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Nestor Paiva

Nestor Paiva

Known For Acting
Birthday Jun 30, 1905
Died Sep 09, 1966 (61)
Birthplace Fresno, California, USA
Popularity 0.4 (history)
Updated Aug 09, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

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 mot ... ion 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.

Known For

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Profile
Profile
Filmography

They Saved Hitler's Brain

They Saved Hitler's Brain

1968

as Police Chief Alaniz

The Spirit Is Willing

The Spirit Is Willing

1967

as Felicity's Father

Let's Kill Uncle

Let's Kill Uncle

1966

as Steward

California

California

1963

as Gen. Micheltorena

The Madmen of Mandoras

The Madmen of Mandoras

1963

as Police Chief Alaniz

The Wild Westerners

The Wild Westerners

1962

as John Bullard

The Three Stooges in Orbit

The Three Stooges in Orbit

1962

as Chairman

Gold of the Seven Saints

Gold of the Seven Saints

1961

as Gondora Henchman

Atlantis: The Lost Continent

Atlantis: The Lost Continent

1961

as Megalos (uncredited)

Can-Can

Can-Can

1960

as Bailiff

Pier 5, Havana

Pier 5, Havana

1959

as Lopez

Vice Raid

Vice Raid

1959

as Mob Boss Frank Burke

The Purple Gang

The Purple Gang

1959

as Orlofsky

Alias Jesse James

Alias Jesse James

1959

as Grigsby (uncredited)

Outcasts of the City

Outcasts of the City

1958

as Pastor Skira

The Case Against Brooklyn

The Case Against Brooklyn

1958

as Finelli

The Lady Takes a Flyer

The Lady Takes a Flyer

1958

as Childreth

The Left Handed Gun

The Left Handed Gun

1958

as Pete Maxwell

The Deep Six

The Deep Six

1958

as Pappa Tatos

Les Girls

Les Girls

1957

as Spanish Peasant (uncredited)

The Guns of Fort Petticoat

The Guns of Fort Petticoat

1957

as Tortilla

Ten Thousand Bedrooms

Ten Thousand Bedrooms

1957

as Alfredo - the Jeweler (uncredited)

Comanche

Comanche

1956

as Puffer

The Mole People

The Mole People

1956

as Prof. Etienne Lafarge

Ride The High Iron

Ride The High Iron

1956

as Yard Boss

Scandal Incorporated

Scandal Incorporated

1956

as Leland Miller, tabloid publisher

The Wild Party

The Wild Party

1956

as Branson

Menace from Outer Space

Menace from Outer Space

1956

as Prof. Cardos

The First Texan

The First Texan

1956

as Priest (uncredited)

Tarantula

Tarantula

1955

as Sheriff Jack Andrews

Revenge of the Creature

Revenge of the Creature

1955

as Captain Lucas

Hell on Frisco Bay

Hell on Frisco Bay

1955

as Louis Fiaschetti

All That Heaven Allows

All That Heaven Allows

1955

as Manuel

New York Confidential

New York Confidential

1955

as Martinelli

Creature from the Black Lagoon

Creature from the Black Lagoon

1954

as Captain Lucas

Anything Goes

Anything Goes

1954

as Dr. Henry T. Dobson

The Desperado

The Desperado

1954

as Captain Jake Thornton

Four Guns to the Border

Four Guns to the Border

1954

as Greasy

Thunder Pass

Thunder Pass

1954

as Daniel Slaughter

Moby Dick

Moby Dick

1954

as Capt. Peleg

Jivaro

Jivaro

1954

as Jacques

Casanova's Big Night

Casanova's Big Night

1954

as Gnocchi

Prisoners of the Casbah

Prisoners of the Casbah

1953

as Marouf

Killer Ape

Killer Ape

1953

as Andrews

The Bandits of Corsica

The Bandits of Corsica

1953

as Lorenzo

I, the Jury

I, the Jury

1953

as Manuel

The Fabulous Senorita

The Fabulous Senorita

1952

as José Rodriguez

South Pacific Trail

South Pacific Trail

1952

as Carlos Alvarez

The Living Bible

The Living Bible

1952

as Herod Antipas

Mara Maru

Mara Maru

1952

as Captain Van Hoten (uncredited)

Viva Zapata!

Viva Zapata!

