Fernando Lamas
Hispanic Heritage Month is over, but every day is a fabulous day to celebrate generations of iconic leading men. These incredibly diverse actors do have a few things in common: amazing talent, Latino roots, and (of course) stunning good looks. And just when you thought they couldn’t get any hotter—with the exception of the Diego Boneta (the baby of the group) they’re all dads!
1. Fernando Lamas
The original playboy, Fernando Lamas’ suave, lady-killer persona inspired Billy Crystal’s classic SNL character Fernando. He appeared in numerous MGM films in the 50s and was married to his fourth wife, swimmer and movie star Esther Williams until his death in 1982.
Memorable Role: Andre LeBlanc • The Avengers (1950)
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2. Andy Garcia
Whether he’s the hero or the villain, Andy Garcia’s irresistible combination of grit and urbane sophistication is always captivating. He’s played them all in his amazingly long and diverse career and in 2005 he co-wrote, directed and starred in the ALMA award-winning The Lost City.
Memorable Role: Vincent Mancini • The Godfather Part III (1990)
3. Ricardo Montalbán
If studio execs had their way in the 40s, we’d know him as Ricky Martin. Lucky for pop star Ricky Martin, Ricardo Montalbán embraced his Latin roots going on to become the first Hispanic actor to grace the cover of Life magazine in 1949. In his heyday he was a versatile character actor and a smooth charmer. His heartthrob reputation was overshadowed in later years by his worldly-wise portrayal of Mr. Roarke on the 70s/80s hit TV show, Fantasy Island.
Memorable Role: Khan Noonien Singh • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
4. Javier Bardem
Even with a less-than-flattering bowl cut (à la No Country for Old Men) Javier Bardem oozes sex appeal. And hey, he won an Oscar for his performance in that film! Women everywhere went into mourning when he married the gorgeous Penelope Cruz in 2010.
Memorable Role: Reinaldo Arenas • Before Night Falls (2000)
5. Antonio Banderas
It’s hard to believe that at one time U.S. audiences only knew Antonio Banderas from Madonna’s concert flick Madonna: Truth or Dare, as the smoldering Spanish actor who repeatedly rebuffed her advances. He’s been making us swoon ever since, and even in his 50s he’s still got it.
Memorable Roles: Nestor Castillo • The Mambo Kings (1992), El Mariachi • Desperado (1995), and numerous Pedro Almódovar films.
6. Gael García Bernal
With his matinee idol looks and formidable talent Gael García Bernal was destined for stardom. But he’s not just a pretty face—Bernal and fellow hottie Diego Luna started a production company (Canana Films) with the aim of revitalizing Mexico’s film industry. He also co-directed a series of four short films entitled Los Invisibles, with Amnesty International, about migrants’ perilous journey through Mexico to the U.S. What’s not to love?
Memorable Roles: Julio Zapata • Y tu mamá también (2001), Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara • The Motorcycle Diaries (2008)
7. William Levy
William Levy may not have broken through in Hollywood yet, but he’s been making ladies’ hearts beat faster on telenovelas for years. He stole the show on his season of Dancing with the Stars and he’s been named People en Español’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ for two years running. Add certified DILF (Dad I’d like to…you get the idea!) to his resume and he more than qualifies for a spot on the list of hottest Latino leading men.
8. Diego Boneta
Diego Boneta may not be a household name yet, but at just 22 years of age he’s made the leap from telenovelas to the big screen starring alongside Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages. With a burgeoning music career—including an upcoming album with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine—his future looks very bright.
Photo credit: Ricardo Montalbán: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
