Rafael Campos

{{short description|American actor}}

{{for-multi|the Argentine Olympic equestrian|Rafael Campos (equestrian)|the golfer|Rafael Campos (golfer)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rafael Campos

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|05|13}}

| birth_place = Santiago, Dominican Republic

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|07|09|1936|05|13}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| other_names =

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1955–1985

| known_for =

| notable_works =

}}

Rafael Campos (May 13, 1936 – July 9, 1985) was an American actor whose credits include Blackboard Jungle (1955), Dino (1957), The Light in the Forest (1958), Slumber Party '57 (1976), The Astro-Zombies (1968), McMillan and wife (1973), Centennial (1978) and V (1983). He was briefly married to blues singer and pianist Dinah Washington.

Background

Originally from the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States in 1949.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-11-me-8518-story.html "Cancer Claims Character Actor Rafael Campos"], Los Angeles Times, 11 July 1985 From 1961 to 1962, he was married to Dinah Washington, who was 12 years his senior.Interracial Marriage & Family – [http://interracialmarriageandfamily.com/dinah-washington-and-rafael-campos-one-of-the-queens-men/ Dinah Washington and Rafael Campos – One of the Queen's Men] In 1961, Jet magazine published a photo with Washington embracing both Campos, reportedly her seventh husband, and her ex-husband Eddie Chamblee, reportedly her fifth husband.[https://books.google.com/books?id=NrEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=rafael+campos+dinah+washington&pg=PA31 "We Three"], Jet, February 9, 1961, page 31 He then married the model Sally Boyd, with whom he had two daughters.[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/73397368/ "Actor Rafael Campos dies of cancer"], The Pantagraph, July 12, 1985, page 18

One of Campos's brothers is the cryptographer, artist, and poet Luis Campos; another brother, Fernando Campos, is the president of New York's Latin ACE awards.[http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/randall-brown/downtown-randall-brown-lus-campos-celebrity-of-ciphers-31a36fe5-b821-520d-e053-0100007fae1a-377997911.html "Downtown Randall Brown: Luís Campos: Celebrity of ciphers – Randall Brown"], Knoxville News Sentinel, 3 May 2016

Career

Campos had a career that lasted 30 years.[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/12/arts/rafael-campos.html "RAFAEL CAMPOS"], New York Times, 12 July 1985 He was spotted by the director Richard Brooks during a theater production of Heavenly Express. Thanks to Brooks, he had a starring role alongside Glenn Ford, Vic Morrow, Margaret Hayes and Sidney Poitier in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle.Alt Film Guide: [http://www.altfg.com/film/anne-francis-movie-brainstorm-impasse-a-lion-is-in-the-streets/ Anne Francis Movie Schedule: FUNNY GIRL, IMPASSE, BLACKBOARD JUNGLE] In the 1955 film Trial, he reunited with Glenn Ford to play the part of a Chicano teenager wrongfully accused of murdering a white girl from a rich family at a beach party. Ford portrays a college law instructor who defends Campos' character.Jesús Salvador Treviño, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dpI7AAAAYAAJ&q=%22Raphael+Campos%22 "Chicano Cinema"], The New Scholar, Volume 8 (1982), pages 169–170 Other appearances include an episode of Have Gun – Will Travel, playing a teenager who stole a statue of St. Francis of Assisi and the episode "Pancho" in 1959. Also that year, he played the title character in "The Swift Cloud Story" (S2E27) on Wagon Train.

During the 1960s, he was in the Ted V. Mikels-directed film The Astro-Zombies, which starred John Carradine, Wendell Corey and Tura Satana. He played the part of Juan.Christopher Wayne Curry, [https://books.google.com/books?id=iLoLffmnu_EC&dq=%22Raphael+Campos%22Astro+Zombies&pg=PT102 5. Astro Zombies Credits] in Film Alchemy: The Independent Cinema of Ted V. Mikels

Among his TV credits is a 1962 appearance on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, titled "The Big Score". He played the lead as a teen gang member who kills and robs a man who turns out to be a mob boss. He also played a young Mexican boy, Juan De La O, who stole a horse in an episode of Laramie (season 3, episode 15), titled "The Barefoot Kid". Rafael played a young soldier on S12 E4 of Gunsmoke The Mission on October 8, 1966. Rafael had a memorable role in an episode of All In the Family where Archie is told to fire Little Immanuel, who was a member of his crew at work. From 1977 to 1978, the actor had a recurring role as Ramon Diaz Jr. in the series Rhoda.[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1985/07/12/rafael-campos-49-character-actor-who-launched/ "Rafael Campos, 49, character actor who launched his career..."], Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 1985 He appeared in 10 episodes of the show.{{Citation needed |date=April 2021}}

Possibly his last credited film role was in 1986 in The Return of Josey Wales, in which he played Chato.[https://books.google.com/books?id=o9JyjQP3504C&q=%22Raphael+Campos%22The+Return+of+Josey+Wales%22 The Motion Picture Guide 1988 Annual: The Films of 1987], Cinebooks, 1 April 1997, page 246

Death

Campos was diagnosed with stomach cancer and entered the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in December 1984. He died at the hospital on July 9, 1985, aged 49. He was buried at Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village.

Filmography

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1955Blackboard JunglePete V. Morales
1955TrialAngel Chavez
1956The SharkfightersCarlos
1957This Could Be the NightHussein Mohammed
1957DinoBoy #2
1958The Light in the ForestHalf Arrow
1958TonkaStrong Bear
1959Wanted Dead or AlivePachitoSeason 2 Episode 11: "Desert Seed"
1959Wagon TrainSwift CloudSeason 2 Episode 27: "The Swift Cloud Story"
1959The Restless GunEl DiabloSeason 2 Episode 33: "Ride with the Devil"
1959Have Gun – Will TravelPanchoSeason 3 Episode 6: "Pancho"
1960Wagon TrainDr. Swift CloudSeason 3 Episode 33: "Dr. Swift Cloud"
1962Have Gun – Will TravelPacoSeason 6 Episode 10: "A Miracle for St. Francis"
1962Alfred Hitchcock PresentsGinoSeason 7 Episode 22: "The Big Score"
1963Savage SamYoung Warrior
1964Lady in a CageEssie
1966Agent for H.A.R.M.Luis
1966Mister BuddwingDice Player #7
1966The AppaloosaPaco
1968Girl in Gold BootsUncredited
1968The Astro-ZombiesJuan
1971Outlaw RidersPedro
1973Oklahoma CrudeJimmy
1973The Doll SquadRafael
1974HangupLongnose
1976Slumber Party '57Dope Fiend
1978CentennialNacho Gomez
1980Where the Buffalo RoamRojas
1983HeartbreakerAlfonso
1984V The Final BattleSancho Gomez
1985Fever PitchRafael
1986The Return of Josey WalesChato(final film role)

References

{{Reflist}}