Gilbert Roland was a Mexican-born American film and television actor who had a remarkable career that spanned seven decades from the 1920s until the 1980s. He was known for his roles as a Latin lover, a bandit, a cowboy, and a character actor in various genres. He was twice nominated for the Golden Globe Award and inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
A Brief Biography of Gilbert Roland
Gilbert Roland was born as Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso on December 11, 1905, in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. His father was a bullfighter and his grandfather was a general in the Mexican Revolution. He originally intended to follow his father’s footsteps and become a bullfighter, but his plans changed when Pancho Villa took over their town and his family fled to the United States.
He lived in Texas until he was 14 years old, when he hopped on a freight train and went to Hollywood. There, he found menial jobs and slept in a Catholic church. He also worked as an extra in films and chose his screen name by combining the names of his favorite actors, John Gilbert and Ruth Roland.
His first film contract was with Paramount and his first major role was in the collegiate comedy The Plastic Age (1925) with Clara Bow, to whom he became engaged. He also starred opposite Norma Talmadge in Camille (1926) as Armand, with whom he had a romantic affair. He became a popular leading man in silent films and later transitioned to sound films, appearing in Spanish language adaptations of American films.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and continued his acting career after the war. He received critical acclaim for his supporting roles in films such as We Were Strangers (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Thunder Bay (1953), and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). He also played the Cisco Kid in a series of six westerns in the mid-1940s and appeared in several television shows such as Bewitched, December Bride, Playhouse 90, and Wagon Train.
He was married twice, first to actress Constance Bennett from 1941 to 1945, with whom he had two daughters, and then to Guillermina Cantu from 1954 until his death. He was also romantically linked to other actresses such as Mae West, Dolores del Rio, Lupe Velez, and Joan Crawford.
Gilbert Roland’s Cause of Death
Gilbert Roland died of cancer on May 15, 1994, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 88 years old. According to Wikipedia, he had been diagnosed with cancer in 1992 and underwent surgery to remove part of his lung. He also suffered from emphysema and diabetes.
He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea off the coast of California. He left behind his wife, two daughters, four grandchildren, and a legacy of memorable performances on screen.
Gilbert Roland was one of the most versatile and charismatic actors of his generation. He had a long and successful career that spanned different eras, genres, and languages. He was admired by fans and peers alike for his talent, charm, and professionalism. He will always be remembered as a legend of Hollywood and a proud representative of his Mexican heritage.
