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Roger Cudney

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roger Cudney (June 22, 1936 – July 5, 2021) was an American actor, singer, dubbing director, radio and television announcer.[1][2]

Biography

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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudney was known for starring in numerous Mexican films and telenovelas[3] in which he often portrayed authoritarian characters or other villains.[4][5] In 2003, The Wall Street Journal described his career playing 'unpopular gringos':

MEXICO CITY -- Roger Cudney, a smallish, 66-year-old with a receding hairline and a gleaming smile, may be the most notorious gringo in Mexico. Some Mexicans know him as a plunderer of ancient archaeological treasures. Others remember him as the union-busting manager of a sweatshop. Still others recognize Mr. Cudney as a pathologically nasty Texas ranger or a meddling diplomat.

Mr. Cudney has been all of these things and more in a 30-year acting career in Mexican TV and movies. The Ohio-born Mr. Cudney came to Mexico in the 1960s to play the lead in the musical Show Boat but he soon found a different dramatic calling. "Roger Cudney is the epitome of the bad gringo, a blending of all the worst American stereotypes," says David Wilt, who compiled the Biographical Dictionary of Mexican Film Performers.

On the [2001] Mexican soap opera, Amigas y rivales (Friends and Rivals), Mr. Cudney was a racist South Texas rancher who caught a couple of illegal Mexican immigrants trespassing on his property, shortly after the World Trade Center attack. "Git off of my land," the actor snarled, waving a shotgun. Then, in his distinctively accented Spanish, he ad-libbed: "Thousands of Americans have just died in New York. They shouldn't let anyone enter my country anymore."[5]

Cudney also had parts in mainstream Hollywood films,[1] including a co-starring role opposite Charles Bronson in The Evil That Men Do, Total Recall, Rambo: First Blood Part II, the James Bond film Licence to Kill, Julia, Perdita Durango and Original Sin.[2] He portrayed the part of the United States Ambassador to Mexico in La Dictadura Perfecta.

Cudney was married,[4] with three sons and one daughter.

