--- name: "Nestor Paiva" canonical: "https://film.one/person/nestor-paiva" roles: ["Actor"] born: "30 June 1905" died: "9 September 1966" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-20T00:33:40.229585+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Nestor Paiva Actor. Born 30 June 1905 in Fresno, California, USA. Died 9 September 1966. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 30 June 1905, Fresno, California, USA - **Died:** 9 September 1966 - **Also known as:** Nestor Caetano Paiva - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestor_Paiva, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400299, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0656980/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/56924 ## Biography Nestor Paiva (also credited as Nestor Caetano Paiva) was an American actor of Portuguese descent. Born in Fresno, California, he appeared in more than 400 motion pictures from the late 1930s to the mid-1960s, often in supporting roles, as well as in numerous television series. He is known for his role as Captain Lucas in *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (1954) and its sequel *Revenge of the Creature* (1955), the innkeeper Teo Gonzales in the television series *Zorro* (1957) and the film *The Sign of Zorro* (1958), and guest appearances in series including *Bonanza*, *The Addams Family* and *Get Smart*. He also appeared as Flores in *Hold Back the Dawn* (1941). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *Hold Back the Dawn* (1941), Fi1m 78, as Flores — [page](https://film.one/film/hold-back-the-dawn.md) ## Complete filmography (201) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *They Saved Hitler's Brain* (1968), as Police Chief Alaniz - *The Spirit Is Willing* (1967), as Felicity's Father - *Let's Kill Uncle* (1966), as Steward - *Family Affair* (1966), series, Actor - *Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter* (1966), as Saloon Owner - *Get Smart* (1965), series, as Doorman - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Menewa - *The Addams Family* (1964), series, as Captain Grimby - *The Ballad of a Gunfighter* (1964), as Padre - *The Madmen of Mandoras* (1963), as Police Chief Alaniz - *The Bill Dana Show* (1963), series, Actor - *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Padre Emiliano, Dr. Gonzales - *California* (1963), as Gen. Micheltorena - *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Perkins - *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1962), series, as Auctioneer - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Charley Sanchez - *The Three Stooges in Orbit* (1962), as Chairman - *The Wild Westerners* (1962), as John Bullard - *The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse* (1962), as Miguel - *Target: The Corruptors!* (1961), series, Actor - *Atlantis: The Lost Continent* (1961), as Megalos (uncredited) - *Gold of the Seven Saints* (1961), as Gondora Henchman - *Frontier Uprising* (1961), as Don Carlos Montalvo - *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Big Jack Anderson - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as Joe - *Can-Can* (1960), as Bailiff - *Johnny Midnight* (1960), series, Actor - *The Purple Gang* (1959), as Orlofsky - *Vice Raid* (1959), as Mob Boss Frank Burke - *Pier 5, Havana* (1959), as Lopez - *Wichita Town* (1959), series, Actor - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Francisco Tenino, Chief Crazy Fox - *Tightrope* (1959), series, Actor - *Alias Jesse James* (1959), as Grigsby (uncredited) - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Hagerty - *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor - *Lawman* (1958), series, Actor - *Behind Closed Doors* (1958), series, Actor - *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Mexican Policeman (uncredited) - *The Case Against Brooklyn* (1958), as Finelli - *The Left Handed Gun* (1958), as Pete Maxwell - *The Lady Takes a Flyer* (1958), as Childreth - *The Deep Six* (1958), as Pappa Tatos - *Outcasts of the City* (1958), as Pastor Skira - *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, Actor - *The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour* (1957), series, as