Charles Gemora

Charles Gemora was born on Jun 15, 1903 in Philippines. Charles Gemora's big-screen debut came with The Hunchback of Notre Dame directed by Wallace Worsley in 1923. Charles Gemora is known for One-Eyed Jacks directed by Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando stars as Rio and Karl Malden as Sheriff Dad Longworth. The upcoming new movie Charles Gemora plays is Jack the Giant Killer which will be released on Jun 13, 1962.

Stowed away on an American vessel sailing out of the Philippines, a young Charles Gemora arrived in California while the birth of cinema was in full swing. To help earn a little extra cash, Charlie would hang around the Universal entrance offering to sketch portraits. It wasn't long before his natural artistic abilities were noticed and Charles Gemora was working on such films as Le fantôme de l'opéra (1925) and L'arche de Noé (1928) as a sculptor. When Charles began working on creating gorilla suits for film, he realized that with his diminutive stature (5'5") and his commitment to excellence, he could do well to carve himself a niche as a gorilla man. Charles would spend almost 3 decades honing his realistic performance and leading the evolution of suit effects. While early appearances such as Seven Footprints to Satan (1929) were grotesque and horrific, later films like Le Singe justicier (1941) were distinguished by gorilla suits that were grounded in reality and performances that were informed by much study at the nearby San Diego Zoo. Gemora was equally adept at comedic roles, racking up credits alongside legends like Laurel and Hardy, Zasu Pitts, Charley Chase, Our Gang, the Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, and Hope and Crosby. Moving from Universal to Paramount in the early 1930's, Charles Gemora continued to work in the makeup and effects department there up until his death in 1961. Throughout his stay at Paramount, Charles racked up numerous unaccredited gorilla suit appearances while working on other films like Gunga Din (1939), Le tour du monde en 80 jours (1956), and Les dix commandements (1956). Perhaps the most recognizable contribution he made to cinema was the memorable alien menace from La Guerre des mondes (1953); the result of a last minute change of plans, Charles and his daughter Diana created the creature in a late night marathon. Gemora made his final gorilla suit film in 1954 with Le Fantôme de la rue Morgue (1954). A stunt man filled the hairy boots for strenuous action scenes but none could replicate the subtle pantomime skills that were unique to Charles.