Rodolfo Acosta Pérez, a renowned Mexican character actor, achieved unparalleled success in the United States, primarily as a villain in westerns. Born in Chamizal, a section of land disputed by Mexico and Texas due to changes in the Rio Grande river, which forms the border, Acosta was born an American citizen, despite his birthplace now being in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
During World War II, Acosta served in the United States Navy in naval intelligence, where he met his first wife, Jeanine Cohen, in Casablanca during the North African campaign. They had four children together, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1957 after Acosta was found to be having an affair with actress Ann Sheridan in Mexico City in the 1950s.
In 1971, Acosta married Vera Martinez, with whom he had one child. Unfortunately, their marriage also ended in divorce, just a few weeks before his death at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California in 1974.
After the war, Acosta worked in Mexico, collaborating with renowned director Emilio Fernández, which led to a small role in John Ford's film The Fugitive in 1947. He then moved to the United States, where he was signed by Universal for a small role in One Way Street in 1950. Acosta's sharp, ruthless features led him to a long succession of roles as bandits, Indian warriors, and outlaws, earning him the reputation as a very familiar western bad guy.
In The Tijuana Story in 1957, Acosta had a sympathetic leading role, marking a departure from his typical villainous characters. Throughout his career, he remained a staple in the western genre, with his rugged, menacing presence captivating audiences in film after film.
