Tuesday, April 6, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #34 A Martinez

NAME: A Martinez
RANK: 34
SOAP ROLES: Ray Montez, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (2008-2009); Roy DiLucca, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1999-2002); Cruz Castillo, SANTA BARBARA (1984-1992); Julio Delgado, FALCON CREST (1982)

AWARDS:
2009 Imagen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor/Television
2004 Imagen Award nomination for Best Actor in a Television Drama
2002 ALMA Award win for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama
2001 ALMA Award win for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama
2000 ALMA Award win for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera
1998 ALMA Award win for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Television Series in a Crossover Role
1993 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
1992 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1991 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
1990 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Super Couple: Daytime
1989 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Hero: Daytime
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Super Couple: Daytime
1988 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Hero: Daytime
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Super Couple: Daytime
1987 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Daytime Super Couple on a Daytime Serial

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Damon L. Jacobs:  Some actors thrive by chewing the proverbial scenery, releasing all the adrenaline and pent-up emotion in their scenes.  But others hold back and make a career out of challening their audience to look deeper for emotional expressions and soul-filled revelations.  A Martinez belongs in the latter category, infusing restraint, heat, and spiritual gravity into each of his roles.  I enjoy A on every show, but for me he will always be the quintessential masculine myth Cruz Castillo from SANTA BARBARA.  There he was able to display smoldering sexuality mixed with strength, morality, and integrity.  It's been a long time since daytime has celebrated heroes such as Cruz, and all shows have suffered because of it.  

Roger Newcomb: Martinez proved you could have a heroic soap opera character, give him some flaws but never take away the core goodness, and keep him interesting for years and years. Did any actor have more dialogue that Martinez recited during his SANTA BARBARA run? He sold every story, created one of the best love stories ever with Marcy Walker's Eden, and developed an international fan following along the way.

12 comments:

  1. I miss A. Martinez. Great actor.

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  2. I think Martinez' Cruz Castillo was the greatest romantic hero in the history of soaps. It was a combination of the passion of the actor and the integrity of the character, I think. And what chemistry with Marcy Walker!

    I was very disappointed that he was let go so quickly from OLTL, where he had shown great chemistry with Robin Strasser. (Though the accent he chose to use was a bit distracting.)

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  3. Great choice, WLS.
    I agree with eplin that Cruz Castillo was one of the greatest romantic hero of soap opera history. Iconic.

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  4. Should be much higher! Can't wait to see who is higher than A!

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  5. Should be much higher! Can't wait to see who is higher than A!

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  7. What a talented performer! His presence is missed in Daytime and on my television. I have always watched A primarily on nighttime TV and the movies. I knew about Cruz and saw Santa Barbara occasionally. However since I mainly watch OLTL, I very much enjoyed his Ray Montez with Robin Strasser's Dorian Lord. I wish he were back on the show.

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  8. Cruz Castillo remains the best superhero ever!
    remain mythical his super tight jeans;)
    He called the patriarch of the Capwell "Mr. C" ... and beat Robert Barr regaining his Eden.
    Great storyline

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  9. Definitely should be in the top 10! Mystified that he's not listed there. A is one of the very few actors that can make even the most horrific written material turn into gold. He's had an amazing career both in daytime and outside of daytime. He's never bad mouthed the medium and he's very genuine in everything he says and does. He also continues to keep in touch with his fans which is very rare for any actor these days. In 1984 his role on Santa Barbara was groundbreaking and his work was thankfully acknowledged by a daytime Emmy. A is consistently good and consistently admired.

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  10. 1990 Daytime Emmy WINNER for lead actor

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  11. a martinez not even in the top 20??? you got to be kidding...

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  12. In my opinion, A Martinez is the #1 greatest soap actor of all time. His character of Cruz Castillo on Santa Barbara was the best male part of all time on soaps. He was a blend of masculine sensuality and strong integrity, as well as a funny wit to his character. He and Marcy Walker were the best couple on tv, hands-down. They were amazing and mesmerizing and I still think of them after all these years. I have never understood why someone didn't snag A and put him on a nighttime show...A consummate actor if I've ever seen one. #1 in my book...!!!

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