Tall, handsome, cool, and intimidating, Native Latino American paratrooper, professional boxer, and character actor. Was of Yaqui Native Mexican descent, and possibly more tribes. Was from East Los Angeles, California. Fernandez was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 14, 1930. His mother was a Yaqui Native Mexican woman, and his father was a Native Mexican man. He was the youngest of a large family and lost his mother at birth. He attended Belmont High School in Los Angeles, and at the age of 16, enlisted in the United States Army and became a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division. While there he won the title, Middleweight Boxing Champ of the Asiatic Forces. In 1950, as an amateur, he won the light heavyweight title in the Los Angeles Golden Gloves competition. After his discharge, he became a professional boxer from 1950 to 1953. During that time he studied acting and began appearing in films. In 1964, Fernandez was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to fa...
