Santiago Eduardo "Chano" Urueta Sierra (24 February 1904 – 23 March 1979) was a Mexican film director, screenwriter, and actor, active in the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. He is considered the creator of the luchador film genre, and one of the fathers of Mexican horror cinema.
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Biography
Urueta was born in Cusihuiriachi, Chihuahua in 1904. He was the son of Jesús Urueta, a prominent journalist, orator, politician, and one-time Ambassador to Argentina. He began his career in Hollywood in 1916, where he was part of a circle of Mexican expatriate actors and directors that notably included Emilio Fernández.
Urueta was nominated for an Ariel Award for the screenplay of his 1953 wrestling-themed film The Magnificent Beast, which is credited with initiating the popular luchador genre. He directed over 100 films between 1928 and 1974. He is also considered one of the fathers of Mexican horror cinema.
Among his acting work, Urueta appeared in two films by American director Sam Peckinpah: The Wild Bunch (1969) and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974).
Urueta died in Mexico City in March of 1979, at the age of 75.
Filmography
Writer or co-writer only
1972: The Incredible Professor Zovek
Actor
1939: Una luz en mi camino
1967: Chanoc - Tsekub Baloyán
1968: Guns for San Sebastian - Miguel
1969: Todo por nada - Nicolás
1969: The Wild Bunch - Don Jose
1969: Super Colt 38
1969: La puerta y la mujer del carnicero - Cura (segment "La mujer del carnicero")
1970: El capitán Mantarraya - El Hippie
1970: Dos esposas en mi cama
1970: El pueblo del terror - Álvaro
1970: El hermano Capulina - Padre Anselmo
1970: Emiliano Zapata
1971: The Bridge in the Jungle - Funeral Singer
1971: Furias bajo el cielo
1971: Los dos hermanos - Rulfo
1971: El Hacedor de Miedo - Old Priest
1972: Kalimán, el hombre increíble
1972: The Wrath of God - Antonio
1974: Las viboras cambian de piel - Fray Jose
1974: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia - Manchot, the bartender
1974: Once Upon a Scoundrel
