Rudy Robles: Hollywood actor

Rudy Robles (Pastor Lluviosa Robles offcam) has the distinction of being one of the first — if not the first — Filipino actors to appear in Hollywood movies. His credits include such pre- and post-World War II films as Real Glory (with Gary Cooper and David Niven), Singapore (Ava Gardner and Fred McMurray), Adventures of Martin Eden (Glenn Ford), Okinawa (Pat O’Brien and Richard Denning).

Robles also did some TV shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Passport to Danger, Soldier of Fortune.

Born in Tacloban, Leyte, Rudy started schooling in Cebu, but finished high school and college in California, where he excelled in debating and acting. Rudy was working as a bellhop at the Beverly Hotel in Hollywood when producer Samuel Goldwyn reportedly discovered and gave him the screen name Rudy Robles.

When he returned to the Philippines after the war, Rudy settled in Cebu, raised a family, engaged in business, and produced, directed, and starred in several movies. Among them Ang Bahay sa Bundok, Princesa Tawi-Tawi, Damgo ni Adan (Adam’s Dream), Talahib, Kanlaon.

Rudy was way ahead of other Filipino actors who appeared in Hollywood films, among them, Barbara Perez (No Man is an Island), Pancho Magalona (The Hook), Cesar Montano (The Great Raid).   — RKC