About Lalo Rios
Lived 1927 – 1973 (aged 46). Lalo Rios was an American actor and television actor.
Lalo Ríos (7 February 1927 – 7 March 1973) was a Mexican-born American actor best known for his lead role in The Ring as Tommy.
Early life Ríos was born on February 7, 1927, in San Miguelito, Sonora, Mexico. At the age of 9 he moved to East Los Angeles, California, with his family. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. After graduating, Ríos took a job in carpentry.
Career During Ríos' work as a carpenter he got his first acting role with the Paramount film The Lawless (1950). The film cast Ríos as a young Mexican who faces a racist lynch mob in a small North California town. Since his start, his career spanned nearly twenty years. In 1952, Ríos was then cast in his most well-known role as "Tommy", in The Ring (1952), in which he played the lead actor and protagonist. Ríos was also known for certain relevance in films such as Big Leaguer (1953), and Touch of Evil (1958). He eventually ended his career in film in 1962, with Lonely Are the Brave.
After ending his career in film, Ríos began to focus solely on television. This was a format with which he was familiar, due to his initial inclusion in Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse in 1958. His casting with the series was short lived, appearing in only two episodes, but assisted him in creating a platform to sell his craft. After 1966, he participated in multiple television series, such as Laredo (1966) and Marcus Welby, M.D. (1968). Marcus Welby was the last series in which he participated, before he left American television.
Death Ríos died in Los Angeles on March 7, 1973.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1950 The Lawless Paul Rodriguez Bandit Queen Juan, a vigilant Uncredited 1951 The Law and the Lady Panchito Uncredited 1952 Untamed Frontier Pepe Uncredited One Minute to Zero Pvt. Chico Mendoza Uncredited The Ring Tomas 'Tommy' Cantanios / Tommy Kansas 1953 City Beneath the Sea Calypso Big Leaguer Chuy Aguilar 1954 Prisoner of War Sachez Rivero Uncredited 1958 Touch of Evil Risto 1960 The Magnificent Seven Calvera henchman Uncredited 1961 Gold of the Seven Saints Mexican Robber Uncredited 1962 Lonely Are the Brave Prisoner 1968 Blue Mexican bandit Uncredited Villa Rides Mexican Soldier Uncredited
Television Year Title Role episodes 1958 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Martinez My Father, the Fool 1959 Wagon Train Juan The Stagecoach Story The Sister Rita Story 1960 Overland Trail Telegrapher Mission into Mexico 1960 Tate The Shepherd Tigrero 1961 The Untouchables Tony Diaz The Big Train, Part 1 The Big Train, Part 2 1961 Assignment: Underwater Roberto The Key 1961 Gunsmoke Little Fox Long Hours, Short Pay 1961 The Case of the Dangerous Robin Doll of Death 1966 Laredo Pepe The Calico Kid 1967 The High Chaparral First Bandit The Terrorist 1969 Marcus Welby, M.D. Sanchez Neither Punch nor Judy
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Important facts
People in Lalo Rios's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Lalo Rios's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lalo Rios?
Mexican actor (1927-1973)
When was Lalo Rios born?
Lalo Rios was born on 7 February 1927 in Sonora.
When did Lalo Rios die?
Lalo Rios died on 7 March 1973 in Los Angeles.
What was Lalo Rios's occupation?
Lalo Rios was an actor and television actor.
What nationality was Lalo Rios?
Lalo Rios was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lalo Rios. https://biography.guide/lalo-rios/
MLA: "Lalo Rios." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lalo-rios/.
Chicago: "Lalo Rios." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lalo-rios/.
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