A handsome, athletic performer who played numerous supporting roles in the 1940s and came to prominence as the title character of Luis Bunuel's "Nazarin" (1958), Francisco Rabal appeared in nearly 200 international films, by directors including Michelangelo Antonioni, Jacques Rivette, Arne Mattsson and Pedro Almodovar, making him one of Spain's most popular and prolific actors. He made his American feature debut in 1977, in William Friedkin's "Sorcerer", and won a Best Actor award at Cannes for his role in Mario Camus' "The Holy Innocents" (1984). Rabal had perhaps the role of a lifetime when Carlos Saura tapped him to portray the aging artist in his "Goya in Bordeaux" (2000). Rabal also wrote and directed several short films. He was the father of director Benito Rabal and the grandfather of actor Liberto Rabal.
- Also Credited As:
Francisco Rabal Valera, Paco Rabal
- Born:
March 8, 1925 in Aguilas, Spain
- Died:
August 29, 2001.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Electrician
Family
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Brother: Damian Rabal.
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Daughter: Teresa Rabal.
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Father: Benito Rabal.
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Grandson: Liberto Rabal.
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Mother: Teresa Valera.
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Sister: Dolores Rabal.
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Son: Benito Rabal.
Significant Others
Milestones
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1948 Began making uncredited appearances in films
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1948 Had lead role in Don Quixote
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1952 First significant film role in Luna de Sangre
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1957 Appeared in The Wide Blue Road
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1959 Began collaboration with Luis Bunuel with title role in Nazarin
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1961 Acted in Bunuel s Viridiana
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1962 Appeared in Michaelangelo Antonioni s The Eclipse
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1965 Co-starred in Jacques Rivette s La Religieuse/Suzanne Simonin, la Reliieuse de Denis Diderot and in Claude Chabrol s Marie-Chantal Contre le Docteur Kha
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1967 Played opposite Catherine Denueve in Bunuel s Belle de Jour
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1967 Starred in Vittorio Cottafavi s TV series Christopher Columbus
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1968 Had title role in El Che Guevara
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1970 Acted in Goya
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1977 Appeared in first American feature, Sorcerer
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1984 Directed by Carlos Saura in Los Zancos
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1984 Earned Best Actor prize at Cannes for The Holy Innocents
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1988 Appeared in Gregory Nava s A Time of Destiny
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1990 Was featured in Pedro Almodovar s Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
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1998 Co-starred in Talk of Angels
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2000 Had role of a lifetime as the aged painter in Goya in Bordeaux , directed by Saura
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Made stage debut aged 20; at time known as Paco Rabal
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Was an electrician at Chamartin Film Studios; soon after was stand-in and then extra and bit player
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Worked as a street vendor selling various trinkets
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Worked with Infanta Isabel and Maria Guerrero Theatres, Madrid; later worked with Lope de Vega company under direction of Jose Tamayo