Richard Martin (RKO actor)
Encyclopedia
Richard Martin was a prolific RKO contract actor. He was most known for his role as Chito Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican Western
comedy relief sidekick
of Tim Holt
. However Martin first originated the role in the 1943 film Bombardier
.
He began in films by working as a receptionist
for MGM. When a friend made a bet with his agent that the agent couldn't get Martin an actor's contract, Martin's agent won the bet. He became a prolific contract player for RKO Pictures
in 1942 often appearing unbilled.
Hollywood World War II films often featured many ethnic American enlisted men, and Martin first played Chito Rafferty as a contemporary air crewman in Bombardier
. He soon repeated the role in the Western Nevada
opposite Robert Mitchum
. He appeared opposite a few other stars in RKO Westerns.
After the war Martin left RKO and had the main role in the last Universal Pictures
film serial The Mysterious Mr. M
as well as the title role in a 1947
Cinecolor
Western The Adventures of Don Coyote. When Tim Holt, back from the war was hired by producer Herman Schlom
to star in a Western series, the two pondered who they could get for a sidekick. Schlom recalled Martin's Rafferty character from Nevada. Martin returned to RKO in the same year in his first appareance alongside Tim Holt in Under the Tonto Rim
, the first of 29 films with Holt that were initially based on stories by Zane Grey
.
As B Westerns and exclusive studio contracts gradually ended in the 1950s, Martin found himself out of work and unable to find work due to his ethnic characterisation. He became an insurance salesman, then came back for one last Western, Four Fast Guns in 1960.
He was married to actress Elaine Riley.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
comedy relief sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
of Tim Holt
Tim Holt
Tim Holt was an American film actor perhaps best known for co-starring in the 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.-Early life:...
. However Martin first originated the role in the 1943 film Bombardier
Bombardier (film)
Bombardier is a 1943 film war drama about the training program for bombardiers of the United States Army Air Forces. The film stars Pat O'Brien and Randolph Scott. Bombardier was nominated for an Academy Award in 1944 for the special effects used in the film...
.
Biography
Though born in Spokane, Martin's family moved to a Mexican neighbourhood in West Hollywood where he learned to imitate his friends.He began in films by working as a receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
for MGM. When a friend made a bet with his agent that the agent couldn't get Martin an actor's contract, Martin's agent won the bet. He became a prolific contract player for RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
in 1942 often appearing unbilled.
Hollywood World War II films often featured many ethnic American enlisted men, and Martin first played Chito Rafferty as a contemporary air crewman in Bombardier
Bombardier (film)
Bombardier is a 1943 film war drama about the training program for bombardiers of the United States Army Air Forces. The film stars Pat O'Brien and Randolph Scott. Bombardier was nominated for an Academy Award in 1944 for the special effects used in the film...
. He soon repeated the role in the Western Nevada
Nevada (film)
Nevada is a 1944 western movie based on a Zane Grey novel and starring a 27-year-old Robert Mitchum, with Anne Jeffreys, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, and Richard Martin in supporting roles. The film was written by Norman Houston from Grey's popular novel and directed by Edward Killy...
opposite Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
. He appeared opposite a few other stars in RKO Westerns.
After the war Martin left RKO and had the main role in the last Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
film serial The Mysterious Mr. M
The Mysterious Mr. M
The Mysterious Mr. M is a Universal movie serial. It was the last serial produced by Universal.-Plot:Anthony Waldron intends to steal a new submarine invention from Dr. Kittridge while blaming a fictitious mastermind he calls "Mr...
as well as the title role in a 1947
1947 in film
The year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25...
Cinecolor
Cinecolor
Cinecolor was an early subtractive color-model two color film process, based upon the Prizma system of the 1910s and 1920s and the Multicolor system of the late 1920s and 1930s. It was developed by William T. Crispinel and Alan M...
Western The Adventures of Don Coyote. When Tim Holt, back from the war was hired by producer Herman Schlom
Herman Schlom
Herman Schlom was a film producer who first received film credit as an assistant director for Dracula in 1931. Some of Schlom's notable films, as a producer, include the crime thrillers The Devil Thumbs a Ride , Born to Kill , Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome and Follow Me Quietly .He was also a...
to star in a Western series, the two pondered who they could get for a sidekick. Schlom recalled Martin's Rafferty character from Nevada. Martin returned to RKO in the same year in his first appareance alongside Tim Holt in Under the Tonto Rim
Under the Tonto Rim
Under the Tonto Rim is a 1933 film directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Stuart Erwin and Sally Blane. the film is inspired by the Zane Grey book of the same name...
, the first of 29 films with Holt that were initially based on stories by Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
.
As B Westerns and exclusive studio contracts gradually ended in the 1950s, Martin found himself out of work and unable to find work due to his ethnic characterisation. He became an insurance salesman, then came back for one last Western, Four Fast Guns in 1960.
He was married to actress Elaine Riley.