Córdova, Arturo de

(1908?-1973)

   suave leading man from the 1930s through the 1950s, Arturo de Córdova was born Arturo García Rodríguez in Mérida, Yucatán, of a Spanish father and Mexican mother. De Córdova grew up and was educated in various locations, including New York, Cuba, and Argentina. As a young man he returned to Mérida and began to work as a radio announcer and emcee. His radio work eventually led to film roles, beginning with Celos (Jealousy, 1935). The handsome young actor soon became one of the most popular stars in Mexican cinema, and during the 1940s worked in Hollywood as well, appearing in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), Frenchman's Creek (1944), and A Medal for Benny (1945), among other titles. He later worked in Argentine, Brazilian, and Spanish films as well. Between 1946 and 1958, de Córdova won the Best Actor Ariel three times - more than any other actor - for his roles in En la palma de tu mano (In the Palm of Your Hand, 1950), Las tres perfectas casadas (The Three Perfect Marriages, 1952) and Felizaño, amor mio (Happy New Year, My Love, 1955), and was nominated for the top prize four additional times. He worked for many of Mexico's best finest directors, including Luis Buñuel (El - Him, 1952), Juan Bustillo Oro (El hombre sin rostro - The Man Without a Face, 1950) and Roberto Gavaldón (En la palma de tu mano). However, the general downward trend in the industry and de Córdova's advancing age led to a series of lesser roles in the 1960s, and in the late 1960s he suffered a stroke which left his left arm and leg partially paralyzed. However, he gradually recovered and in 1970 appeared with his close friend and co-star Marga López in the Cantinflas vehicle, El Profe (The Professor). This guest star spot would prove to be the last film role for the great star, who died in 1973. His son, Alonso de Córdova, made a few film appearances in the early 1960s.