Trivia of Fernando Lamas

 Trivia of Fernando Lamas (9 January 1915 - 8 October 1982)

*Before venturing into the world of acting, Lamas was an accomplished swimmer. He represented Argentina in the 1936 Summer Olympics and even won the South American 100-meter freestyle championship.

*He was one of the third biggest movie star in Argentina in 1940's.His Argentina movies included En el último piso (1942), Frontera Sur (1943), Villa rica del Espíritu Santo (1945), and Stella (1946).

*His first American film was The Avengers (1950) for Republic Pictures shot on location in Argentina. Some scenes were filmed in the US, leading to Lamas going to Hollywood.

*He played role as Elizabeth Taylor's love interest in The Girl Who Had Everything (1952).In the swimming pool sequence, Fernando Lamas, in his clinging white wet trunks, showed too much "enthusiasm" for pregnant Elizabeth Taylor and retakes were required after the rushes were shown.

*Lamas was married four times. His first marriage was to Argentine actress Perla Mux.His second marriage was to Lydia Valeria Babacci.His third wife was the American actress Arlene Dahl (they had a son who later became an actor Lorenzo Lamas). His longest marriage was to swimmer and actress Esther Williams in 1969, and they remained married until Lamas's death in 1982.

*In 1960's , Lamas moved to Europe with Esther Williams.He directed a film both starred in, Magic Fountain, shot in 1961 and never released in the US. He went to Italy for Duel of Fire (1962), and Revenge of the Musketeers (1963). He helped write the Western A Place Called Glory (1965).When return to Hollywood, he directing TV as well: Alias Smith and Jones, S.W.A.T., The Rookies, Jigsaw John, The Amazing Spider-Man, Secrets of Midland Heights, and Falcon Crest (co-starring his son, Lorenzo).

*His friend, actor Jonathan Goldsmith, took inspiration from Lamas for the character The Most Interesting Man in the World. The most well known parody of Fernando was on the Saturday Night Live sketches that featured Billy Crystal. In the recurring Fernando's Hideaway sketch, Crystal used Lamas's accent for inspiration, as well as a quote from the actor: "It is better to look good than to feel good."