Francisco Rabal
Acting • Born 1926-03-08 – Died 2001-08-29
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Francisco Rabal (March 8, 1926 – August 29, 2001), perhaps better known as Paco Rabal, was a Spanish actor born in Águilas, a small town in the province of Murcia, Spain. In 1936, after the Spanish Civil War broke out. Rabal and his family left Murcia and moved to Madrid. Young Francisco had to work as a street salesboy and in a chocolate factory. When he was 13 years old, he left school to work as an electrician at Estudios Chamartín. Rabal got some sporadic jobs as an extra. Dámaso Alonso and other people advised him to try his luck with a career in theater. During the following years, he got some roles in theater companies such as Lope de Vega or María Guerrero. It was there that he met actress Asunción Balaguer; they married and remained together for the rest of Rabal's life. Their daughter, Teresa Rabal, is also an actor. In 1947, Rabal got some regular jobs in theater. He used his full name, Francisco Rabal, as stage name. However, the people who knew him always called him Paco Rabal. (Paco is the familiar form for Francisco.) "Paco Rabal" became his unofficial stage name. During the 1940s, Rabal began acting in movies as an extra, but it was not until 1950 that he was first cast in speaking roles, and played romantic leads and rogues. He starred in three films directed by Luis Buñuel - Nazarín (1959), Viridiana (1961) and Belle de jour (1967). William Friedkin thought of Rabal for the French villain of his 1971 movie The French Connection. However, he could not remember the name of "that Spanish actor". Mistakenly, his staff hired another Spanish actor, Fernando Rey. Friedkin discovered that Rabal did not speak English or French, so he decided to keep Rey. Rabal has previously worked with Rey in Viridiana. Rabal did, however, work with Friedkin in the much less successful but Academy Award-nominated cult classic Sorcerer (1977), a remake of The Wages of Fear (1953). Throughout his career, Rabal worked in France, Italy and Mexico with directors such as Gillo Pontecorvo, Michelangelo Antonioni, Luchino Visconti, Valerio Zurlini, Jacques Rivette and Alberto Lattuada. It is widely considered that Rabal's best performances came after Francisco Franco's death on 1975. In the 1980s, Rabal starred in Los santos inocentes, winning the Award as Best Actor in Cannes Film Festival, in El Disputado Voto del Señor Cayo and also in the TV series Juncal. In 1989, he was a member of the jury at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival. In the 1999 he played the character of Francisco Goya in Carlos Saura Goya en Burdeos, winning a Goya Award as Best Actor. Francisco Rabal is the only Spanish actor to have received a honoris causa doctoral degree from the University of Murcia. Rabal's final movie was Dagon, a film which was dedicated to him right before the credits. The dedication read "Dedicated to Francisco Rabal, a wonderful actor and even better human being." Rabal died in 2001 from compensatory dilating emphysema, while on an airplane travelling to Bordeaux, when he was coming back from receiving an Award at Montreal Film Festival. Description above from the Wikipedia article Francisco Rabal, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
203 credits
Belle de Jour
Movie • 1967
Hyppolite
Le avventure e gli amori di Miguel Cervantes
Movie • 1967
Rodrigo Cervantes
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Movie • 1990
Máximo Espejo
Traficantes Del Panico
Movie • 1980
William Lombard
Dagon
Movie • 2001
Ezequiel
Viridiana
Movie • 1962
Jorge
Death Will Have Your Eyes
Movie • 1974
The Blackmailer
L'Eclisse
Movie • 1962
Riccardo
Eagles Over London
Movie • 1969
Martin
Nazarín
Movie • 1959
Father Nazario
On Earth as It Is in Heaven
