Paul Fierro's acting career began at the dawn of commercialized television, amidst the heyday of Hollywood's youth in the 1940s. During a time when it was challenging to break into the industry, Fierro took on whatever roles he could get, starting with bit parts that eventually grew into more substantial roles.
By the 1950s, Fierro found his niche, often playing the villain in television westerns. Interestingly, his tall, dark, and athletic features lent themselves well to playing the bad guy, whether it was a cowboy or a half-naked Indian. Despite this, Fierro, an actor with a good heart, eventually came to terms with his roles.
Fierro was part of a significant film moment in 1948, when he appeared in "Red River" alongside John Wayne. In the film, Wayne's character, Diego, claims Fierro's land by shooting him. In 1956, Fierro appeared as Morteno in "The Creature Walks Among Us," a classic monster film from the "Creature From the Black Lagoon" series. The film's cult status brought him joy in later years, and he often remarked that laughing at life was one of his favorite things to do.
Born in L.A.'s "Dogtown," the deteriorating Southside of Santa Monica, Fierro began selling papers on the corner of Figueroa Street and Santa Barbara Avenue at the age of eight. He also fought in an illegal "smoker" boxing match at the same age, winning the bout. In high school, he was awarded a football scholarship to North Carolina State, where he played half back from 1935 to 1937 under the guidance of Notre Dame coach Hunk Anderson.
Throughout his acting career, Fierro lived in a cottage in Laurel Canyon before moving to Walnut Creek, California, where he eventually passed away. Fierro was a true trailblazer, one of the pioneers who helped shape the small and big screens in the early days of Hollywood.