1952

as New General (uncredited)

Flame Of Stamboul

Flame Of Stamboul

1951

as Joe Octavian

The Lady Pays Off

The Lady Pays Off

1951

as Manuel

Double Dynamite

Double Dynamite

1951

as 'Hot Horse' Harris, the Bookie

A Millionaire for Christy

A Millionaire for Christy

1951

as Mr. Rapello

Young Man with a Horn

Young Man with a Horn

1950

as Louis Galba

I Was a Shoplifter

I Was a Shoplifter

1950

as Deputy Sheriff Gomez

The Desert Hawk

The Desert Hawk

1950

as Abdul

Follow Me Quietly

Follow Me Quietly

1949

as Benny

Señor Droopy

Señor Droopy

1949

as Bullfight Attender (voice) (uncredited)

Mighty Joe Young

Mighty Joe Young

1949

as Brown

Alias Nick Beal

Alias Nick Beal

1949

as Karl

Bride of Vengeance

Bride of Vengeance

1949

as Mayor

The Inspector General

The Inspector General

1949

as Gregor (uncredited)

Angels' Alley

Angels' Alley

1948

as Tony 'Piggy' Locarno

Mr. Reckless

Mr. Reckless

1948

as Gus

Adventures of Casanova

Adventures of Casanova

1948

as Prefecture Police

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

1948

as Joe Appollonio

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc

1948

as Henri le Royer, Catherine's husband

The Paleface

The Paleface

1948

as Patient #2

Shoot to Kill

Shoot to Kill

1947

as Gus Miller

A Likely Story

A Likely Story

1947

as Tiny

The Lone Wolf in Mexico

The Lone Wolf in Mexico

1947

as Police Capt. Carlos Rodriguez

Robin Hood of Monterey

Robin Hood of Monterey

1947

as The Alcalde

Ramrod

Ramrod

1947

as Curley

Road to Rio

Road to Rio

1947

as Cardoso

Carnival in Costa Rica

Carnival in Costa Rica

1947

as Padre Rafael

The Trouble with Women

The Trouble with Women

1947

as 2nd Tony - the Waiter (uncredited)

Humoresque

Humoresque

1947

as Orchestra Leader

Fear

Fear

1946

as Detective Shaefer

The Last Crooked Mile

The Last Crooked Mile

1946

as Ferrara

The Well Groomed Bride

The Well Groomed Bride

1946

as Fernandez

Road to Utopia

Road to Utopia

1946

as McGurk

Badman's Territory

Badman's Territory

1946

as Sam Bass

Sensation Hunters

Sensation Hunters

1945

as Lew Davis

Along the Navajo Trail

Along the Navajo Trail

1945

as Janza

Nob Hill

Nob Hill

1945

as Luigi

Salome, Where She Danced

Salome, Where She Danced

1945

as Panatela

The Southerner

The Southerner

1945

as Bartender

Cornered

Cornered

1945

as Police Official (uncredited)

A Medal for Benny

A Medal for Benny

1945

as Frank Alviso (uncredited)

The Falcon in Mexico

The Falcon in Mexico

1944

as Manuel Romero

The Flying Jalopy

The Flying Jalopy

1943

as Ben Buzzard (voice) (uncredited)

Tornado

Tornado

1943

as Big Joe Vlochek

Rhythm of the Islands

Rhythm of the Islands

1943

as Chief Nataro

The Hard Way

The Hard Way

1943

as Max Wade (Uncredited)

The Dancing Masters

The Dancing Masters

1943

as Silvio - Ringleader (uncredited)

Don Winslow of the Coast Guard

Don Winslow of the Coast Guard

1943

as The Scorpion

The Desert Song

The Desert Song

1943

as Benoit

Background to Danger

Background to Danger

1943

as Koylan

True to Life

True to Life

1943

as Kapopolis (uncredited)

Timber!

Timber!

1942

as Jules Fabian

The Girl from Alaska

The Girl from Alaska

1942

as Geroux

Fly-By-Night

Fly-By-Night

1942

as Grube

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

1942

as Barney, Cafe Proprietor

Broadway

Broadway

1942

as Rinelti

American Empire

American Empire

1942

as Defense Attorney

For Me and My Gal

For Me and My Gal

1942

as Nick (uncredited)

Road to Morocco

Road to Morocco

1942

as Sausage Vendor (uncredited)

Hold Back the Dawn

Hold Back the Dawn

1941

as Flores

Meet Boston Blackie

Meet Boston Blackie

1941

as Martin Vestrick (uncredited)

Hold That Ghost

Hold That Ghost

1941

as Glum (uncredited)

Johnny Eager

Johnny Eager

1941

as Tony Luce (uncredited)

Pot o' Gold

Pot o' Gold

1941

as Canadian Guide (uncredited)

