Claude Sydney Brook Marnat (28 August 1927 – 18 October 1995), known as Claudio Brook, was a Mexican actor. Active in film, stage, and television over a career spanning nearly 40-years, he was one of the stars of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, and was a noted collaborator of director Luis Buñuel. For his work in motion pictures, Brook received two Ariel Awards, and was inducted into the Paseo de las Luminarias.

Early life Brook was born Claude Sydney Brook Marnat in Mexico City, to a British father and a Mexican mother of French Basque descent. Raised fluent in Spanish, English, and French, he worked in the British embassy as a clerk while playing semi-pro association football for Atlante F.C.

Career

Making his film debut in 1955, Brook appeared in over 100 film and television productions. He also worked in the theatre, playing the lead role in the Mexican premiere of Man of La Mancha in Mexico City in 1969.

One of his most fruitful collaborations was with director Luis Buñuel, appearing in five of the director's films over the course of nine years: The Young One (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Exterminating Angel (1962) Simon of the Desert (1965), and The Milky Way (1969).

He won two Ariel Awards - Best Actor for Memoriales perdidos (1985) and Best Supporting Actor for Esperanza (1988).

Brook also appeared in several international productions; notably as a British RAF pilot in French director Gérard Oury's war comedy La Grande Vadrouille (1966), secret agent Francis Coplan in Coplan Saves His Skin (1968), a banker in the James Bond film Licence to Kill (1989), and Barone in Tony Scott's Revenge (1990).

His distinctive voice and precise elocution found him plenty of voiceover work throughout his career, including dubbing and narration. He was the official Spanish-language spokesperson of Chrysler Motors from 1984 to 1992. He also recorded bumpers and sign-ons for Chilean radio.

One of his final roles was as the villain Dieter de la Guardia in Guillermo del Toro's directorial debut Cronos (1992).

Personal life Brook was married three times, to Spanish-born Mercedes Pascual; to fellow voice actor Eugenia Avendaño; and finally to Alicia Bonet. He had four children, including actress Simone Brook (born 1969) and Arturo Brook (born 1972), an international tax attorney. His daughter Claudia died of cancer in 1997, and his son Gabriel died in 2004.

Death Brook died of stomach cancer on 18 October 1995, at the age of 68. He posthumously starred on the telenovela Retrato de familia, which premiered a week after his death.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1956Daniel Boone, Trail BlazerJames Boone1958El Último rebeldeaka The Last Rebel (USA)Los Hijos del divorcioFiscal1959El Derecho a la vidaCuraVagabundo y millonarioSr. ProcuradorLas Señoritas VivancoWilliamThe Wonderful CountryRuelleUncredited1960El Gran pilloHermano de ArturoEl Último mexicanoLa jovenRev. Fleetwoodaka The Young OneCuando ¡Viva Villa..! es la muerteSr. LicenciadoUncredited¡Yo sabia demasiado!Neutrón el enmascarado negroProfessor Walker1961ViridianaUncreditedLas Cosas prohibidasRosa blancaMexican consul1962Geronimo Mr. HenryThe Exterminating Angel Julio, Mayordomo; Stewardaka El Ángel exterminadorLos Autómatas de la muerteProfessor Walker1963Cuando los hijos se pierdenSr. Carlos de los Rios, padre de SilviaNeutrón contra el Dr. CaronteProfessor WalkerSanto en el museo de la ceraDr. KarolImmediate DeliveryAlexaka Agente XU 777 and Entrega immediata (Mexico)1965Guadalajara en veranoProfessor Fernando LunaThe Glory GuysRev. PooleUn Hombre peligrosoEl 22Simón del desiertoSimónaka Simon of the DesertViva Maria!The Great RodolfoEl dinamitero1966Du rififi à PanameMike CoppolanoLa Mano que aprietaProfessor DavenportLa Grande VadrouillePeter Cunningham1967Your Turn to DieRobert FosterThe Blonde from PekingMarc Garland / Gandler1968Coplan Saves His SkinFrancis Coplan1969The Milky WayL'évêque / Bishop House of Pleasure Baron von AmbrasThe Scarlet LadyJohn Bert1971Jesús, nuestro SeñorJesúsThe Garden of Aunt Isabel Gonzalo de Medina1972The Assassination of TrotskyRoberto TrianguloDoctor Pedro Millan1973JoryEthan WaldenIntervalArmando Vertizaka Intervalo (Mexico)The Countess Died of LaughterBaron von AmbrasEl Castillo de la PurezaGabriel Limaaka Castle of Purity (USA)The Mansion of MadnessDr. Maillard / Raoul Fragonard1974El Muro del silencioSeñor OlmedoCinco mil dolares de recompensaBakerEl Santo oficioAlonso de Peraltaaka The Holy OfficeLa Quema de JudasAlgo es algo dijo el diablo1975Crónica de un subversivo latinoamericanoColonel Robert Ernest WhitneyPortrays the real life experience of an American Colonel kidnapped by the FALN guerrilla in Venezuela. aka Chronicle of a Latin American Subversive(International: English title).The Devil's RainPreacherLa Bestia acorraladaHeinrich Werner / Conrad Krauss1976FoxtrotPaulaka The Other Side of ParadiseUSA: reissue titleThe Return of a Man Called HorseChemin De Feras Claudio Brooke1977Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblasDr. Oszek/Hunchbacked Gypsyaka Alucarda (USA: video title)El MarEl Pez que fumaaka The Smoking FishInternational: English title1978Flores de papelHéctor Trejoaka Paper FlowersInternational: English titleThe BeesDr. Milleraka Abejas asesinas (Mexico)1979Matar por matarEagle's WingSanchezOnly Once in a LifetimeJimenez1981Max DominioPedro PáramoComplot Petróleo: La cabeza de la hidraaka The Oil Conspiracy International: English title1983Frida, naturaleza vivaGuillermo Kahlo 1985Memoriales perdidosPadre de AídaAriel Award for Best ActorDeveras me atrapaste1986Murieron a la mitad del rioMr. RobinsonLa Vida de nuestro señor JesucristoJesucristo (Jesus Christ)aka The Life of Jesus Christ USA1988EsperanzaDr. GreeneAriel Award for Best Actor in a Minor Role1989Licence to KillMontelongoRomeroBishop Flores1990RevengeBarone1992Death and the CompassTV Announcer 1993Fray Bartolomé de las Casasaka La Leyenda negra (Mexico)MiroslavaAlex FimmanCronosDe la GuardiaSe equivoco la cigueña1995Perdóname todoUna Papa sin catsup

Awards and nominations +AwardYearCategoryWorkResultAriel Award1986Best ActorMemoriales perdidos1989Best Actor in a Minor RoleEsperanzaPremios TVyNovelas1985Best Villain ActorLa pasión de Isabela1987El camino secreto

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