Fernando Rey
Acting Born Sep 20, 1917 Died Mar 9, 1994 A Coruña, Galicia, Spain 224 credits
Biography
Fernando Rey was a Spanish film, theatre, and television actor born in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain on September 20, 1917, and he died on March 9, 1994 at the age of 76. Working in both Europe and the United States, he appeared in more than 150 films over a career spanning half a century. Known for his roles in films by surrealist director Luis Buñuel, including Tristana in 1970, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie in 1972, and That Obscure Object of Desire in 1977, he also portrayed a drug lord in The French Connection in 1971. Described by producer Philip D'Antoni as the last of the Continental guys, Rey achieved his greatest notoriety after turning 50.
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Career overview
Fernando Rey was a Spanish film, theatre, and television actor born in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain on September 20, 1917, and he died on March 9, 1994 at the age of 76. Throughout his career, he worked in both Europe and the United States, appearing in more than 150 films over half a century, with known credits totaling 223. Recognized as a suave and international actor, he was described by French Connection producer Philip D'Antoni as the last of the Continental guys.
Rey achieved his greatest notoriety after he turned 50, reflecting that perhaps it was a pity his success came so late. He is best known for his roles in films directed by surrealist director Luis Buñuel, including Tristana in 1970, Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie in 1972, and That Obscure Object of Desire in 1977. In addition to his work with Buñuel, he appeared as a drug lord in The French Connection in 1971. The debonair actor maintained an extensive career across multiple mediums before his death in 1994.
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Frequent co-stars
Mateusz Kościukiewicz
5 shared titles
Alessio Praticò
4 shared titles
José Calvo
4 shared titles
Félix Fernández
4 shared titles
Milena Vukotić
4 shared titles
Milan Murray
3 shared titles
Owen Patrick Joyner
3 shared titles
Gene Hackman
3 shared titles
Franco Nero
3 shared titles
Rafael Albaicín
3 shared titles
Career timeline
El Quijote desde la platea
Speaking of Buñuel
Les paradoxes de Buñuel
ArnauOn the Far Side of the TunnelEl cianuro… ¿solo o con leche?
MadregildaMission of Love
After the Dream1492: Conquest of ParadiseDon Quijote de la ManchaPaco, mi padreDon Quixote
Imágenes perdidas
Naked TangoPictures of EuropeDrums of FireBreath of Life
I promessi sposiBlaues BlutLe Grand SecretEsmeralda BayIl ricatto
The TunnelScent of a CrimeWinter DiaryPasodoble
Mi generalThe Enchanted Forest
Saving GraceParadise HotelLuis Buñuel: constructor de infiernos
A.D.Our FatherStar KnightRustlers' RhapsodyAngel of Death
The HitThe Life and Times of Don Luis BuñuelA Strange Passion
Bearn
MonsignorLooking for JesusA Estrangeira
HoneyLady of the CameliasChaste and PureThe Crime of CuencaTrágala, perro
Memorias de Leticia ValleCaboblanco
Traffic JamQuintet
Ciné regardsThe Last Romantic LoverRebeldía
Jesus of NazarethThat Obscure Object of DesireElisa, My LifeEyes Behind the WallThe Assignment
Voyage of the DamnedOrigins of the MafiaA Matter of TimeIllustrious CorpsesThe Desert of the Tartars
French Connection IISeven BeautiesSmiling Maniacs
Violent Blood BathThe Woman with Red BootsThe Murri AffairSay it with Flowers¿... Y el prójimo?
