José Ferrer was a renowned Puerto Rican actor and film director, born in 1912 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was the first Puerto Rican actor to win an Academy Award, and the first Hispanic actor to win an Oscar.
Ferrer's early life was marked by his family's move to New York City in 1914, when he was just two years old. He was educated abroad at the prestigious Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland and later attended Princeton University and Columbia University.
Ferrer made his theatrical debut in 1934 and went on to have a successful career on Broadway, performing in numerous productions, including "Brother Rat," "Mamba's Daughters," and "Charley's Aunt." He won the 1947 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in "Cyrano de Bergerac."
Ferrer's film career began in the 1940s and included notable roles in "Joan of Arc," "Whirlpool," and "Crisis." He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Cyrano de Bergerac in 1950. He went on to appear in a number of films throughout the 1950s, including "Moulin Rouge," "The Caine Mutiny," and "Deep in My Heart."
Ferrer also directed several films, including "The Shrike," "The Cockleshell Heroes," and "I Accuse!" He attempted a comeback as a film director in the 1960s and 1970s, but with limited success. He continued to work in film and television throughout the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dune."
Ferrer retired from acting in 1991 due to health problems and passed away in 1992 at the age of 80. He was buried in the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
