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Romney Brent, born Romulo Larralde in Mexico, enjoyed a diverse career as an actor, playwright, producer, stage manager/director, and drama teacher. The son of a diplomat, he made his stage debut in 1922 with the Theatre Guild's production of "He Who Gets Slapped." That same year, he appeared on Broadway in the comedy "The Lucky One," establishing himself over the next thirteen years as a reliable character actor capable of portraying a wide range of exotic ethnic roles—from Ibsen and Gogol to Shakespeare. Brent also showcased his singing and dancing talents with the 'Garrick Gaieties' and authored a high-society comedy, "The Mad Hopes," in 1932. In 1933, he adapted James Laver’s somewhat risqué novel "Nymph Errant" into a play featuring music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The production enjoyed a successful run of 154 performances at London’s Adelphi Theatre but did not reach Broadway until 1982. Brent also performed at the Adelphi in Noël Coward's revue "Words and Music," co-starring with a young John Mills.
By 1936, Brent transitioned into film, spending four years in prestigious British productions such as Dinner at the Ritz (1937) and The Middle Watch (1940), where he portrayed a Chinese character named Ah Fong. With the onset of World War II, he enlisted in the Canadian Army and was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain. Three years later, Brent visited Hollywood and delivered a memorable performance as King Phillip III in Warner Brothers' Technicolor adventure, Adventures of Don Juan (1948), starring Errol Flynn. For the remainder of his screen career, primarily balanced with a return to Broadway theater, he mostly appeared as a guest in early television anthology series, except for a recurring role as the kindly Padre Felipe in Zorro (1957). In 1961, Brent fully returned to theater, leading a repertory company on tours through Europe and South America under the State Department's auspices. Four years later, having retired from screen acting, he toured the Far East with Helen Hayes, conducting seminars and workshops on stage direction. He spent his final seven years back in Mexico, dedicating himself to teaching drama.
