Tall, and slim, 6-foot-5, versatile, Euro-Indigenous Latino American character actor. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Armendariz' in the classic western adventure film, "Gold of the Seven Saints" (1961), which also starred Clint Walker, Roger Moore, and Letícia Román. He is also best remembered for playing the role of 'Angelo' in the episode entitled, "The Vaqueros," of the classic western television series, "The Rifleman," which originally aired on October 2, 1961, and which also starred Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, and Paul Fix. He was born to Jaime Contreras (1900-1975), and his wife Catalina Coin Contreras in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 12, 1928. Was of Euro-Indigenous Mexican descent. He made his actual film debut playing an undetermined role in the Spanish jungle adventure film, "The Rebellion of the Hanged" (1954), which also starred Pedro Armendáriz, Ariadne Walker, Victor Junco, and Amanda del Lindo. Besides, "The Rebellion of the Hanged" (1954), and "Gold of the Seven Saints" (1961), his many other film credits include, "En carne viva" (1954), "The Beast of Hollow Mountain" (1956), "The Black Scorpion" (1957), "Ride a Violent Mile" (1957), "The Flame Barrier" (1958), "The Badlanders" (1958), "Holiday for Lovers" (1959), "The Miracle" (1959), "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), "California" (1963), "Rio Conchos" (1964), "Mara of the Wilderness" (1965), "Brainstorm" (1965), "Marriage on the Rocks" (1965), "Alvarez Kelly" (1966), "The Last Challenge" (1967), "Chubasco" (1968), "Topaz" (1969), "Pets" (1973), "El extraño caso de Rachel K" (1973), "Cantata de Chile" (1976), "Miguel's Navidad" (1976), "Black Samurai" (1976), "The Dark" (1979), "The Day Time Ended" (1979), "Barbarosa" (1982), "Scarface" (1983), "Streets of Justice" (1985), "Blue City" (1986), and "The Under Achievers" (1987). Besides, the episode entitled, "The Vaqueros," of the classic western television series, "The Rifleman," his many other television credits include, "Telephone Time," "Broken Arrow," "Maverick," "The Walter Winchell File," "The Adventures of Jim Bowie," "The Magical World of Disney," "Zorro," "Border Patrol," "Cimarron City," "Sugarfoot," "26 Men," "The Rough Riders," "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," "Riverboat," "Colt .45," "Law of the Plainsman," "The Texan," "Tombstone Territory," "The Westerner," "Gunslinger," "Wanted: Dead of Alive," "Mister Ed," "Have Gun-Will Travel," "Zane Grey Theatre," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Ripcord," "The Dick Powell Theatre," "Outlaws," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Thriller," "Frontier Circus," Cheyenne," "77 Sunset Strip," "Temple Houston," "Kraft Suspense Theatre," "Dr. Kildare," "Wendy and Me," "Rawhide," "Run for Your Life," "Get Smart," "Burke's Law," "Laredo," "The Invaders," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre," "The Big Valley," "The Fugitive," "Rango," "The F.B.I.," "Death Valley Days," "Men at Law," "Ironside," "The High Chaparral," "Mission: Impossible," "Insight," "The Cowboys," "Cannon," "Police Story," "Kung Fu," "Switch," "Chico and the Man," "The Next Step Beyond," "Simon & Simon," and "Amazing Stories." His last role was playing 'Cruz's Grandfather' in the biographical crime film, "Blood In, Blood Out" (1993), which also starred Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, and Benjamin Bratt.
He passed away in Los Angeles, California, on August 18, 2000, at the age of 72. Following his death, he was cremated and his ashes were given to his surviving family members. He was the father of Luis Contreras (1950-2004), and the great-grandfather to Joe Belzberg.
