Pedro Armendáriz was a Mexican actor who gained international recognition for his roles in films directed by John Ford. A two-time Ariel Award winner, he appeared in classics such as The Pearl and Flor silvestre. He is well known for his final professional performance as Kerim Bey in the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love.
Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings made his final professional contribution as Kerim Bey in the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love. Although he spent his last months terminally ill, he completed his performance despite significant physical suffering to ensure the financial security of his family before he died in Los Angeles.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Mexico City on May 9, 1912, to Pedro Armendáriz García Conde and Adela Hastings, he spent part of his childhood in Laredo, Texas, with his uncle Henry Hastings Sr. following his mother’s death. He moved to California to attend the California Polytechnic State University between 1928 and 1932. During his time there, he studied mechanics, edited the student newspaper, and participated in various dramatic productions.
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Upon returning to his home country, he worked in railroads and tourism before being discovered by director Miguel Zacarías. His collaboration with filmmaker Emilio Fernández defined his early film identity. Together, they produced titles including Soy puro mexicano, Flor silvestre, and María Candelaria, which won the Palme d'Or in 1946. He frequently shared the screen with Dolores del Río and María Félix, earning the Ariel Award for Best Actor for his roles in The Pearl and Soledad's Shawl.
International Transition
By the late 1940s, he gained international recognition through roles in films directed by John Ford, such as The Fugitive, Fort Apache, and 3 Godfathers. He continued to work in European and other productions, including appearances in the French-filmed Lucrèce Borgia and Luis Buñuel's El Bruto. His later career involved various projects, including La Cucaracha and La Bandida, before his final work in the Bond series.
Health and Final Days
In 1956, he participated in the production of The Conqueror in Utah, where many participants were later diagnosed with cancer following nuclear testing in the region. He eventually suffered from neck cancer and, while at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, learned his condition was terminal. He died by suicide on June 18, 1963, at the age of 51, and is buried at the Panteón Jardín.
Fast facts
- Born: May 9, 1912, Mexico City
- Died: June 18, 1963, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center
- Education: California Polytechnic State University
- Ariel Awards: Won twice for Best Actor
- Final Film: From Russia with Love
- Burial Site: Panteón Jardín
- Children: Pedro Armendariz Bohr and Carmen Armendáriz Bohr
Questions readers ask
What was his role in From Russia with Love?
He played the character Kerim Bey, an ally to James Bond.
Did he have family members in the film industry?
Yes, his son Pedro Armendariz Bohr was also an actor, appearing in the 1989 film Licence to Kill.