Dark Streets of Cairo

Dark Streets of Cairo

1940

as Ahmend, waiter-thug

The Marines Fly High

The Marines Fly High

1940

as Pedro Fernandez

They Knew What They Wanted

They Knew What They Wanted

1940

as Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited)

He Stayed for Breakfast

He Stayed for Breakfast

1940

as Gendarme

Primrose Path

Primrose Path

1940

as Bluebell Manager (uncredited)

Phantom Raiders

Phantom Raiders

1940

as Policeman at Morris' Office & at Finale

The Sea Hawk

The Sea Hawk

1940

as First Slavemaster

Arise, My Love

Arise, My Love

1940

as Uniformed Clerk (Uncredited)

The Green Hornet Strikes Again!

The Green Hornet Strikes Again!

1940

as Rufus - Henchman in Hawaii

Boom Town

Boom Town

1940

as Venezuelan Officer (uncredited)

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

1940

as Abolitionist Noticing Army Horse Brand (uncredited)

North West Mounted Police

North West Mounted Police

1940

as Half-breed

Unseen Guardians

Unseen Guardians

1939

as Mail Order Crook

Midnight

Midnight

1939

as Woman's Escort (uncredited)

Beau Geste

Beau Geste

1939

as Corporal Golas (uncredited)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1939

as Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited)

Another Thin Man

Another Thin Man

1939

as West Indies Club Headwaiter (uncredited)

Union Pacific

Union Pacific

1939

as Canadian Pacific Conductor (uncredited)

Prison Train

Prison Train

1938

as Morose

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Lassie

as Michael Zolenko

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 12, 1954

Have Gun, Will Travel

as Dan Tibner

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 14, 1957

The Andy Griffith Show

as Big Jack Anderson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1960

Burke's Law

as Padre Emiliano

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1963

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

as Jailer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 06, 1957

The Lucy Show

as Perkins

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

The Beverly Hillbillies

as Auctioneer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1962

Perry Mason

as Nico

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Gunsmoke

as Barman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

General Electric Theater

as Perino

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Captain Peleg

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 24, 1951

Rawhide

as Hagerty

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 09, 1959

Daniel Boone

as Menewa

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1964

The Millionaire

as Art Gallery Prop. Pataberes

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 19, 1955

The Virginian

as Charley Sanchez

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1962

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

as Axel

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 01, 1957

Alcoa Theatre

as Aubert

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1957

Wanted: Dead or Alive

as Mexican Policeman (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 06, 1958

Sugarfoot

as Senor Contreras

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1957

The Addams Family

as Captain Grimby

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1964

Cavalcade of America

as Senor Alverez

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1952

Letter to Loretta

as Victor Russo

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1953

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

as Joe

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1960

Hey, Jeannie!

as Gino

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1956

Maverick

as Louie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

as Emilio Tomas

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 01, 1957

General Electric Theater

as Pinero

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

Burke's Law

as Dr. Gonzales

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1963

Four Star Playhouse

as Judge Le Beau

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1952

Four Star Playhouse

as Mr. Davis

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1952

Four Star Playhouse

as Rocco

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1952

Four Star Playhouse

as Mario

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1952

Zorro

as Teo Gonzales (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1957

Whirlybirds

as Ed Fenton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 03, 1957

China Smith

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jan 01, 1952

Dangerous Assignment

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Jan 01, 1952

Cheyenne

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 20, 1955

December Bride

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 04, 1954

Climax!

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 07, 1954

Telephone Time

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Apr 08, 1956

Family Affair

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1966

The Colgate Comedy Hour

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1950

Zorro

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1957

Get Smart

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1965

Sea Hunt

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 04, 1958

Target: The Corruptors!

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1961

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 06, 1958

The Count of Monte Cristo

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 20, 1956

The Adventures of Jim Bowie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 07, 1956

Lawman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1958

The Texan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1958

Wichita Town

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1959

The Bill Dana Show

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1963

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 21, 1956

Tightrope

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1959

I'm the Law

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 13, 1953

Johnny Midnight

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 03, 1960

Passport to Danger

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 01, 1954

Behind Closed Doors

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1958

General Electric Theater

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 9 14 6
2024 7 13 22 3
2024 8 12 23 6
2024 9 10 26 1
2024 10 6 12 2
2024 11 5 10 2
2024 12 4 8 2
2025 1 7 22 1
2025 2 5 10 1
2025 3 3 7 1
2025 5 1 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 2 13 0
2025 9 0 0 0

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