Rafael Portillo; Director, Editor of Mexican Films

Rafael Portillo, 79, editor, writer and director of Mexican films. Although he studied to become a concert pianist, Portillo quickly gravitated to filmmaking. In his early career, he edited dozens of films, including Ricardo Montalban’s debut, “Five Were Chosen.” The last movie Portillo edited was director Luis Bunuel’s “Mexican Busride,” which earned him the 1952 best editing award from the Motion Picture Press Assn. of Paris. Portillo’s first screenwriting effort was designated best screenplay of 1944 by the Motion Picture Press of Mexico City. Since 1953, he had directed more than 50 Mexican feature films. Portillo had lived in Glendale since 1983. On Nov. 30 in Mexico City of prostate cancer.