White FangHigh CrimeFall of a BodyOne WayTarot
The Discreet Charm of the BourgeoisieHistoria de España: La noche de los tiemposAntony and CleopatraCanticleWhite Sister
Film '72The French ConnectionA Town Called BastardThe Light at the Edge of the WorldCold Eyes of Fear
TristanaThe AdventurersCompañerosWrath of the WindEl mejillón gallego
Guns of the Magnificent SevenThe Price of PowerLand RaidersA Candidate for a Killing
Los preparativosVilla RidesThe Immortal StoryUn pequeño colonizador verde
Full Filmography
224 titles- El Quijote desde la platea (2019) as Self - Actor / Don Quixote (archive footage)
- Speaking of Buñuel (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Les paradoxes de Buñuel (1998) as Self (archive footage)
- Arnau (1994) as Compte de Barcelona
- On the Far Side of the Tunnel (1994) as Miguel
- El cianuro… ¿solo o con leche? (1994) as Gregorio
- Madregilda (1993) as Franco's Father
- Mission of Love (1993) as Pacheco
- After the Dream (1992) as Ramiro Lanza
- 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) as Marchena
- Don Quijote de la Mancha (1992) as Don Quijote
- Paco, mi padre (1992)
- Don Quixote (1992) as Closing Scene Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- The Sow (1992) as Fray Juan
- L'Atlantide (1992) as Father Mauritius
- Blood and Dust (1992) as Sultan Saladin
- El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes (1992) as Don Quijote
- Imágenes perdidas (1991) as Himself - Narrator
- Naked Tango (1990) as Judge Torres
- Pictures of Europe (1990) as Self
- Drums of Fire (1990) as Papa Pablo V
- Breath of Life (1990) as Gran Magno
- I promessi sposi (1989) as Conte zio
- Blaues Blut (1989) as Dekker
- Le Grand Secret (1989) as Paul Corbet
- Esmeralda Bay (1989) as Ramos
- Il ricatto (1989) as Magistrato Di Nola
- Buñuel (1989) as Self
- Le Grand Secret (1989) as Paul Corbet
- La moglie ingenua e il marito malato (1989) as Il professor Rune
- The Tunnel (1988) as Allende
- Scent of a Crime (1988) as Fayón
- Winter Diary (1988) as Padre
- Pasodoble (1988) as Don Nuño
- Mi general (1987) as Director Almirante
- The Enchanted Forest (1987) as Mr. D'Abondo
- Saving Grace (1986) as Cardinal Stefano Biondi
- Paradise Hotel (1986) as Joseph
- Luis Buñuel: constructor de infiernos (1986) as Self
- A.D. (1985) as Seneca
- Our Father (1985) as Cardinal
- Star Knight (1985) as Fray Lupo
- Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985) as Railroad Colonel
- Angel of Death (1985) as Ohmei Felsberg
- Black Arrow (1985) as Warwick
- The House of Ulloa (1985) as Sr. De La Lage
- The Hit (1984) as Policeman
- The Life and Times of Don Luis Buñuel (1984) as Self
- A Strange Passion (1984) as Piacchi
- Bearn (1983) as Don Antonio
- Monsignor (1982) as Cardinal Santoni
- Looking for Jesus (1982) as Don Filippo
- A Estrangeira (1982) as André
- Honey (1981) as Editor
- Lady of the Camelias (1981) as Count Stackelberg
- Chaste and Pure (1981) as Antonio Di Maggio
- The Crime of Cuenca (1981) as Contreras
- Trágala, perro (1981) as Juez
- Memorias de Leticia Valle (1980) as Don Fernando Valle
- Caboblanco (1980) as Police Captain Torredo
- Traffic Jam (1979) as Carlo
- Quintet (1979) as Grigor
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- The Last Romantic Lover (1978) as Max
- Rebeldía (1978) as Don Luis
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Gaspar
- That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) as Mathieu Faber
- Elisa, My Life (1977) as Luis
- Eyes Behind the Wall (1977) as Ivano
- The Assignment (1977) as Bidara
- Voyage of the Damned (1976) as President Bru
- Origins of the Mafia (1976) as Baron Della Spina
- A Matter of Time (1976) as Charles Van Maar
- Illustrious Corpses (1976) as Security Minister
- The Desert of the Tartars (1976) as Nathanson
- Striptease (1976) as Alfonso
- Manuela (1976) as Don Ramón
- El segundo poder (1976) as Cardenal
- French Connection II (1975) as Alain Charnier
