antos Ortega (Jun 30.1899 - Apr 10. 1976)
Length: 5' 10" (1m 78) Eyes: brown Marriages: (1) Evelyn Elizabeth Fairbank (Dec 30, 1923 - ?) ,       divorced (2) Cynthia Beckett (ca 1949 -  )       Daughter: Alison married Scott       Anthony Mullen (3 children)      Son: Stephan      They all lived in Tenafly,  New Jersey. Sister: Isabelle (1891 - ?)
Above right: Santos Ortega was a prolific cigar smoker and was known to have his cigars with him while acting his roles. The mythology says he often set the scripts of other actors on fire with his lighted cigar. A number of publicity shots exist showing him with cigar/pipe.
Born as Santos Edward Ortega in New York City, New York to Rafael and Isabella Ortega. His father, of Spanish origin, was born in Venezuela and his mother Isabella Corbett was from Dublin, Ireland. His father is believed to have been a cigar maker who found himself in New York City by 1890. His father died when Santos was only four years old and his mother raised Santos and his older sister with help of two maiden aunts. He studied to be a priest for two years in the Christian Brothers' Seminary at Pocantico Hills, N.Y., before he decided that he was not fitted to be a clergyman. (What's On the Air Dec 1930) After starting out as usher at the old New York Hippodrome Theater, he began his acting career at 17 on the stage in that same theater as walk-on in "an extravaganza" at that same Theater. Soon after that he toured with a singing group (bass singer in a quartet), but soon found himself back in the City trying for rotes on Broadway. Santos married Evelyn Fairbank, a 27 year old widow, in New York City on Dec 30, 1923 (Above right). Several of the plays in which he appeared were What's the Use (1926), What Never Dies (1926), and Marilyn 's Affairs (1933). From there he went to radio which was beginning to establish itself as a medium to be aware of in no uncertain terms! Ortega joined the small cast of Blackstone Plantation (named after their sponsor Blackstone Cigars), a variety show consisting of music, talk and songs (first CBS-Radio then NBC-Radio 1929-33). He played Don Roderigo along with the other featured regulars Frank Crumit, Ted De Corsia (!) and Julia Sanderson who were highly popular in their day. "It was not that I had a Spanish dialect, or that I'd ever done a Spanish dialect before; it was just that my name being so Spanish, that one of the casting directors said 'Well, certainly, this guy ought to have a Spanish dialect ' ... I was called for it and since I had spent 8 or 9 months in Caracas, Venezuela I said well, do what I heard there. I did and I got the part.' He went on to become a regular cast member of By Kathleen Norris (anthology on CBS-Radio from 1930 to 1940 and on NBC-Radio from 1940 to 1941). These were dramas based on stories created by the famed novelist and were hosted by actress Ethel Everett portraying Miss Norris.  Ortega became a member of a regular crew who did voice-overs for the excellent crime drama series Gangbusters (NBC-Blue to CBS-Radio back to NBC-Blue to ABC-Radio to CBS-Radio to Mutual Broadcasting 1935-57 inclusive). This was a series of dramas based on actual FBI files and at the end of each episode a description of a wanted criminal was broadcast to the listening audience. Hundreds of criminals were apprehended as a result of this extraordinary program. Of course in OTR an actor's career was incomplete without an infusion of "soap" and Ortega's was no exception: In Myrt and Marge (CBS-Radio 1931-47) the sudsy tale of two showgirls, the older trying to help the newcomer become acclimated to the world of show biz. Oddly enough the title roles were portrayed by real-life mother and daughter Myrtle Vail and Donna Damerel Fick.
Above left: When you listened to The Scorpion from CBS, New York you could hear that mysterious East Indian Servant, Rangi, portrayed by Santos Ortega (1932) Above right: Rita Lupez and Santos Ortega in "Broken Wing" an episode of Lux Radio Theatre (Apr 14. 1935)
Along came The Robert Burns Panatela Program a comedy/variety (CBS-Radio 1932-33) which starred George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen. Although very much married, George and Gracie played "singles" on this show with Gracie setting George up in humorous situations of her making. Frank Knight and Santos Ortega were the show's announcers. Then on CBS-Radio in 1933-34 there was the comedy show The White Owl Program (more sponsoring cigars - perhaps that's how George got so attached to them!) a follow-up to the Panatela Show and also starring Burns and Allen. Again Knight and Ortega were the announcers. Big Sister (CBS-Radio 1936-52) tales of events in the lives of the "Evans sisters". Here Ortega was cast as Dr. Duncan Carvell.
Top: Arline Blackburn and Santos Ortega are heard in the leading roles of the new dramatic serial, "By Kathleen Norris" which is presented over WCCO Mondays through Fridays at 4 p.m. "Woman In Love," one of Kathleen Norris most popular novels will be the first story to be dramatized. Each script of the radio dramas is submittes to Mrs. Norris for final approval. This new series is under sponsorship of General Mills. (Oct 9. 1939) Above left: Labeling this toy machine gun "Gang Busters" made it natural for exploitation in a war-conscious world. Louis Marx, Inc. New York sold 350,000 at one dollar each. Operating here is Santos Ortega of the cast of Gangbusters (1936-1940) Above right: Left agonized Santos Ortega, right hilarious Mr. Ortega. Pictures illustrating the versatility of performers in soap opera. Santos appeared then as John Lane, the sobbing, broken-hearted husband in Beyond These Valleys (CBS, 1940).
In another soap The Man I Married (NBC-Radio 1939-41 to CBS-Radio 1941-42) Van Heflin starred as the impoverished Adam Waring, a disinherited millionaire's son who, with his wife, tries to make a new life in a small town. Santos also had a running role that of Phineas Grant.
Above left: Ted De Corsia and Santos Ortega, two regulars in The Adventures of Ellery Queen Above right: Inspector Richard Queen of the NYPD, a role originated by Santos Ortega (1939-47).
In Ellery Queen the well-done crime drama series the young Hugh Marlowe was the original sophisticated Ellery who helps solve crimes, without pay, saying that the work involved is merely research for the popular mystery books he writes. He is, in fact, helping his father, Inspector Richard Queen of the NYPD, a role originated by Santos Ortega (1939-47). He had recently left his role "Lee Kirby"on the series Myrt and Marge to take up the new character. Of his role and the series Ortega said "I thought it was a fine hour show ... because the character of the Inspector had so many facets, so many sides. Of course, when they cut it down to half-hour, commercial, it was quite another thing. You couldn't get all the things into it because, after all, your star and your hero, was Ellery, who I always thought was a stuffed shirt."

