Carlos Gallardo
Encyclopedia
Carlos Gallardo is a Mexican actor
, producer
and occasional screenwriter
and director
, and frequent collaborator with his friend, director Robert Rodriguez
.
, Coahuila
, Mexico
to a Mexican
father and an Irish
mother.
Gallardo's first taste of fame came with the feature film El Mariachi
, a critically acclaimed film renowned for costing US$7,000 to make. The film won 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 did have a cameo role in Desperado, playing El Mariachi's buddy 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 amaras 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.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and occasional screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and frequent collaborator with his friend, director Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
.
Life and career
Gallardo was born in AcuñaCiudad Acuña
Ciudad Acuña, also known simply as Acuña, is a city located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, at and a mean height above sea level of 271 meters...
, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
father and an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
mother.
Gallardo's first taste of fame came with the feature film El Mariachi
El Mariachi
El Mariachi is a 1992 Mexican-American action film that is the debut of writer/director Robert Rodriguez. The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican bordertown of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
, a critically acclaimed film renowned for costing US$7,000 to make. The film won the 1993 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, 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
Unit production manager
A Unit Production Manager is an on-set manager responsible for the administration of a film's production.-Overview:A UPM is usually hired by a Producer of a film or television show, and is responsible for managing the production and regulating the costs of delivering the expected film or...
and for special effects in El Mariachi.
Following El Mariachi, Gallardo went on to be co-producer of the Robert Rodriguez-directed Mexico Trilogy
Mexico Trilogy
The Mexico Trilogy or Mariachi Trilogy is a series of films— El Mariachi, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico—all written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez, beginning in 1992 and ending in 2003, and distributed by Columbia Tristar...
sequels, Desperado
Desperado (film)
Desperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
and Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a 2003 action film written, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the final film in the "Mariachi Trilogy", which also includes El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as El Mariachi...
. Both films featured Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
in the role of El Mariachi, in place of Gallardo, though Gallardo did have a cameo role in Desperado, playing El Mariachi's buddy 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 amaras 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
Planet Terror
Planet Terror is a 2007 American action horror film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The film, a...
, Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
's portion of Grindhouse, appearing opposite Michael Biehn
Michael Biehn
Michael Connell Biehn is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in James Cameron's science fiction action films The Terminator as Kyle Reese, Aliens as Cpl. Dwayne Hicks, and The Abyss as Lt. Coffey. He has also acted in such films as Tombstone, The Rock, and Planet Terror...
and Tom Savini
Tom Savini
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
. It was his first appearance in a Rodriguez film since Desperado.
Filmography
- The Price (2011)
- Dead Hooker in a TrunkDead Hooker in a TrunkDead Hooker in a Trunk is a 2009 Canadian exploitation film starring, written, produced and directed by twin sisters Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska, also known as The Soska Sisters. The film is their feature film directorial debut and is distributed by IFC...
(2009) - Jazzed Up Hoodlums (2009)
- Starwatch (2009)
- Planet TerrorPlanet TerrorPlanet Terror is a 2007 American action horror film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, about a group of people attempting to survive an onslaught of zombie-like creatures as they feud with a military unit, including a go-go dancer searching for a way to use her "useless talents." The film, a...
(2007) - Curandero (2005)
- BandidoBandido (2004 film)Bandido is a 2004 action film written by Scott Duncan and Carlos Gallardo and directed by Roger Christian. The story revolves around the CIA framing skilled thief Max Cruz aka "Bandido" in order to gain his cooperation in helping them recover intelligence data that was stolen by Beno Gildemontes...
(2004) - Me amaras bajo la lluvia (2004) (TV series)
- Eastside (1999)
- Single Action (1998)
- Bravo (1998)
- DesperadoDesperado (film)Desperado is a 1995 action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover....
(1995) - El MariachiEl MariachiEl Mariachi is a 1992 Mexican-American action film that is the debut of writer/director Robert Rodriguez. The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican bordertown of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
(1992)
External links
- Interview: Carlos Gallardo at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...