Movie • 1995
San Pedro
The Witches
Movie • 1967
Paolo (segment "La strega bruciata viva")
The Nun
Movie • 1967
Dom Morel
Les Anges exterminés
Movie • 1968
The Man Who Lost His Shadow
Movie • 1992
Antonio
Ann and Eve
Movie • 1970
Francesco
Sorcerer
Movie • 1977
Nilo
It Can Be Done Amigo
Movie • 1972
Sheriff
The Desert of the Tartars
Movie • 1976
M.llo Tronk
La Lola se va a los puertos
Movie • 1993
Don Diego
Day and Night
Movie • 1997
Cristobal
Legacy of the Incas
Movie • 1965
Gambusino
The Blue Panther
Movie • 1965
Paco Castillo
Talk of Angels
Movie • 1998
Don Jorge
Hoy como ayer
Movie • 1966
Ramón
La gran mentira
Movie • 1956
César Neira
La honradez de la cerradura
Movie • 1950
Ernesto
Long Days of Vengeance
Movie • 1967
Sheriff Douglas
I Was a Parish Priest
Movie • 1953
Martín
Hotel Fear
Movie • 1978
Marta's lover
Camino del Rocío
Movie • 1966
José Antonio
Currito de la Cruz
Movie • 1965
Manuel Carmona
La novia de medianoche
Movie • 1997
Wenceslao Corredoira
El disputado voto del señor Cayo
Movie • 1986
Señor Cayo
El hombre de la isla
Movie • 1960
Lorenzo 'El Moro'
Murió hace quince años
Movie • 1954
Diego
The Female: Seventy Times Seven
Movie • 1962
Pascual
Blood in the Bullring
Movie • 1969
Juan Carmona
The Miller's Saucy Wife
Movie • 1955
Cristóbal Paterna
Trío de damas
Movie • 1960
Alberto Sáinz Robledo
Scent of a Crime
Movie • 1988
Coronel Olvera
Hunted City
Movie • 1979
Don Alfonso
The Rebel
Movie • 1980
Tony
Hay un camino a la derecha
Movie • 1953
Miguel
Exorcism's Daughter
Movie • 1971
Fuso
Tiempo de silencio
Movie • 1986
Muecas
Little Bird
Movie • 1997
El Abuelo
The Wide Blue Road
Movie • 1957
Salvatore
Sonatas
Movie • 1959
Marqués Javier de Bradomín
Coarse Salt
Movie • 1984
Gabino
Reborn
Movie • 1981
Giacomo
The Reunion
Movie • 1963
Alberto
All Is Possible in Granada
Movie • 1954
Fernando Ortega
Speaking of Buñuel
Movie • 2000
Self
Judas' Kiss
Movie • 1954
Quinto Licinio
Bohemian Nights
Movie • 1985
Max Estrella
Crooks
Movie • 1983
Ginés Jiménez Valera
Two Men in Town
Movie • 1959
Superintendente
I tromboni di Fra' Diavolo
Movie • 1962
Fra Diavolo
Corleone
Movie • 1978
Don Giusto Provenzano
The Devil Also Cries
Movie • 1965
Tomás
Marisa
Movie • 1957
Antonio
Goya in Bordeaux
Movie • 1999
Goya
The Long Vacations of '36
Movie • 1976
Teacher
Simón Bolívar
Movie • 1969
José Antonio Del Llano
Cutting Heads
Movie • 1970
Díaz II
Scapegoat
Movie • 1985
Comisario Cárdenas
The Guerrilla
Movie • 1973
El Cabrero (The Shepherd)
The Witching Hour
Movie • 1985
Cesar
Moonfish
Movie • 2000
Tio Nini
The Tempter
Movie • 1974
Bishop Marquez
Little Miracles
Movie • 1997
Don Francisco
Autopsia de un criminal
Movie • 1963
Carlos
A Time of Destiny
Movie • 1988
Jorge Larraneta
Laia
Movie • 1970
Speed Driver
Movie • 1980
Esposito
The Challenges
Movie • 1969
Carlos
Epilogue
Movie • 1984
Rocabruno
Our Father
Movie • 1985
Abel
Blanca's Weddings
Movie • 1975
Antonio
Treasure of the Four Crowns
Movie • 1983
Sócrates
Airbag
Movie • 1997
Villambrosa
Summer Night
Movie • 1963
Bernardo
Fight to the Death
Movie • 1975
Comisario Emilio Mendoza
The Mighty Crusaders
Movie • 1957
Tancredi d'Altavilla
Counselor at Crime
Movie • 1973
Vincent Garofalo
Tormento
Movie • 1974
Agustín Caballero
Whom God Forgives
Movie • 1957
Juan Cuenca
La peccatrice
Movie • 1975
Turco
Weeping for a Bandit
Movie • 1964
José María 'El Tempranillo'
Pigeon Shoot
Movie • 1961
Elia
N.P. - The Secret
Movie • 1972
Ingegnere N.P.
Bloody Che Contra
Movie • 1968
Che Guevara
Stay as You Are
Movie • 1978
Lorenzo
Baroque
Movie • 1989
El Hispano
Marbella
Movie • 1985
Juan
The Lame Pigeon
Movie • 1995
Tío Ricardo
The Lost Paradise
Movie • 1985
El político anciano
Ni contigo ni sin ti
Movie • 1992
The Beehive
Movie • 1982
Ricardo Sorbedo
Path to the Kingdom
Movie • 1952
Tomás
España insólita
Movie • 1965
(voice)
Just Run!
