After Films, a Stage

For six years, Jorge Rivero has been Mexico’s No. 1 box office attraction. So why is the veteran of 200 movies making his Los Angeles stage debut at the intimate Court Theatre in Eduardo de Filippo’s romantic comedy, “Filumena”?

“I have been wanting to do stage,” Rivero said. “The last movies I have been doing have been action. I am not really an action guy. I handle it pretty good, but I am able to do other things pretty good. If you do action, all they (producers) think you can do is action. You have got to demonstrate to everybody you can do a lot of things.”

Four years ago, Rivero left Mexico and moved to L.A. “I want to work here,” he said. But since going Hollywood, Rivero has made movies everywhere in the world but here. “In the beginning it’s fun to be on location, but you are living in hotels. After a while, you want to be home. And in Europe, the weather is kind of ugly.”

The actor has always been a fan of American movies. “They used to shoot a lot of Westerns down in Mexico,” he said. “I remember I used to watch them film. You would see these big film stars from afar working. I said to myself then, ‘Maybe one day I can become an actor.’ ”

Rivero is best known to American film audiences for his co-starring role opposite John Wayne in 1970’s “Rio Lobo.” “I tell you what, John Wayne was great with me,” Rivero said. “I had a good friendship. I tell you the advice he gave me. He said, ‘Jorge, if you want to be successful in this business, you have got to play yourself.’ ”

He also got the opportunity to work with another legend, Ava Gardner, in “Priest of Love.” “I remember watching Ava Gardner in all of her films,” he said. “All of a sudden they say to me, ‘Jorge, you are going to kiss Ava Gardner.’ I said, ‘No kidding, really? I get to kiss Ava Gardner?’ Can you imagine working with those big stars you had seen in films? Never in your wildest dreams did you ever think you were going to work with or kiss Ava Gardner.”