Ref Sanchez
Encyclopedia
Ref Sanchez was an American actor who appeared mostly in television shows in smaller acting parts. He worked as a fashion photographer in the 1950s through the 1970s.
. Sanchez was stationed in the Philippines
and Guam
during World War II
, where he took photographs of the native people and outdoor scenes.
, Maverick
, Alias Smith and Jones
, Get Smart
, Baretta
, and a few other shows. He appeared in the movie Kill Uncle before Uncle Kills Us (1966) and in the Woody Allen
picture Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)
(1972).
, through the efforts of his niece Patricia Keener and Sesar Carreno, an alumnus of CSUN. The Ref Sanchez photo collection is housed at Cal State Northridge Library in the Urban Studies Center.
Early life
Sanchez was the son of Cruz Sanchez and Julia Sanchez, both from Spain. The family migrated from Mexico to Los Angeles, bringing with them older brother Jose Guadalupe. After arriving in Los Angeles the family grew to include siblings Josefina, Pablo (Paul), and Manuela Helen (Nellie). Sanchez attended Los Angeles schools and graduated from Lincoln High School. He attended trade schools and Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
. Sanchez was stationed in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he took photographs of the native people and outdoor scenes.
Photography
After the war Sanchez started his own photography studio in Hollywood. He worked on fashion assignments for Los Angeles department stores such as May Company, Robinsons, and Bullocks. Sanchez also did other types of fashion photography as well as publicity shots.Television and film
Sanchez was working on studio still shots when he got the opportunity to do small parts on TV shows shows such as BonanzaBonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, Maverick
Maverick (TV series)
Maverick is a western television series with comedic overtones created by Roy Huggins. The show ran from September 22, 1957 to July 8, 1962 on ABC and stars James Garner as Bret Maverick, a cagey, articulate cardsharp. Eight episodes into the first season, he was joined by Jack Kelly as his brother...
, Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones is an American Western series that originally aired on ABC from 1971 to 1973. It stars Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy as Jedediah "Kid" Curry, a pair of Western cousin outlaws trying to reform...
, Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, Baretta
Baretta
Baretta is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a milder version of a successful 1973–74 ABC series, Toma, starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey police officer David Toma...
, and a few other shows. He appeared in the movie Kill Uncle before Uncle Kills Us (1966) and in the Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
picture Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (film)
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* is Woody Allen's fourth film, consisting of a series of short sequences loosely inspired by Dr. David Reuben's book of the same name....
(1972).
Legacy
Sanchez died in 1986 of brain cancer, and left behind a widow named Virginia. In October 2005 his photo collection, spanning a career of forty years, was donated to California State University, NorthridgeCalifornia State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, through the efforts of his niece Patricia Keener and Sesar Carreno, an alumnus of CSUN. The Ref Sanchez photo collection is housed at Cal State Northridge Library in the Urban Studies Center.