Cesar Romero (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994)

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Cesar "Butch“ Romero played the Latin lover in countless films of the 1930s, ’40s, and '50s. His credits include roles in The Thin Man, The Good Fairy, The Cisco Kid and the Lady, Tales of Manhattan, and Lust in the Dust. During the ’60s he appeared as the Joker in the TV show Batman. (Picture: Cesar Romero by Carl Van Vechten)

Romero never married, but he was often engaged as an escort for actresses and models attending Hollywood functions. As Barbara STANWYCK once said, "I just call good ol’ Butch Romero and he says rather reluctantly, ‘Well if you have to go, I’ll take you.’ He does that for all of us old broads.“

In an interview. Romero described a tryst with actor Desi Arnaz: "Desi said ‘one time only.’ For our friendship. Neither of us made a big deal out of it, excuse the pun, and we never referred to it again.“

Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994) was an American film and television actor who was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lovers, historical figures in costume dramas, characters in light domestic comedies, and as the Joker in the Batman TV series.

Romero was born in New York City, the son of Maria Mantilla and Cesar Julio Romero. His father was a native of Italy and was an importer-exporter of sugar refining machinery, and his mother was a Cuban concert singer. That lifestyle, however, changed dramatically when his parents lost their sugar import business and suffered losses in the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Romero's Hollywood earnings allowed him to support his large family, all of whom followed him to the West Coast years later. Romero lived on and off with various family members, especially his sister, for the rest of his life.

In October 1942, he voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and served in the Pacific Theater. He reported aboard the Coast Guard-manned assault transport USS Cavalier in November, 1943. According to a press release from the period he saw action during the invasions of Tinian and Saipan. The same article mentioned that he preferred to be a regular part of the crew and was eventually promoted to the rate of Chief Boatswain's Mate.

Romero said his grandfather on his mother's side was Cuban poet and patriot José Martí.

Romero never married, but made regular appearances on the Hollywood social circuit in the company of attractive actresses; however, he was almost always described in interviews and articles as a "confirmed bachelor".

Romero was a registered Republican and in October 1960 he appeared in the Nixon-Lodge Bumper Sticker Motorcade Campaign.

Romero died on New Year's Day 1994 from bronchitis and pneumonia. His ashes were interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in the city of Inglewood, California.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Romero,_Jr.

Further Readings:

Hollywood Gays: Conversations With: Cary Grant, Liberace, Tony Perkins, Paul Lynde, Cesar Romero, Randolph Scott... by Boze Hadleigh
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Barricade Books; First Edition edition (August 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1569800839
ISBN-13: 978-1569800836
Amazon: Hollywood Gays: Conversations With: Cary Grant, Liberace, Tony Perkins, Paul Lynde, Cesar Romero, Randolph Scott...

Helps blow the cover off the gilded cage. It opens the closet door for a look at, and conversation with, ten gay men of the silver screen.

More LGBT History at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Gay Classics