And in the Big Sister spin-off Bright Horizon (CBS-Radio 1941-45) Ortega was a regular cast member in the story of a bitter singer who pretends to be a warm-hearted idealistic man. Ortega was also narrator of Green Valley U.S.A. (CBS-Radio 1942-44) which features tales of happenings in the lives of the inhabitants of a small country town. Four actors starred in the title role of the mystery series Bulldog Drummond (Mutual 1941-47 and  again in 1953-54). The first was George Coulouris, the second was Santos Ortega (1942-43), the third Ned Wever and the fourth Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Each portrayed his own version of the dashing Englishman (now "working in the U.S.A.") Capt. Hugh Drummond nicknamed Bulldog for his doggedness in tracking down criminals. Many do remember his title role in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe (mystery) (NBC-Blue to ABC-Radio 1943-44 and Mutual 1945-46). J.B. Williams briefly played the part of Wolfe when the series was first broadcast on the New England Network in mid-1943. When it moved to ABC-Radio later in 1943 Ortega took over the role. Ortega was ably assisted by John Gibson as "his assistant, Archie". Creator of the characters, Rex Stout, thought the actors were fine but the plots were not. None of Stout's material was used ABC-Radio's chief script-writer wrote most of the scripts that Stout refused to even listen to. Stout, however, received royalties for the use of his characters (Wolfe, Archie, and Inspector Cramer). Nero Wolfe did not return to ABC-Radio after 1944 due to business disagreements. Ortega played the overweight, cranky, orchid-loving (10,000 of them on his roof) gourmet who never leaves his home, the epitome of an armchair detective to a tee. Assistant Archie does all the leg-work and brings the clues to his boss who proceeds to solve the mystery. Nero Wolfe had his own chef and someone to baby his orchids all 10,000 of them! Ortega's signature on the program was his opening each show with a wheeze. From 1944-46 he was one of four to play famed attorney Perry Mason for CBS-Radio (1941-55). There was more gun-shootin' than court action on radio than on the eventual television series starring Raymond Burr. More "criminal fare" again where Ortega was a regular cast member included Crooked Square (anthology - Mutual 1945). Perhaps his most important stage role was the mill manager in Jeb, the 1946 Robert Ardrey play about a black soldier, played by Ossie Davis, returning to the post World War II South. After the Ellery Queen series ended did there come a change of character? - Yes! Santos now addressed himself to the role of Charlie Chan in a mystery series which started on NBC-Blue (went to Mutual, to NBC-Red, to ABC-Radio and back to Mutual 1932-48 inclusive) Ortega was the third actor to portray the beloved Oriental detective on radio (1947-48) , he was preceded by Walter Connally and Ed Begley and followed by the fourth William Rees. The radio audiences adored the delightful Chan,  his wise sayings and the way he solved crimes all over the world aided and abetted by "#1 son Lee" (there were 14 Chan offspring in all).

