Tony Martinez (actor)

Tony Martinez (January 27, 1920 – September 16, 2002) was an American film, television and theatre actor. He was perhaps best known for playing "Pepino" in the American situation comedy television series The Real McCoys.

Life and career
Martinez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He first studied music, in which Martinez later moved to New York City, attending Juilliard. He played five instruments, and formed his own musical ensemble, "Tony Martinez and His Mambo" in New York City. In 1956, his group appeared in the film Rock Around the Clock. Later, Martinez studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Martinez began his film and television career appearing in small roles. In 1957 he was cast in the role of Pepino, the hired Mexican Farmhand farmworker in the ABC situation comedy television series The Real McCoys. He won the role as he was discovered by the creator Irving Pincus and producer Norman Pincus, while Martinez was just with his musical ensemble performing on the Sunset Strip.

In his theatre career, Martinez had appeared in over 2,245 performances in the Broadway play Man of La Mancha. He played Sancho Panza. After The Real McCoys ended in 1963, Martinez guest-starred in a few television programs including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., F Troop, My Favorite Martian, Accidental Family and Storefront Lawyers. He then wrote music for numerous films in Mexico. Martinez retired his career in 2000, in which he last appeared on the cable network The Nashville Network.

Death
Martinez died in September 2002 of natural causes in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 82.