Ramon Navarro

Born José Ramón Gil Samaniego in Mexico, he moved to Los Angeles in 1913 and debuted as Ramon Novarro in 1917. MGM’s “Latin Lover” after Valentino, his fame soared. Post-Valentino’s 1926 death, Navarro’s celebrity peaked.

Despite MGM’s marriage push, Navarro, battling with his sexuality and Catholic guilt, refused and lost his contract in 1935. His career faded, and in 1968, the Ferguson brothers murdered him for suspected hidden wealth, exploiting his loneliness.