Above left: From 1944-46 Ortega was one of four to play famed attorney Perry Mason for CBS-Radio (1941-55). Above right: Staats Cotsworth (L) as "District Attorney" and Santos Ortega "Public Defender," are featured in dramatizations of authentic cases that have faced such public servants in the new MBS feature Roger Kilgore, Public Defender. Tuesday evenings (10 to 10:30 pm. EDT). (April 30. 1948)

In 1947 The Shadow (CBS-Radio to NBC-Radio to Mutual 1930-54) made use of Ortega's fine talent as one of six actors who played Commissioner Weston in this long-running mystery series. Ted De Corsia being one of the other six. Orson Welles at the tender age of twenty-two was the original "Shadow". The somewhat spoiled wealthy playboy & world-traveler who is amazingly proficient with his two revolvers (always with him) and who has the "power to cloud men's minds" through a form of hypnotism thus rendering himself invisible to them. He covers his face because it was damaged when he was "doing spy work for the United States" during World War I. "The Shadow" also known as Lamont Cranston works with police commissioner Weston to root out crime in the big city. Since the character did not appear regularly, Ortega was able to continue his other radio roles without much difficulty or conflict. Along the way there was a game show Who-Dun-It for CBS-Radio in 1948... wherein a mystery was shown on stage and one of four audience members who could name the culprit won $100.00 Bob Dixon hosted and Ortega was Inspector Slade. Santos was heard on Criminal Case Book  (crime drama on NBC-Radio 1948) with tales of the sordid lives of criminals. As was the case with a short-lived crime drama series for Mutual in 1948 titled Roger Kilgore, Public Defender first starring Raymond Edward Johnson (later Inner Sanctum host) then Ortega as a lawyer who defended the indigent. Ortega also starred in the title role in the superbly written crime drama The Affairs of Peter Salem (Mutual 1949-53) about a small-town detective who used his wits to thwart big-city lawbreakers. Ortega had the title role in the daily crime drama Hannibal Cobb (ABC-Radio 1950-51) playing a private detective who gets involved in his clients' private lives. There was simultaneously a television version of this series starring Chuck Webster. Not much is known about the radio series.

Above: View inside the radio studio during a performance of City Hospital on CBS radio (1951-1958). Santos Ortega opposite an unknown co-star.

In City Hospital (CBS-Radio 1951-58) he had the lead role of  Dr. Barton Crane (on TV 1951-53 played by Melville Ruick), the medical director of a big city hospital and his concern for and involvement in the lives of the patients. The radio version eventually became a television series. Ortega, however, seemed to gravitate towards crime series. The coming of television did startle Santos somewhat as we learn from this newspaper clip "Two veterans of 20 years of radio acting, Michael Fitzmaurice and Santos Ortega, explained their mistrust of television the other day with the simple universal word - money. They are making a very good and very easy living in radio. Now this is seriously threatened says Mr.Fitzmaurice. Ortega is as sour on television as Fitzmaurice but differs with him on one point. He thinks radio actors should get into television for experience in case radio just vanishes some day." (Article: Many Radio Stars Wish Video Wasn't Invested by John Crosby, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sep 25, 1949). How right he was in both thinking and execution!  So Santos also made a couple of movies: The Family Secret (1951) and Crowded Paradise (1956). Santos had no trouble switching over to TV because he had originally been a stage actor and knew most of the casting directors. He still continued to act in radio, but mainly in "one-off" appearances.

