Nestor Paiva
ActingAbout Nestor Paiva
Nestor Paiva (June 30, 1905 - September 9, 1966) was a prolific American actor of Portuguese descent who portrayed the innkeeper on Walt Disney's live-action television series Zorro by ABC and its feature film The Sign of Zorro which was shot in Burbank's Walt Disney Studios. Nestor appeared in motion pictures and television shows from the 1930s to the 1960s such as Get Smart, Bonanza, I Spy, Family Affair, Gunsmoke, The Beverly Hillbillies, and The Addams Family. In 1943, he played the Italian Major in the 20th Century Fox wartime movie Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas. He played the part of Lucas (the boat captain) in the 1954 horror film The Creature from the Black Lagoon starring Ben Chapman as the title monster; Paiva would reprise this role in that film's sequel Revenge of the Creature the following year. He appeared in more than 250 movies. Paiva married in 1941 and had two children, Joseph and Caetana, who appeared with him in the 1956 movie Comanche with Dana Andrews. Paiva died of cancer in 1966. He is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. Description above from the Wikipedia article Nestor Paiva, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Nestor Paiva reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Romance
The majority of Nestor Paiva's filmography leans towards the Romance genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 68% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Nestor Paiva remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in 5 Fingers, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Nestor Paiva Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Nestor Paiva's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Nestor Paiva.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Wild Westerners | John Bullard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Gold of the Seven Saints | Gondora Henchman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Can-Can | Bailiff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Purple Gang | Orlofsky | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Les Girls | Spanish Peasant (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Guns of Fort Petticoat | Tortilla | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The First Texan | Priest (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Tarantula | Sheriff Jack Andrews | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | All That Heaven Allows | Manuel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Desperado | Captain Jake Thornton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Creature from the Black Lagoon | Captain Lucas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | 5 Fingers | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Viva Zapata! | New General (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Double Dynamite | 'Hot Horse' Harris, the Bookie | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Lady Pays Off | Manuel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | A Millionaire for Christy | Mr. Rapello | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Young Man with a Horn | Louis Galba | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Inspector General | Gregor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Brown | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Follow Me Quietly | Benny | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Señor Droopy | Bullfight Attender (voice) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Alias Nick Beal | Karl | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House | Joe Appollonio | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Road to Rio | Cardoso | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Ramrod | Curley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Humoresque | Orchestra Leader | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Road to Utopia | McGurk | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Southerner | Bartender | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | True to Life | Kapopolis (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Background to Danger | Koylan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Flying Jalopy | Ben Buzzard (voice) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Hard Way | Max Wade (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Pittsburgh | Barney, Cafe Proprietor | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Road to Morocco | Sausage Vendor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | For Me and My Gal | Nick (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Fly By Night | Grube | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Hold Back the Dawn | Flores | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Hold That Ghost | Glum (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Meet Boston Blackie | Martin Vestrick (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Arise, My Love | Uniformed Clerk (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | North West Mounted Police | Half-breed | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Boom Town | Venezuelan Officer (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Sea Hawk | First Slavemaster | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Primrose Path | Bluebell Manager (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Another Thin Man | West Indies Club Headwaiter (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Unseen Guardians | Mail Order Crook | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Beau Geste | Corporal Golas (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Union Pacific | Canadian Pacific Conductor (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Midnight | Woman's Escort (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Nestor Paiva - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Nestor Paiva?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Nestor Paiva is "5 Fingers" with a rating of 7.5/10.
How many movies has Nestor Paiva acted in?
Nestor Paiva has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Nestor Paiva?
Other notable films include "Midnight", "All That Heaven Allows", and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".