Jailer - *Zorro* (1957), series, as Teo Gonzales (uncredited) - *Les Girls* (1957), as Spanish Peasant (uncredited) - *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, as Aubert - *Maverick* (1957), series, as Louie - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Nico - *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Senor Contreras - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Dan Tibner - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Axel, Emilio Tomas - *Ten Thousand Bedrooms* (1957), as Alfredo - the Jeweler (uncredited) - *The Guns of Fort Petticoat* (1957), as Tortilla - *Whirlybirds* (1957), series, as Ed Fenton - *The Wild Party* (1956), as Branson - *The Mole People* (1956), as Prof. Etienne Lafarge - *Ride The High Iron* (1956), as Yard Boss - *Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers* (1956), series, Actor - *Scandal Incorporated* (1956), as Leland Miller, tabloid publisher - *On Trial* (1956), series, as Bruno - *Hey, Jeannie!* (1956), series, as Gino - *The Adventures of Jim Bowie* (1956), series, Actor - *The First Texan* (1956), as Priest (uncredited) - *Telephone Time* (1956), series, Actor - *Comanche* (1956), as Puffer - *The Count of Monte Cristo* (1956), series, Actor - *Menace from Outer Space* (1956), as Prof. Cardos - *Hell on Frisco Bay* (1955), as Louis Fiaschetti - *Tarantula* (1955), as Sheriff Jack Andrews - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Barman - *All That Heaven Allows* (1955), as Manuel - *New York Confidential* (1955), as Martinelli - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Art Gallery Prop. Pataberes - *Revenge of the Creature* (1955), as Captain Lucas - *Four Guns to the Border* (1954), as Greasy - *Climax!* (1954), series, Actor - *December Bride* (1954), series, Actor - *Thunder Pass* (1954), as Daniel Slaughter - *Lassie* (1954), series, as Michael Zolenko - *The Desperado* (1954), as Captain Jake Thornton - *Moby Dick* (1954), as Capt. Peleg - *Casanova's Big Night* (1954), as Gnocchi - *Passport to Danger* (1954), series, Actor - *Public Defender* (1954), series, as George Barry - *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (1954), as Captain Lucas - *Anything Goes* (1954), as Dr. Henry T. Dobson - *Jivaro* (1954), as Jacques - *Killer Ape* (1953), as Andrews - *Prisoners of the Casbah* (1953), as Marouf - *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Victor Russo - *I, the Jury* (1953), as Manuel - *The Bandits of Corsica* (1953), as Lorenzo - *I'm the Law* (1953), series, Actor - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Perino, Pinero - *April in Paris* (1952), Actor - *South Pacific Trail* (1952), as Carlos Alvarez - *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, as Senor Alverez - *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Judge Le Beau, Mr. Davis, Rocco, Mario - *Mara Maru* (1952), as Captain Van Hoten (uncredited) - *The Fabulous Senorita* (1952), as José Rodriguez - *5 Fingers* (1952), Actor - *Viva Zapata!* (1952), as New General (uncredited) - *Phone Call from a Stranger* (1952), Actor - *Dangerous Assignment* (1952), series, Actor - *The Living Bible* (1952), as Herod Antipas - *China Smith* (1952), series, Actor - *Double Dynamite* (1951), as 'Hot Horse' Harris · the Bookie - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Captain Peleg - *The Lady Pays Off* (1951), as Manuel - *A Millionaire for Christy* (1951), as Mr. Rapello - *Jim Thorpe – All-American* (1951), Actor - *The Great Caruso* (1951), as Egisto Barretto - *Flame Of Stamboul* (1951), as Joe Octavian - *The Desert Hawk* (1950), as Abdul - *I Was a Shoplifter* (1950), as Deputy Sheriff Gomez - *Young Man with a Horn* (1950), as Louis Galba - *The Inspector General* (1949), as Gregor (uncredited) - *Mighty Joe Young* (1949), as Brown - *Follow Me Quietly* (1949), as Benny - *Señor Droopy* (1949), as Bullfight Attender (voice) (uncredited) - *Bride of Vengeance* (1949), as Mayor - *Alias Nick Beal* (1949), as Karl - *Joan of Arc* (1948), as Henri le Royer, Catherine's husband - *The Paleface* (1948), as Patient #2 - *Mr. Reckless* (1948), as Gus - *Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House* (1948), as Joe Appollonio - *Angels' Alley* (1948), as Tony 'Piggy' Locarno - *Adventures of Casanova* (1948), as Prefecture Police - *Road to Rio* (1947), as Cardoso - *Robin Hood of Monterey* (1947), as The Alcalde - *The Trouble with Women* (1947), as 2nd Tony - the Waiter (uncredited) - *Ramrod* (1947), as Curley - *A Likely Story* (1947), as Tiny - *Carnival in Costa Rica* (1947), as Padre Rafael - *Shoot to Kill* (1947), as Gus Miller - *Humoresque* (1947), as Orchestra Leader - *The Lone Wolf in Mexico* (1947), as Police Capt. Carlos Rodriguez - *The Last Crooked Mile* (1946), as Ferrara - *The Well Groomed Bride* (1946), as Fernandez - *Badman's Territory* (1946), as Sam Bass - *Fear* (1946), as Detective Shaefer - *Road to Utopia* (1946), as McGurk - *Cornered* (1945), as Police Official (uncredited) - *Sensation Hunters* (1945), as Lew Davis - *Along the Navajo Trail* (1945), as Janza - *A Thousand and One Nights* (1945), as Kahim - *Nob Hill* (1945), as Luigi - *The Southerner* (1945), as Bartender - *Salome, Where She Danced* (1945), as Panatela - *A Medal for Benny* (1945), as Frank Alviso (uncredited) - *The Falcon in Mexico* (1944), as Manuel Romero - *Shine on Harvest Moon* (1944), as Romero (uncredited) - *The Desert Song* (1944), as Benoit - *True to Life* (1943), as Kapopolis (uncredited) - *The Dancing Masters* (1943), as Silvio - Ringleader (uncredited) - *Tornado* (1943), as Big Joe Vlochek - *Background to Danger* (1943), as Koylan (uncredited) - *Rhythm of the Islands* (1943), as Chief Nataro - *Don Winslow of the Coast Guard* (1943), as The Scorpion - *The Flying Jalopy* (1943), as Ben Buzzard (voice) (uncredited) - *The Hard Way* (1943), as Max Wade (Uncredited) - *Pittsburgh* (1942), as Barney, Cafe Proprietor - *American Empire* (1942), as Defense Attorney - *Road to Morocco* (1942), as Sausage Vendor (uncredited) - *For Me and My Gal* (1942), as Nick (uncredited) - *King of the Mounties* (1942), as Count Baroni - *Timber!* (1942), as Jules Fabian - *Broadway* (1942), as Rinelti - *The Girl from Alaska* (1942), as Geroux - *The Adventures of Martin Eden* (1942), Actor - *The Lady Has Plans* (1942), as Portuguese Porter (uncredited) - *Fly By Night* (1942), as Grube - *Johnny Eager* (1941), as Tony Luce (uncredited) - *Hold Back the Dawn* (1941), as Flores — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/hold-back-the-dawn.md) - *Hold That Ghost* (1941), as Glum - *Pot o' Gold* (1941), as Canadian Guide (uncredited) - *Meet Boston Blackie* (1941), as Martin Vestrick (uncredited) - *The Green Hornet Strikes Again!* (1940), as Rufus - Henchman in Hawaii - *Santa Fe Trail* (1940), as Abolitionist Noticing Army Horse Brand (uncredited) - *Dark Streets of Cairo* (1940), as Ahmend, waiter-thug - *Arise, My Love* (1940), as Uniformed Clerk (uncredited) - *North West Mounted Police* (1940), as Half-breed - *They Knew What They Wanted* (1940), as Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited) - *He Stayed for Breakfast* (1940), as Gendarme - *Boom Town* (1940), as Venezuelan Officer (uncredited) - *The Sea Hawk* (1940), as First Slavemaster - *Phantom Raiders* (1940), as Policeman at Morris' Office & at Finale - *Primrose Path* (1940), as Bluebell Manager (uncredited) - *The Marines Fly High* (1940), as Pedro Fernandez - *Another Thin Man* (1939), as West Indies Club Headwaiter (uncredited) - *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1939), as Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited) - *Unseen Guardians* (1939), as Mail Order Crook - *Beau Geste* (1939), as Corporal Golas (uncredited) - *Union Pacific* (1939), as Canadian Pacific Conductor (uncredited) - *Midnight* (1939), as Woman's Escort (uncredited) - *Prison Train* (1938), as Morose ## Gallery - ![Nestor Paiva](https://film.one/media/person/1232388/gallery-bfb9e84073c9.jpg) Nestor Paiva — film screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Nestor_Paiva_in_Mr._Reckless.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Nestor Paiva](https://film.one/media/person/1232388/gallery-e8b8c381a3b8.jpg) Nestor Paiva — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/nestor-paiva