He died on July 5, 2021, of a heart attack following a car accident.[3][4][6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 Eye for an Eye Original title: El sabor de la venganza
1972 Ni solteros, ni casados Spanish-language comedy
1972 The Revengers Sheriff Uncredited
1972 Slaughter Gio blaxploitation film starring Jim Brown
1975 Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary Howard Miller
1975 Lucky Lady Hotel clerk
1976 Swashbuckler Guard Uncredited
1976 El karateca azteca Calvin Spanish-language comedy
1977 Mina, Wind of Freedom Colonel Young Original title: "Mina, viento de libertad"; biography of Martín Javier Mina y Larrea
1977 Los hermanos del viento Conductor
1978 Roots of Blood Factory Foreman Original title: "Raíces de sangre"
1978 The Recourse to the Method Army captain Original title: "El recurso del método"
1978 Cananea Ted Nolan cinematic account of the Cananea strike of 1906
1978 The Bees Blankeley
1979 Border Cop Slaughterhouse foreman
1980 Cattle Annie and Little Britches Capps
1980 El hombre sin miedo Mr. Brown
1981 357 Magnum Mario Frasca
1981 Priest of Love British biographical film about D. H. Lawrence
1982 Red Bells Soviet Union-Italy-Mexico co-production
1982 Amityville II: The Possession Prosecutor Uncredited
1982 Quell and Co. Ames Original title: "Showdown at Eagle Gap"
1983 Triumphs of a Man Called Horse Durand
1984 The Evil That Men Do Cannell
1984 Escuela de placer
1984 El mexicano feo
1984 Toy Soldiers Mr. Green
1984 Hombres de acción
1984 El traficante II
1984 El carro de la muerte
1984 Perros salvajes Alternate title: "Wild Dogs"
1985 The Falcon and the Snowman FBI agent Uncredited
1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II Chief Radio Operator Uncredited
1985 La fuga del rojo Callahan
1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Captain Young
1986 Miracles Captain Irvine
1986 La venganza del rojo Callahan
1986 Ghost Fever TV announcer US-Mexico co-production
1986 Murieron a la mitad del rio Mr. Smith
1987 A Walk on the Moon
1987 Hot Pursuit Bartender
1987 Ratas de la frontera
1988 Con el odio en la piel
1988 Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell Inaros Alternate title: "Deathstalker III: The Warriors from Hell"
1988 Con el niño atravesado Banker
1988 Licence to Kill Wavekrest Captain 16th film in the James Bond series
1990 Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back Hofrax Direct-to-video
1990 Total Recall Agent 6th highest-grossing film of 1990
1990 El fiscal de hierro 2: La venganza de Ramona
1990 Demons of the Desert Original title: "Los demonios del desierto"
1992 Muerte infernal Dr. Emmanuel Richter Alternate title: "Hell doll"
1994 Juana la Cubana biography of Juana Bacallao
1994 Immortal Combat Stan Alternate title: "Resort to Kill"
1995 Una papa sin catsup
1996 The Arrival JPL Official
1997 Perdita Durango Herbert
1997 Henequen Ranch foreman depiction of Korean henequen field laborers in Mexico circa 1905
1999 Santitos Scott Haines
1999 One Man's Hero Colonel Harney Dramatization of John Riley and the Saint Patrick's Battalion: Irish Catholic immigrants who deserted the mostly Protestant U.S. Army to join the mostly Catholic Mexican side during Mexican–American War.
2000 Baño de sangre El General Direct-to-video
2001 Blind Heat Bautista US-Mexico co-production
2001 Original Sin Ship's Captain
2004 Puerto Vallarta Squeeze Bill the Bartender Adaptation of novel by Robert James Waller
2004 The Pearl based on novella by John Steinbeck
2006 The Champion Minuteman Original title: "Los pajarracos"
2006 Fast Food Nation Terry loosely based on Eric Schlosser's bestselling 2001 non-fiction book of the same name
2007 Propiedad Ajena Roger Cassey
2007 The Wailer 2 Professor Tomas McBride Original title: "La Llorona 2"
2008 Julia Frank US/France/Mexico/Belgium co-production
2011 La Noche del Pirata Paddy O'Brien
2012 Soul Walker Donato
2012 Z-Baw Great Chancellor English version, Voice
2012 For Greater Glory US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg alternate titles: "Cristiada" and "Outlaws"
2012 Portion Art
2012 The Fantastic World of Juan Orol Don Guillermo
2013 Instructions Not Included Abogado de Julie Original title: "No se aceptan devoluciones"
2014 Cesar Chavez Grower
2014 The Perfect Dictatorship Embajador USA Original title: "La dictadura perfecta"
2014 Cantinflas John film biography of popular Mexican actor/icon Cantinflas
2014 Happy Times Dr. Guillermo Murray Original title: "Tiempos Felices"
2016 Hysteria Stephen
2017 Diario de un Mirrey Don Steven Rice
2018 Más sabe el Diablo por viejo Stuart Young
2019 Mentada de padre Williams

