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Who was Jorge Negrete?
The late Mexican actor and singer Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno was born under the zodiac sign Sagittarius on 30 November 1911, in Guanajuato City, Mexico. He had 44 acting credits, and is perhaps remembered best for playing the lead character Juan Manuel de Mendoza in the 1943 musical comedy movie “The Rebel”, which also starred Julio Villarreal and Maria Elena Marques, and was written and directed by Jaime Salvador. It follows Juan Manuel Mendoza who’s become a bandit, now that his father has lost his Hacienda and his life.
Jorge was 42 when he died on 5 December 1953, in Los Angeles, California USA, after having lost his battle against hepatic cirrhosis, with which he was diagnosed back in 1937. His remains were taken to Mexico and buried there.
Education and early life
Jorge was raised alongside his three sisters and two brothers in Guanajuato, by their mother Emilia Moreno Anaya who was a housewife, and father David Negrete Fernandez who was a Mexican Army Colonel prior to becoming a math teacher in 1920.
Jorge was a problematic youngster and because of his behaviour, his father had him join the military when he was only 13 years old; Jorge studied at El Colegio Militar and graduated with the rank of sub-lieutenant. It was during his time there that he became passionate about music, and thus after finishing school began taking singing lessons from Jose Pierson.
Jorge was 21 when he moved to the US and recorded several songs under his professional name Alberto Moreno, then went on to focus on his acting career.
Roles in movies
Jorge spent his career focused on appearing in movies, and didn’t have a single TV role.
His debut was portraying the lead character Carlos Durango in the 1937 romantic adventure “La Madrina del Diablo”, which also starred Maria Castaneda and Maria Fernanda Ibanez, and was directed by Ramon Peon. It follows a wealthy ranch owner who won’t let his daughter Marie de los Angeles marry her lover Carlos, leading Marie to become a nun. Some of Jorge’s following roles were in the musical comedy “La Valentina”, the romantic thriller “Caminos de Ayer” and the romantic drama “Perjurer”.
In 1939, Jorge starred as Miguel de la Pena in the romantic war drama “The Eagles Cemetery”, which also starred Jose Macip and Margarita Mora, and was directed by Luis Lezama; it follows the life of an Army soldier. Jorge could then have been seen starring in the 1939 musical comedy “United But Not Mixed”, the 1941 musical comedy “¡Ay Jalisco… No Te Rajes!”, and the 1942 drama “Silk, Blood and Sun”.
Also in 1942, he played the lead character Manuel Venegas in the romantic drama “Story of a Great Love”, which co-starred Gloria Marin and Domingo Soler, and was written and directed by Julio Bracho. It follows a cowboy who’s in love with Soledad, the most beautiful girl in his village.
Jorge went on to star as Fernando Iturriaga in the 1943 romantic drama “The Rock of Souls”, which also starred Rene Cardona and Maria Felix, and was written and directed by Miguel Zacarias. It follows a rancher who’s fallen for a refined lady from the city, but their families might not let them be together. Some of Jorge’s following roles were in the musical adventure “Tierra de Pasiones” and the romantic drama “A Letter of Love” both in 1943, and the 1944 romantic comedy “Cuando Quiere un Mexicano”.
The year 1946 saw him play Ramon Blanquet in the comedy “No Basta Ser Charro”, and the same year he appeared in the adventure “Camino de Sacramento”, the romantic drama “En Tiempos de la Inquisicion”, and the adventure “El Ahijado de la Muerte”. In 1949, he starred as Nacho Mendoza in the musical comedy “Jalisco Canta en Sevilla”, which also starred Armando Soto La Marina and Carmen Sevilla, and was written and directed by Fernando de Fuentes; it follows a Mexican man and a woman who’ve fallen in love, and have travelled together to Sevilla, Spain.
Some of Jorge’s final roles were in 1953 in the romantic musical comedy “Dos Tipos de Cuidado” and the comedy “Reportaje”, and the 1954 musical comedy “El Rapto” (released posthumously).
Other credits
Jorge composed the songs for the 1946 movie “Camino de Sacramento”.
He was featured in several documentaries, including the 1937 “Eliseo Grenet and His Orchestra”, the 1954 “Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Goes to Mexico” and the 1955 “El Charro Inmortal”, both posthumously.
Love life and wife
Jorge was married twice and remained with his second wife until his passing. His first wife was Mexican actress and dancer Elisa Christy, born Elisa Crochet Aspero; they exchanged vows in a private ceremony in 1940, but divorced two years later. They have a daughter Diana Negrete together; Elisa passed away aged 100 on 26 May 2018.
Jorge and his second wife, Mexican actress Maria Felix married in a private ceremony on 18 October 1952; they didn’t have children together, and Maria died on her 88th birthday on 8 April 2002.
Jorge had five grandchildren through his daughter Diana, and he also had a stepson Enrique Alvarez Fenix.
There are no other women whom Jorge had perhaps been with, that the public knows about; he was married to his second wife Maria Felix at the time of his passing, and had a daughter with his first wife Elisa Christy.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Jorge often travelled to Spain, and women loved him there; he asked them on one occasion ‘don’t you have men in Spain?’
He was widely recognized as the #1 entertainer in Latin America, and his popularity was often compared to that of Bill Crosby.
Jorge was a co-founder of the Union of Cinema Production Workers (STPC), and was a national director of the National Association of Actors.
He often appeared in movies alongside Gloria Marin.
Jorge’s siblings were Ruben, David, Teresa, Emilia and Consuelo.
Appearance and net worth
Jorge had brown eyes and black hair, weighed around 165lbs (75kgs) and was 5ft 11ins (1.8m) tall.
His net worth was estimated at over $1.5 million at the time of his passing.