- Seven Beauties (1975) as Pedro the Anarchist Prisoner
- Smiling Maniacs (1975) as Judge Vanini
- Violent Blood Bath (1974) as Oscar
- The Woman with Red Boots (1974) as Perrot
- The Murri Affair (1974) as Prof. Murri
- Say it with Flowers (1974) as Jacques Berger
- ¿... Y el prójimo? (1974) as Luis Ignacio
- White Fang (1973) as Father Oatley
- High Crime (1973) as Cafiero
- Fall of a Body (1973) as M. Nansoit
- One Way (1973) as Mr. David
- Tarot (1973) as Arthur
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) as Don Rafael
- Historia de España: La noche de los tiempos (1972) as Narrador (voz)
- Antony and Cleopatra (1972) as Lepidus
- Canticle (1972) as Padrino Elisa
- White Sister (1972) as le directeur de l'hôpital
- The Two Faces of Fear (1972) as Inspector Nardi
- This Kind of Love (1972) as Giovanna's father
- La duda (1972) as Don Rodrigo - Conde de Albrit
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- The French Connection (1971) as Alain Charnier
- A Town Called Bastard (1971) as Old Blind Man
- The Light at the Edge of the World (1971) as Captain Moriz
- Cold Eyes of Fear (1971) as Juez Flower
- The Great Swindle (1971) as Luis
- Tristana (1970) as Don Lope
- The Adventurers (1970) as Jaime Xenos
- Compañeros (1970) as Prof. Xantos
- Wrath of the Wind (1970) as Don Antonio
- El mejillón gallego (1970)
- Aoom (1970)
- Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) as Quintero
- The Price of Power (1969) as Pinkerton
- Land Raiders (1969) as Priest
- A Candidate for a Killing (1969) as Marco Augusto
- Los preparativos (1968)
- Villa Rides (1968) as Fuentes
- The Immortal Story (1968) as Merchant
- Un pequeño colonizador verde (1968)
- Le avventure e gli amori di Miguel Cervantes (1967) as Filipe II
- The Viscount (1967) as Marco Demoygne
- Pero… ¡en qué país vivimos! (1967) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- The Desperate Ones (1967) as Ibram
- Historia de la frivolidad (1967) as Gent
- Amor en el aire (1967) as Carlos Mª Saldiez
- Run Like a Thief (1967) as Col. Romero
- Return of the Seven (1966) as Priest
- Navajo Joe (1966) as Reverend Rattigan
- Zampo y yo (1966) as Zampo
- Attack of the Robots (1966) as Sir Percy
- El Greco (1966) as Re Filippo II
- Der Marquis - der Mann, der sich verkaufen wollte (1965) as Verleger Ramos
- Chimes at Midnight (1965) as Worcester
- Legacy of the Incas (1965) as President Castillo
- Don Quijote (1965) as Der Herzog
- The Amazing Doctor G (1965) as Goldginger
- Son of a Gunfighter (1965) as Don Pedro Fortuna
- Espionage in Lisbon (1965) as Agent of the New World Organization
- Samson and Gideon (1965) as Lo straniero / The Stranger - Angel of the Lord
- The Devil Also Cries (1965) as Ramòn Quiroga
- Don Quijote von der Mancha (1965) as Der Herzog / le duc
- España insólita (1965) as (voice)
- The Rash One (1964) as El Rico Pintor
- Backfire (1964) as Commissioner of Beirut harbor
- El señor de La Salle (1964) as Luis XIV
- The New Cinderella (1964) as Juan Echarre
- Fin de semana (1964) as Entrevistador
- The Palomos (1964) as Don Alberto
- La aventura de Api (1964)
- Scheherazade (1963) as Al Fakid
- The Running Man (1963) as Police Official
- The Castilian (1963) as Ramiro II, rey de León
- La hora incógnita (1963)
- The Ceremony (1963) as Sanchez
- Viridiana (1962) as Don Jaime
- My Son, the Hero (1962) as High Priest (uncredited)
- Torerillos, 61 (1962) as Narrator (voice)
- Face of Terror (1962) as Dr. Charles Taylor
- Rogelia (1962) as Máximo García
- The Savage Guns (1961) as Don Hernán
- Siempre es domingo (1961) as Juez Andonelli
- Goliath Against the Giants (1961) as Bokan the Usurper
- Teresa (1961) as Profesor Héctor de la Barrera
- Fantasmas en la casa (1961) as Raimundo Rodríguez de Toledo
- Vida sin risas (1960)
- The Revolt of the Slaves (1960) as Valerio
- Culpables (1960) as Mario
- Don Lucio and Brother Pío (1960) as Señor Aguilar
