Sunday, March 13, 2011

RIP Joaquín Blanco

Spanish character actor Joaquín Blanco passed away on February 28, 2011 after an eight month battle with liver cancer. The Barcelona based actor was active during the 1960s and ‘70s appearing in 19 films. He’s best remembered as Professor Barrett in “Hell of the Living Dead”. Blanco was born in Almeria, Spain on June 21, 1938. His father had died before Joaquín was born. He and his mother moved to Terrassa in 1941. He went to work at the age of eight along with his mother who worked in a hosiery factory. He later tried his hand in other professions such as torero and insurance agent. At 18 he entered the world of advertising and comic books. Blanco spent six years living in Rome where he met Sandra Blanch who would become his wife. The couple had a daughter named Patricia born in 1977. Blanco’s film career began with “Pariahs of Glory” in 1964 and his last film appearance was in 2002's video “Soul Man”. Joaquín also wrote and directed two films, “Orgía sádica” in 1983 under the alis J. White and “Trampa para una esposa” (1991). He also used the alias John Russell at times. Blanco appeared in six Euro-westerns, among which were “God Forgives... I Don’t” (1967) with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer, “Gentleman Killer” (1967) with Anthony Steffen and “And God Said to Cain” (1970) with Klaus Kinski. Blanco had a fondness for the martial arts and held a second degree black belt in karate.

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