Leo Carrillo

Leo Carrillo State Park and Leo Carrillo beach, both in California, were named after the actor, who also served on the State Park and Recreation Commission. He was related by blood and marriage to a long line of distinguished original Californians.

For all the stereotypical Latinos he portrayed on screen, Leo Carrillo was actually an intelligent, literate man, the scion of an old, respected Los Angeles family who could trace his heritage back to the conquistadores.

Interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, California.

Cousin of William Gaxton.

He also had a distinguished career on the Broadway stage, appearing in "Lombardi Ltd.", "Twin Beds" and "Mister Antonio" prior to 1929.

Several of his political cartoons appear in Blue Vaudeville: Sex, Morals and the Mass Marketing of Amusement, 1895-1915 by Andrew L. Erdman.

Many books dealing with Chrysler automobiles feature several photos of Carrillos mildly customized 1947 Chrysler Town and Country convertible. The wood sided rag top sported special longhorn seating, and a hood mounted steer head.

Because he was of the old Spanish families, he bought one of the vast land grant ranchos that California was famous for, called Rancho Los Kiotes.

Distant relative of the Actor Ronald E. Giles, whose Grandfather on his Mothers side (Guillermo Blaise Arguello), was a first Cousin of Carrillos.

Having studied at Loyola University in Los Angeles, he obtained an engineering job with the Southern Pacific Railroad. He drew cartoons in his spare time, and, after taking an art course, was signed on as a cartoonist by the San Francisco Examiner. His skills as a mimic then prompted colleagues to suggest that he try his hand at show business. His first appeared on the Keith-Orpheum circuit in vaudeville as a stand-in for an act which failed to show up. His subsequent success led to theatrical engagements, beginning with "Fads and Fancies", and, subsequently, to work in films.

His great-grandfather, Carlos Antonio Carillo, was the first provisional governor of California. His father was the first mayor of Santa Monica.

Carrillo married Edith Shakespear Haeselbarth in 1940 and they had one child, Marie Antoinette.