Enrique Acosta (26 February 1870 - 22 May 1949) was a Mexican American movie actor. He appeared in multiple films from 1925 to 1947, such as "Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925) and "A Message to Garcia" (1936).
Early life Acosta emigrated with his family to Los Angeles, California, in the United States of America, from Mexico after 1910, to escape the violence created by the Mexican Revolution. His theater career began in Mexico, though there is not yet significant information. After he emigrated, Enrique Acosta, bilingual in English and Spanish, acted in many of Hal Roach's Spanish-language shorts in the early 20th century, as well as films where he spoke English. He lived with his three sons and wife, Josefa A Acosta, in Culver City near the Hal Roach studios. Some of his extended family resided in Playa del Rey, California—including his adult son, Joaquín Enrique Acosta Sr., and daughter in law, Catalina Ortiz Acosta, a pianist working with Juanita Roos, wife of Charles Roos in the Indianist Movement.
In the early 20th Century, Culver City was a Sundown town, making it necessary for the Acosta family to declare themselves "white" to live and work in Culver City during that time. Declaring themselves to be white on birth certificates and other public documents was common practice for many Mexican Americans in Los Angeles County during the 20th century.
Career Being bilingual in both Spanish and English, Acosta was able to obtain niche opportunities as a Latino supporting actor in the nascent Southern California film industry, Enrique Acosta was both a silent film actor then continued his acting career into "talkies", the name at the time for sound film. He was described as, "... a character actor with Mexican Indian features, a burly frame..."
Behind the camera, he was the listed film director for Hollywood, City of Dreams (Spanish:Hollywood, ciudad de ensueno) in 1931. A Spanish-language film made in the United States.
His acting roles in silent films include Don Q, Son of Zorro, a 1925 silent film by Donald Crisp, starring Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Astor, Enrique Acosta played Ramon. Whispering Sage in 1927, (he played Pedro). In a few short years, the Silent Film Era was almost completely over by 1931, pushed into oblivion by the huge success of The Lights of New York (1928) film.
Enrique Acosta worked with many early 20th Century film stars including Laurel and Hardy in many of Hal Roach Studio's Spanish-language shorts. Politiquerías is a Spanish language version feature film expanded from the English language Chickens Come Home (1931) Laurel and Hardy short film by Hal Roach Studios. He is cited as a Mexican American actor in many early Western films including The Texan.
At age 66, he played General Calixto García in A Message to Garcia (1936), starring a very young Barbara Stanwyck. In many of his film roles he usually played an authority figure such as a judge, military officer or police officer. When he wasn't an authority figure, he was an elegant guest. He had many other uncredited roles. The filmography cross-referenced with the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
Enrique Acosta died in Culver City, California, May 22, 1949, at the age of 79. He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. His wife, Josefa A. de Acosta died two years later and shares the headstone. His eldest son, Joaquin Enrique Acosta Sr., also died in 1949 and is buried nearby.
Filmography DateFilmmediaCharacter1925Don Q, Son of Zorrosilent filmRamon1927Whispering Sagesilent filmOld Pedro1930El Jugador de Golfsound film1930Tiembla y Titubea (Laurel and Hardy)sound filmPolice Chief1930Huye, Faldas (Laurel and Hardy)sound filmFather1930Una Cana Al Aire''sound filmSr. Gilstrom, Charlie's boss1930The Texansound filmSixto1930Ladrones (Laurel and Hardy)sound filmPolice Chief1930Un precio de un Beso''sound film1930Estrelladossound filmChamber of Commerce Pres.1930Locuras de Amorsound film1930Así es la Vidasound filmSr. Franklin1931 Moneríassound filmEl Capitán1931Politiquería (Laurel and Hardy)sound filmJudge / El Juez1931 El Alma de a Fiestasound filmSenador1931Los Presidiariossound filmWarden1931De Bote en Botesound filmThe Warden1932Thunder Belowsound filmPacheco1933Dos Nochessound filmManuel Jiménez Blanco1933Una Viuda Románticasound filmBartender1934One Night of Lovesound filmBartender1934Tres Amoressound filmPresidente1934The Prescott Kidsound filmservant1935The Black Roomsound filmJudge1935El Cantante de Nápolessound filmPapá Daspuro1935Te Quiero con Lucurasound filmCoronel1936A Message to Garciasound filmGeneral Calixto García1936 Fatal Ladysound filmParis café guest1936Desiresound film Pedro1936Romanasound filmguest1939Only Angels Have Wingssound filmtourist1940Argentine Nightssound film1940Cassablancasound filmuncredited character1941Six Lessons from Madame La Zongasound filmexcited Cuban1942Crossroadssound filmAdolph Faylauer (assoc. judge)1946 Masquerade in Mexicosound filmspectator1947Twilight on the Rio Grandsound filmLamplighter
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