Above left: April 1966 - One, two, three: and so begins the eleventh year for the top-rated daytime dramatic series, As the World Turns, televised Mondays through Fridays, 1:30-2:00 PM; ET, over the CBS Television Network. Here, Santos Ortega and Helen Wagner, who play Grandpa and Nancy Hughes, two of the key characters on the series, blow out the candles, marking 10 successful years of As the World Turns. Above right:  William "Grandpa" Hughes (Santos Ortega).

On TV he was hired for a single shot as William "Grandpa" Hughes in the soap opera As The World Turns and the over-all reaction was so good he was handed the part permanently, a role he held for 20 years (April 2. 1956-76) (Above right). ATWT was #1 in soaps for 20 years (1958-78).Ortega as Grandpa and veteran actress Helen Wagner (50 years in the same role!) were performing in a scene on a live set when they were interrupted (unbeknownst to them) by a bulletin announcing that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. They finished their scene and left the set and it was then that they heard the dreadful news. Almost immediately Walter Cronkite came on with a permanent interruption. It was a day the actors would never forget. ATWT was the first daytime 1/2 hour soap. It accumulated 42 Daytime Emmy Awards. Another cast member Don Hastings has played Dr. Bob Hughes for 45 years. Some of the soap's graduates include Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan, Cicely Tyson and the marvelously-voiced James Earl Jones.

When it was announced that Grandpa Hughes was about to celebrate his 70th birthday and any viewer who'd like to drop the old boy a card was welcome to do so. A few days later a messenger from the production crew wandered over to the advertising agency's mailroom to pick up the program's fan letters. After surveying the scene he sent out an SOS for a two-ton truck because Grandpa Hughes had made a notable contribution to solving the postal deficit via an unbelievable onslaught of 175,000 birthday cards. When Grandpa Hughes (Ortega) died his daughter-in-law found him seemingly asleep in his favorite chair. The character died but Grandpa was such a driving, well-loved force in the family that he was scripted in for several months after his passing. Oddly enough, shortly thereafter Ortega died in April of 1976 in Broward General Hospital in Ft.Lauderdale, Florida of an unknown illness. He was visiting Florida. He lived recently in Tenafly. N.J.

Santos Ortega was one of the stalwarts of Old Time Radio. Where his career is concerned there can never be any doubt about either his talent or his versatility.  So on Friday, June 4, 1976, something unique happened on CBS. A eulogy for Ortega was delivered on as part of the regular As the World Turns episode. Only once before had the death of an actor in a popular daytime series been publicly acknowledged, and the grief of the passing shared with viewers (the previous time, in 1973, it was for Theo Goetz who had been in the cast of The Guiding Light). Santos was a too great a friend to his colleagues, and too admired by millions of fans not to receive this final tribute.”

References (1) Old Time Radio column by the late Betsy W, Betsy Weinberg, 5 Mar 2009 (2) Wikipedia (3) RUSC (4) IMDb (5) Santos Ortega: Any Detective He Didn't Play?, Jim Widner, Radio Recall,      2013 (6) IBDB (7) OTRRpedia (8) Radiogoldindex Additional video & audio sources (1) Santos in As The World Turns (YouTube video clip, 1950s) (2) The Man who Played God (Ford Theater, Dec 21, 1947) (3) Old Time Radio downloads

This actor profile is a part of Ellery Queen a website on deduction. The actor above played Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen radio series. Click Uncle Sam if you think you can help out...! Many of the profiles on this site have been compiled after very careful research of various sources. Please quote and cite ethically!

Page first published on Oct 21. 2013  Latest update June 7. 2023

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