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1959) as Arbaces, High Priest of Isis
- Poison at 2:30 (1959) as Ramón
- Sonatas (1959) as Captain Casares
- Parque de Madrid (1959) as Don Luis
- Mission in Morocco (1959) as Princ Achmed
- Sevilla Penitente (1958)
- The Night Heaven Fell (1958) as Tío (alternate version)
- Revenge (1958) as Writer
- ¡Viva lo imposible! (1958) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- La Rana Verde (1958) as Narrator (voice)
- The Singer from Mexico (1957) as Cartoni - l'impresario (uncredited)
- Madrugada (1957) as Mauricio (voice) (uncredited)
- Day of Fear (1957)
- Un marido de ida y vuelta (1957) as Paco
- Faustina (1957) as Valentín
- Don Juan (1956) as Don Iñigo
- La vida en un bloc (1956) as (voice) (uncredited)
- Playa prohibida (1956)
- The Adventures of Gil Blas (1956) as Captain Rolando
- The Miracle of Marcelino (1955) as Monje narrador
- Billete para Tánger (1955) as Inspector
- Rebeldía (1954) as Capellán
- Comedians (1954) as Miguel
- El alcalde de Zalamea (1954) as El Rey
- Cristo (1954)
- Crimen en el entreacto (1954)
- Las últimas banderas (1954) as Miguel Bermejo
- Welcome Mr. Marshall! (1953) as Narrador (voz)
- The Lovers of Toledo (1953)
- Airport (1953) as Fernando
- Cabaret (1953) as Carlos Jiménez
- La laguna negra (1952) as Miguel
- The Devil's Roundup (1952) as Atracador
- Flamenco (1952) as (voz)
- Air Lashings (1951) as Narrador (voz)
- Black Sky (1951) as Ángel López Veiga
- La señora de Fátima (1951) as Lorenzo Duarte
- Agustina of Aragon (1950) as General Palafox/Lorenzo, el pastor
- Sabela De Cambados (1949) as Narrator (voice)
- Noche de Reyes (1949)
- Aventuras de Juan Lucas (1949) as Juan Lucas
- Locura de amor (1948) as Don Felipe "el Hermoso"
- Noche de reyes (1948)
- Si te hubieses casado conmigo (1948) as Enrique Marín Rubio
- Mare nostrum (1948) as Ulises / Capitán Ferragut
- Fuenteovejuna (1947) as Frondoso
- Don Quixote (1947) as Sansón Carrasco
- Reina santa (1947) as Infante Alfonso
- La princesa de los Ursinos (1947) as Felipe V
- La pródiga (1946) as José
- Los últimos de Filipinas (1945) as Juan Chamizo
- Eugenia de Montijo (1944) as Duque de Alba
- El rey que rabió (1940) as Extra (uncredited)
- Leyenda rota (1940) as Extra (uncredited)
- Los cuatro robinsones (1939)
- Señores del espacio
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Fernando Rey best known for?
Fernando Rey is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including After the Dream (1992), 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), Blood and Dust (1992), I promessi sposi (1989).
When and where was Fernando Rey born?
Fernando Rey was born on September 20, 1917 in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. They passed away on March 9, 1994.
How many credits does Fernando Rey have?
Fernando Rey has accumulated over 224 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1939 to 2019.
What is Fernando Rey's background in cinema and television?
Fernando Rey was a Spanish film, theatre, and television actor born in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain on September 20, 1917, and he died on March 9, 1994 at the age of 76. Working in both Europe and the United States, he appeared in more than 150 films over a career spanning half a century. Known for his roles in films by su...
Fernando Rey by the numbers
224credits
208films
16TV series
1939–2019active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- La laguna negra (1952) as Miguel — aged about 34
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Gaspar — aged about 59
- Viridiana (1962) as Don Jaime — aged about 44
- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) as Don Rafael — aged about 54
- The French Connection (1971) as Alain Charnier — aged about 53
- Scheherazade (1963) as Al Fakid — aged about 45
Full filmography (224) Born on September 20 In memoriam 1994
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