Juano Hernandez

Biography

Born in San Juan, Juano Hernandez was an actor from Puerto Rico whose stage and film work made him a pioneer of black cinema. He began on screen in the silent picture The Life of General Villa and made his talking debut in Oscar Micheaux's The Girl from Chicago (1932). After working in vaudeville, radio, and Broadway, he entered mainstream Hollywood with Intruder in the Dust (1949), playing Lucas Beauchamp, a farmer accused of murder; the role brought a Golden Globe nomination as New Star of the Year. He appeared in Stars in My Crown (1950), Young Man with a Horn (1950) as trumpeter Art Hazzard, and The Breaking Point (1950), with the New York Times calling his work quietly magnificent. Later credits included Trial (1955), Something of Value (1957), Sergeant Rutledge (1960), The Pawnbroker (1964), The Reivers (1969), and They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970). He also guest-starred on television and taught drama.

73years old at death

Born July 19, 1896San Juan
Died July 17, 1970San Juan
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 15
Career span: 21 years1949 to 1970

Genres

Drama73%, 11 films
Crime40%, 6 films
Mystery20%, 3 films
War20%, 3 films
Adventure13%, 2 films

First and latest

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First role
Hernandez made his Broadway debut in the chorus of the 1927 musical Show Boat, and went on to appear in eight plays during that period, including Fast and Furious in 1931.
A change of course
Before acting, Hernandez earned a living as a professional boxer under the ring name Kid Curley, compiling a featherweight record of 3-7-1 with 2 knockouts.
Big break
Hernandez was first spotted by an MGM scout while he was acting in the stage production Set My People Free.
Early training
Hernandez opened a drama school in Hollywood in 1955, but had to close it when the promised support failed to materialize; he trained Sammy Davis Jr., Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier.
Languages
Hernandez studied Shakespeare in his spare time to perfect his diction, which let him work in radio. There he co-starred in We Love and Learn, radio's first all-black soap opera.

Juano Hernandez movies on Netflix

They Call Me Mister Tibbs!1970IMDb rating 6.0as Mealie Williamson
The Extraordinary Seaman1969IMDb rating 3.5as Ali Shar
The Reivers1969IMDb rating 6.6as Uncle Possum
The Pawnbroker1964IMDb rating 7.6as Mr. Smith
Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man1962IMDb rating 6.3as Bugs
The Sins of Rachel Cade1961IMDb rating 5.9as Kalanumu
Sergeant Rutledge1960IMDb rating 7.4as Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore
Something of Value1957IMDb rating 6.5as Njogu - Oath Giver
The Mark of the Hawk1957IMDb rating 5.3as Amugu
Ransom!1956IMDb rating 7.0as Jesse Chapman aka Uncle Jesse
Kiss Me Deadly1955IMDb rating 7.5as Eddie Yeager
Stars in My Crown1950IMDb rating 7.4as Uncle Famous Prill
The Breaking Point1950IMDb rating 7.5as Wesley Park
Young Man with a Horn1950IMDb rating 7.2as Art Hazzard
Intruder in the Dust1949IMDb rating 7.6as Lucas Beauchamp

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Kiss Me Deadly1955 Crime, Mystery, Thrilleras Eddie Yeager
IMDb rating 7.524K votes
The Breaking Point1950 Crime, Dramaas Wesley Park
IMDb rating 7.55.3K votes
The Pawnbroker1964as Mr. Smith
IMDb rating 7.612K votes
Sergeant Rutledge1960as Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore
IMDb rating 7.46.2K votes
Intruder in the Dust1949as Lucas Beauchamp
IMDb rating 7.63.5K votes
Young Man with a Horn1950as Art Hazzard
IMDb rating 7.24.3K votes
Ransom!1956as Jesse Chapman aka Uncle Jesse
IMDb rating 7.02.7K votes
The Reivers1969as Uncle Possum
IMDb rating 6.63.6K votes

Most often with

Michael Curtiz directed two of these films, Gordon Douglas two. Sidney Poitier appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Sidney Poitier

Woody Strode

Will Geer

Jack Lambert

John Alvin

Bill WalkerMichael CurtizDirector, 2 films

Gordon DouglasDirector, 2 films

Films together

Sidney Poitier3 films together, 1957 to 1970
Sidney Poitier's page
- They Call Me Mister Tibbs!1970IMDb rating 6.0Hernandez as Mealie WilliamsonPoitier as Virgil Tibbs
- Something of Value1957IMDb rating 6.5Hernandez as Njogu - Oath GiverPoitier as Kimani Wa Karanja
- The Mark of the Hawk1957IMDb rating 5.3Hernandez as AmuguPoitier as Obam
Woody Strode2 films together, 1960 to 1961
Woody Strode's page
- The Sins of Rachel Cade1961IMDb rating 5.9Hernandez as KalanumuStrode as Muwango
- Sergeant Rutledge1960IMDb rating 7.4Hernandez as Sgt. Matthew Luke SkidmoreStrode as 1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge
Will Geer2 films together, 1949 to 1969
Will Geer's page
- The Reivers1969IMDb rating 6.6Hernandez as Uncle PossumGeer as Boss
- Intruder in the Dust1949IMDb rating 7.6Hernandez as Lucas BeauchampGeer as Sheriff Hampton
Jack Lambert2 films together, 1950 to 1955
Jack Lambert's page
- Kiss Me Deadly1955IMDb rating 7.5Hernandez as Eddie YeagerLambert as Sugar Smallhouse
- Stars in My Crown1950IMDb rating 7.4Hernandez as Uncle Famous PrillLambert as Perry Lokey
John Alvin2 films together, 1950 to 1970
John Alvin's page
- They Call Me Mister Tibbs!1970IMDb rating 6.0Hernandez as Mealie WilliamsonAlvin as Reporter
- The Breaking Point1950IMDb rating 7.5Hernandez as Wesley ParkAlvin as Reporter
Bill Walker2 films together, 1950 to 1961
Bill Walker's page
- The Sins of Rachel Cade1961IMDb rating 5.9Hernandez as KalanumuWalker as Townsman
- Young Man with a Horn1950IMDb rating 7.2Hernandez as Art HazzardWalker as Funeral Minister
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1950
All films by Michael Curtiz
- The Breaking Point1950IMDb rating 7.5Hernandez as Wesley Park
- Young Man with a Horn1950IMDb rating 7.2Hernandez as Art Hazzard
Gordon DouglasDirector, 2 films, 1961 to 1970
All films by Gordon Douglas
- They Call Me Mister Tibbs!1970IMDb rating 6.0Hernandez as Mealie Williamson
- The Sins of Rachel Cade1961IMDb rating 5.9Hernandez as Kalanumu
Also two films together3 more actors
- Juanita MooreSomething of Value (1957) and Ransom! (1956)
- Charles KemperStars in My Crown (1950) and Intruder in the Dust (1949)
- Frederick O'NealThe Sins of Rachel Cade (1961) and Something of Value (1957)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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