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Virginian Cowboy Episode: "Flight from Memory"
1975 McCloud Drake Episode: "Lady on the Run"
1975 Nevada Smith Perkins TV Movie
1975 A Home of Our Own Oil executive TV movie biography of Father William Wasson
1977 The Rhinemann Exchange party guest 3-part miniseries
1980 Mein Freund Winnetou Episode: "Duels"
1980 Secreto de confesión Burton 3 episodes
1981 Computercide Robbins TV Movie
1982 Falcon's Gold Hathaway TV Movie
1986 On Wings of Eagles General Jerome O'Malley 2-part miniseries
1986 Oceans of Fire Tool pusher TV Movie
1987 Auf Achse Theo Moll Episode: "Kampfstiere nach Santa Maria"
1987 Rosa salvaje Botones en el hotel de Nueva York 1 episode
1988 The Aeronauts Original title: "Les nouveaux chevaliers du ciel"
1988 Crime Story Jenkins 2 episodes
1988 The Second Voyage of the Mimi Harvey Westerman PBS-broadcast educational series; 12 episodes
1989 Trying Times Persival Episode: "The Hit List"
1991 Tropical Heat Ezra Episode: "Tara, Tara, Tara"
1994 The Cisco Kid Alcott TV Movie
1994 The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story Reporter TV Movie
1997 La chacala Professor Von Derek 5 episodes
1998 Soñadoras Doctor 1 episode
1999 Acapulco H.E.A.T. Arthur Cox Episode: "Code Name: Death of a Friendship"
1999 Por tu amor Doctor 1 episode
2000 Carita de ángel Ryan 1 episode
2000 Por un beso Dr. Newman 1 episode
2001 Warden of Red Rock Prisoner TV Movie
2001 In the Time of the Butterflies Dominican Ambassador Manuel de Moya TV film about lives of the activist Mirabal sisters
2001 Mujer, Casos de la Vida Real 1 episode
2001 Blameless Love/Sin pecado concebido Dr. Reyes 4 episodes
2001 Amigas y rivales Hombre con rifle 1 episode
2002 Fidel Ambassador Butler TV Movie, David Attwood's film about the Cuban revolution and political career of Fidel Castro
2002 King of Texas Smithwick William Shakespeare's King Lear placed in 19th century Republic of Texas
2004 Rubí Stephen Howard 6 episodes
2004 American Family Desert Driver 2 episodes
2004 Wooden Woman/Mujer de madera Dr. Wilson 2 episodes
2005 La ley del silencio Meyer 11 episodes
2006 La fea más bella Manager 1 episode
2006 Vecinos Director Canadiense Episode: "Los Rivers en Canadá: Parte 1"
2007 Species: The Awakening Leland TV Movie
2007-2008 Palabra de mujer Doctor Wilkins 5 episodes
2008-2009 Mañana es para siempre U.S. Ambassador 7 episodes
2009 Juro Que Te Amo Empresario 1 episode
2009 Hasta que el dinero nos separe Doctor 2 episodes
2009 Los simuladores Empresario 3 episodes
2009 El Pantera Rich man 1 episode
2010 Llena de amor Airport security guard 1 episode
2010 El octavo mandamiento Doctor 1 episode
2011 La fuerza del destino Mark 35 episodes
2011 Double Life/Dos hogares Mister Daivis 15 episodes
2011 El encanto del águila Paul Von Hintze 1 episode
2011 La que no podía amar Vaquero texano 3 episodes
2012 Por ella soy Eva Mr. Keaton 2 episodes
2012 Un refugio para el amor 3 episodes
2010-2012 Capadocia James Medina 14 episodes
2014 Camelia la Texana Dr. Fragger 4 episodes
2015 Hasta el fin del mundo Mike Stone (Mister Sam)[7] 5 episodes
2016 Sueño de amor Andrew 12 episodes
2016 Por siempre Joan Sebastian Doctor miniseries - 1 episode
2016 40 y 20 Arnold Episode: "Se renta departamento"
2017 Su nombre era Dolores, la Jenn que yo conocí Mr. Perkins Episode: "Sufriendo a solas"
2017 La doble vida de Estela Carrillo Jonas Logan 20 episodes
2017 Run Coyote Run Jefe de Migracion Episode: "Un Lindo Gatito"
2018 Descontrol Morrison Episode: "Call Center"
2018 Hijas de la luna 3 episodes
2019 El corazón nunca se equivoca 2 episodes
2019 Swipe Night Stranger 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ a b Constantine, Sandra (12 October 2016). "ACTOR ROGER CUDNEY SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CAREER IN MEXICO". TheNews.mx. Capital Media Mexico. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Roger Cudney and Acting in Mexico". Westerns All Italiana. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "The curse is fulfilled: Actor Roger Cudney dies". MundoHispanico.com. Mundo Hispano Digital Network. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Warner, Amelia (9 July 2021). "Roger Cudney Died: How Did Actor Die?". We Publish News. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b Cordoba, Jose; Moffett, Matt. "Ohio Native Finds Stardom Acting South of the Border : Roger Cudney Makes a Career in Mexican Film By Playing Bad Guys From North of the Border". wsj.com. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Sebastian del Amo [@El_Sx] (July 8, 2021). "Querido Roger Cudney, me acabo de enterar de tu partida... Gracias por todo, amigo... Te vamos a extrañar... DEP #RogerCudney" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Hasta el fin del mundo
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