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Rudy Diaz, born Adolph Carrillo Diaz on October 16, 1918, in Jerome, Arizona, was one of four children in a family of Mescalero Apache heritage. During World War II, he served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, completing 49 jumps, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, and earning several medals.
Following his military service, Diaz transitioned to law enforcement, joining the LAPD where he served for 21 years until retiring in 1967. Throughout his police career, he worked in the narcotics squad and the robbery/homicide division, ultimately achieving the rank of Sergeant. His experiences in law enforcement around Los Angeles sparked his interest in the entertainment industry, with some of his cases inspiring episodes of the 1950s TV cop show Dragnet.
Diaz is notably linked to the investigation of Marilyn Monroe's death in 1962, as he was among the first officers to arrive at the scene and served as a detective on the case.
A few years after retiring from the police force, Diaz pursued acting, starting in local theater before securing his first professional film role in Bandolero! (1968). That same year, he faced the tragedy of his estranged first wife Dorothy Abbott's suicide; she had battled depression amid their marriage's breakdown. After years as a single man building his acting career, Diaz married Beverly Gallaher in 1976, and they remained together for the rest of his life.
As an actor, Diaz was known for his distinctive appearance and commanding presence, often cast in rugged, tough-guy roles. He is especially remembered for his many performances in westerns, though his work spanned a variety of film and television genres, from the musical Pal Joey (1957) to the children's series Far Out Space Nuts (1975).
His heritage made him a frequent choice for American Indian and Hispanic roles, while his police background led to many law enforcement characters. Directors Don Siegel and Andrew V. McLaglen often cast Diaz in multiple films. His acting career spanned five decades, from 1957 to 1993.
Rudy Diaz spent his final years away from the spotlight and passed away from natural causes on December 5, 2006, in Los Angeles at age 88. He was survived by his wife Beverly, their children, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family. His ashes were scattered at sea in Mazatlan, Mexico, a place he cherished.
