Ray Nazarro

Ray Nazarro made quite an impact on the film industry by directing some memorable films. Nazarro directed a variety of independent films at the beginning of his Hollywood career, working on such titles as "Last Days of Boot Hill" (1947), "Law of the Canyon" (1947) and the Charles Starrett western "West of Dodge City" (1947). He also appeared in the Charles Starrett western "Bandits of El Dorado" (1949). He continued to work in film in the forties and the fifties, directing motion pictures like the Charles Starrett western "The Blazing Trail" (1949) and the adventure "The Palomino" (1950) with Jerome Courtland. Nazarro was nominated for an Academy Award for "Bullfighter and the Lady" in 1951 In the latter part of his career, Nazarro directed "Kansas Pacific" (1953), the George Montgomery western "The Lone Gun" (1954) and the western "Top Gun" (1955) with Sterling Hayden. He also appeared in "The Hired Gun" (1957). Nazarro more recently directed "Apache Territory" (1958) with Rory Calhoun. Nazarro passed away in September 1986 at the age of 84.