Movie • 2001
Don Vicente
Nights of Constantinople
Movie • 2001
Divertimento
Movie • 2000
Il mistero del panino assassino
Movie • 1987
Arno dei conti Vincini
Mathias Sandorf
Movie • 1963
Frédéric de Rotenbourg
I Am the Law
Movie • 1977
Albanese the Outlaw
La otra imagen
Movie • 1973
Planet Venus
Movie • 1972
Party chauffer
The Big Hit
Movie • 1964
Michel Arland
Oscuros sueños de agosto
Movie • 1967
Julio
The City of World
Movie • 1975
Matteo
Azahares rojos
Movie • 1961
Arturo Gómez Mancera
María Rosa
Movie • 1965
Io sono mia
Movie • 1977
Padre di Orio
Death of a Cyclist
Movie • 1955
(uncredited)
El hermano bastardo de Dios
Movie • 1986
The Holy Innocents
Movie • 1984
Azarías
C.I.A. Secret Story
Movie • 1975
Mehdi Ben Barka
Emilia... parada y fonda
Movie • 1976
Diario Spagnolo
Movie • 1970
Él mismo
Divine Words
Movie • 1987
Pedro Gailo
The Hand in the Trap
Movie • 1961
Cristóbal Archaval
It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game
Movie • 1974
Tío
Vultures Over the City
Movie • 1981
Bender
Dormir Y Ligar: Todo Es Empezar
Movie • 1974
Self (uncredited)
Divine
Movie • 1998
Papá Basilio
L'uomo dai calzoni corti
Movie • 1958
Mario
Diez fusiles esperan
Movie • 1959
José Iribarren
Le soldat Laforêt
Movie • 1972
Paco
Cuenca
Movie • 1958
Narrator (voice)
Revelation
Movie • 1955
Sergio Gresky
The White Dove
Movie • 1989
Domingo
Intimidad de los parques
Movie • 1965
Héctor
Victòria! La gran aventura d'un poble
Movie • 1983
Coronel Márquez
Victòria! 3: El seny i la rauxa
Movie • 1984
Coronel Márquez
Victòria! 2: La disbauxa del 17
Movie • 1983
Coronel Márquez
After the Deluge
Movie • 1968
Pedro
El gran secreto
Movie • 1980
Domingo
Felicidades, Tovarich
Movie • 1995
Abuelo
Radio Stories
Movie • 1955
Gabriel
El canto del gallo
Movie • 1955
Padre Miller
At Five in the Afternoon
Movie • 1961
Juan Reyes
Spain Again
Movie • 1969
Reportero
La colonna infame
Movie • 1973
Giacomo Mora - il barbiere
The Revolution on Two Horses
Movie • 2002
Zio Henrique
Los zancos
Movie • 1984
Manuel
The Dead Man
Movie • 1975
Azevedo Bandeira
Eye of the Cat
Movie • 1975
Eminenza
Hijo de hombre
Movie • 1961
Salzillo
Movie • 1983
Salzillo
El apartamento de la tentación
Movie • 1971
Hombre que se cruza con Julieta (uncredited)
The Other Woman
Movie • 1964
Zaylor
La leyenda del alcalde de Zalamea
Movie • 1973
Pedro Crespo, Alcalde de Zalamea
The Big Black Sow
Movie • 1971
Il Medico
Manuel, le fils emprunté
Movie • 1990
Juan Alvarez
Zero/infinito
Movie • 2002
(voice)
Buñuel
Movie • 1989
Self
Goya: A Story of Solitude
Movie • 1971
Goya
One Hundred and One Nights
Movie • 1995
Luis Buñuel (voice)
Water Easy Reach
Movie • 1998
Nada menos que todo un hombre
Movie • 1972
Alejandro Gómez
Torquemada
Movie • 1989
Torquemada
Lázaro de Tormes
Movie • 2001
El Ciego
Nightmare City
Movie • 1980
Major Warren Holmes
El buscón
Movie • 1979
Mata
La vieja música
Movie • 1985
Domingo Ferreiro
Cavalcata selvaggia
Movie • 1960
Don Juan Tenorio
Movie • 1966
Don Juan Tenorio
La noche y el alba
Movie • 1958
Pedro
El crimen de Pepe Conde
Movie • 1946
Luna de sangre
Movie • 1952
Pedro Alvareda
María Morena
Movie • 1952
El Sevillano
Doubt
Movie • 1951
Rafael Figueroa
Revenge
Movie • 1958
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
La rueda de la vida
Movie • 1942
Bronquista de pelea en salón (uncredited)
Saranno uomini
Movie • 1957
Giacomo
Don Quixote
Movie • 1947
(uncredited)
Alhucemas
Movie • 1948
Tostado (uncredited)
Un adulterio decente
Movie • 1969
Conserje (uncredited)
La mujer cualquiera
Movie • 1994
La taberna fantástica
Movie • 1991
Rogelio
Oedipus Mayor
Movie • 1996
Tiresias
María Antonia "La Caramba"
Movie • 1951
Perseguidos
Movie • 1951
Un delitto
Movie • 1984
Abbot
The Other
Movie • 1991
Camorra (A Story of Streets, Women and Crime)
Movie • 1986
Guaglione
Ciao Cialtroni!
Movie • 1979
Fra' Giovanni
Land Without Bread
Movie • 1933
Narrator (voice)
Les paradoxes de Buñuel
Movie • 1998
Self
Paco, mi padre
Movie • 1992
Morte di un bandito
Movie
Vito Ribera
Fortunata and Jacinta
TV • 1980
José Izquierdo
Imágenes perdidas
TV • 1991
Himself - Narrator
Il giovane Garibaldi
TV • 1974
Bento Gonçalvez
Truhanes
TV • 1993
Ginés Giménez
Cervantes
TV • 1981
Mateo Alemán
Juncal
TV • 1989
José Álvarez "Juncal"
Los desastres de la guerra
TV • 1983
Goya
Teresa de Jesús
TV • 1984
Alonso
History
TV • 1986
Remo