RIP Arturo R. Tamez Jr.

April 7, 2017

Arturo "Art" R. Tamez Jr.
April 9, 1941-March 22, 2017

Art Tamez was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at the age of 75. He was born in San Antonio, TX. He was preceded in death by his wife, Guadalupe Juarez, his parents, Velia R. and Arturo G. Tamez and his brother, Felipe Hector Tamez. Art is survived by his brothers, Humberto and Efrain Tamez (Sandra), sisters, Mary Alice Swift (Michael) and Grace Reyna; nieces and nephews, Sandra Rodriguez, Humberto Tamez Jr., Phillip Tamez, Greg Tamez, Barbara Tamez, Eugene Tamez, Luis Tamez, Bobby Swift, Dana A. Marquez, Matthew Swift, Christopher Swift, Valerie Martinez, Kathryn Magee, Lauren and Elizabeth Reyna; and 21 grand nieces and nephews.

Art attended Fox Tech High School, served in the USMC from 1959-1963, and in the 60's and 70's worked as a lineman for SW Bell and later worked at Kelly AFB.
Art began his life long career in the performing arts in 1969 as an "extra" in the movie Viva Max staring Peter Ustinov and Jonathan Winters. He honed his acting skills at the Teatro Bilingue De Houston and trained with Dee Miller, Cliff Osmond, Art Cicchese, Sam Cox, and Liz Kiegley and while director of the Chicano Arts Theatre in his home town of San Antonio, Texas.

His most notable supporting actor roles include the bartender in Rolling Thunder 1978 with William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones, as Pancho Marino, the gunslinger in, The Return of Josie Wales 1983 with Michael Parks and Rafael Campos and as Art Michael, the bartender, in Hope Floats 1998 with Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr. These Roles are featured on YouTube.

He had supporting roles in numerous movies including The Getaway in 1972 with Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw, Selena 1997 with Jennifer Lopez and Edward Olmos and in Rough Riders 1997 TNT series Tom Berenger, Sam Elliott and Gary Bussey. Besides the big screen, Art worked in made for TV features as was lead actor in La Esquina (PBS), Americas Most Wanted (ABC) and The Detour (Tovares Productions) and in numerous TV commercials and industrial PSA's.

As the director of the Chicano Arts Theatre in San Antonio, TX he directed various stage productions to include "El Regalo de Diana". He also performed in numerous live plays to include The Doll House, Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", "Los Desairagados", "Petra's Pecado" and "La Fiaca" at San Antonio's Teatro Guadalupe and in the Houston area.

Art also had a short run as stand-up comedian at various nite clubs. He was an active voting member of the Screen Actors Guild, Associated Actors & Artistes of America/AFL-CIO and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
It can be said that Art had his 15 minutes of fame and will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He is leaving a huge void in our hearts but his legacy will endure forever. He is presently cast in his new role produced and directed in the big silver screen in the sky…. "CAMERA…ACTION!!" WE LOVE YOU BROTHER, BREAK A LEG.

A Visitation will be held at Funeraria Del Angel Trevino Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm with a rosary to be recited at 7:00pm. On April 13, 2017 a mass will be held at 12:00pm at St. Timothy's Catholic Church with interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Born: 4/9/1941, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.

Died: 3/22/2017, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.

The Return of Josey Wales – 1986 (Pancho Mariho)

Rough Riders – 1997