Carlos Gallardo

Carlos Gallardo (born June 22, 1966) is a Mexican actor, producer, occasional screenwriter and director. Gallardo frequently collaborates with his friend, director Robert Rodriguez.

Life and career Gallardo was born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, to a Mexican father and an Irish mother.

Gallardo's first success came with the feature film El Mariachi, a critically acclaimed film renowned for costing US$7,000 to make. The film won the audience award for best drama film at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, and won Gallardo an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature, an accolade he shared with Rodriguez. He also was credited as unit production manager and for special effects in El Mariachi.

Following El Mariachi, Gallardo went on to be co-producer of the Robert Rodriguez-directed Mexico Trilogy sequels, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Both films featured Antonio Banderas in the role of El Mariachi, in place of Gallardo, though Gallardo had a minor role in Desperado, playing El Mariachi's friend, Campa.

Gallardo co-wrote, produced and starred in the title role of 2004 independent action thriller, Bandido. He was also producer for 2004 Colombian TV series Me amarás bajo la lluvia.

Carlos also participated in the Robert Rodriguez production titled Curandero where he plays the lead. Curandero was directed by Eduardo Rodriguez.

In 2007, he played Deputy Carlos in Planet Terror, Robert Rodriguez's portion of Grindhouse, appearing opposite Michael Biehn and Tom Savini. It was his first appearance in a Rodriguez film since Desperado.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1985 De veras me atrapaste Judicial chofer 1992 El Mariachi El Mariachi 1995 Desperado Campa 1996 Escape from L.A. 1998 Single Action Amigo 1998 Bravo Carlos Bravo 1999 Eastside Luis 2004 Me amarás bajo la lluvia TV series 2004 Bandido Max Cruz 2005 Curandero Carlos 2007 Grindhouse Deputy Carlos (segment "Planet Terror") 2007 Planet Terror Deputy Carlos 2009 Dead Hooker in a Trunk God 2009 Jazzed Up Hoodlums Darby 2011 The Price Ceferino 2013 Agent 88 Carlos TV Short 2013 Payday Don Elias Episode: "Vlad & Gage" 2017 Starwatch Captain Roberto Sabala 2018 Redcon-1 SGT Frederick Reeves 2019 Red 11 Camacho 2023 Where the Dead Go Ray / Narrator