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Paul NaschySpanish actor, screenwriter and director
Date of Birth: 06.09.1934
Country:  Spain |
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Biography of Paul Nashi
Paul Nashi was a Spanish actor, screenwriter, and director. He was born as Jacinto Molina on September 6, 1934, in Madrid, Spain. Known as the "Spanish Lon Chaney," Nashi was awarded the Golden Medal of Fine Arts by King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 2001 for his contributions to the art of acting. He was most recognized for his work in horror films, where he excelled at transforming himself into various classic characters such as werewolves, hunchbacks, Count Dracula, and mummies. His ability to portray these characters earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces" and he became one of the most recognizable actors in Spanish horror films.
Successful Career in Horror
Nashi's most famous character was Waldemar Daninsky, a Spanish werewolf suffering from anemia. He played this character in 12 different films, surpassing Lon Chaney Jr., who only portrayed a werewolf seven times in his career. The films featuring Nashi's Waldemar Daninsky were not connected by a continuous storyline, but rather each horror film presented a standalone story, sometimes with different origins of lycanthropy. The distributors gave the films different names over the years, adding to the confusion even among devoted fans of the actor.
Despite the numerous inconsistencies and complex storytelling in his films, Nashi's werewolf movies remain some of his most famous works among horror fans. Unfortunately, only 11 of Nashi's films about the Spanish werewolf have survived to this day. The whereabouts of the horror film "Night of the Werewolf" remain a mystery, as the producer, René Govar, died in a car accident in Paris shortly after completing the film. Nashi himself only discovered that the film was never released a decade later. Despite their flaws, Nashi's werewolf films continue to be regarded as some of his most iconic works.
A Versatile Actor
Nashi played a variety of other characters throughout his career, showcasing his versatility as an actor. One notable character he portrayed twice was the villainous sorcerer Alaric de Marnac, who appeared in the films "Horror Rises from the Tomb" in 1972 and "Panic Beats" in 1982. Nashi claimed that the essence of the character Alaric was inspired by the real-life medieval baron-sadist Gilles de Rais, a notorious serial killer. Drawing from Gilles de Rais' biography, Nashi created the main character for the film "The Marshes of Hell."
Throughout his extensive career, Nashi played memorable roles such as Dracula, the mummy, Frankenstein, Fu Manchu, the hunchback, Rasputin, the warlock, zombies, a medieval inquisitor, and a serial killer. His last works included the film "The Valdemar Legacy" and providing the voice for a character in the animated film "O Apóstolo."
Legacy
Paul Nashi passed away on November 30, 2009, in his hometown of Madrid at the age of 73, after battling pancreatic cancer. He is remembered as one of the most prolific and dedicated actors of the horror genre in the history of cinema.
