny (March 14, 2012). "Charles Stevens: Gila Valley's Own Movie Star". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Black, Liza (October 2020). Picturing Indians. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-1-4962-2375-3. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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