Clifton Collins Jr., Talks About Legendary Latino Actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
Clifton Collins Jr., the smooth-faced and not to mention handsome and versatile actor of German-Mexican heritage recently discussed the legendary actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, who’s also his great grandfather with the San Antonio Current Curblog. Let’s listen:
Is that something you learned from your grandfather since some people might say he wasn’t as lucky in terms of landing diverse roles?
“I’d have to disagree with that. A Mexican American Tejano who couldn’t read or write and who became a contract player for John Wayne I think would be considered incredibly lucky. It’s hard enough to get work in this town. Also, the roles that he took, I don’t see anything wrong with playing the common man.
“It’s like Johnny Cash singing about the issues of the common man, the middle class, the lower class. He played to people he grew up with. [My grandfather] wasn’t Ricardo Montalban. He wasn’t José Ferrer. He was not privileged and didn’t live in Beverly Hills. He was very poor. To be able to be the hit that he was and be the only person to one-up Groucho Marx, who at the time was the greatest comedian living, is pretty sensational.”
From the look of things, in a few years, Cliff might be just as legendary. Except he’s not going to be exploited like the late Pedro. He’s going to have a fat bank account to show for his career in Hollywood.
Photo Credit: Kieran Jendro/Getty Images North America
Mobilemoll
Comment made on May 21, 2009 at 10:37 pmI first saw him on the 6th season of ‘The Shield’ and got a crush on him like I was 16 (I wish)! He doesn’t have a pretty boy look but he is indeed attractive!