Alfonso Bedoya was a Mexican actor who achieved fame and recognition in Hollywood for his memorable role as Gold Hat, the bandit leader, in the classic film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). He delivered one of the most iconic lines in cinema history: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!” This line has been ranked as the 36th greatest movie quote by the American Film Institute and has been widely parodied and referenced in popular culture.
But who was Alfonso Bedoya and how did he die? In this article, we will explore his life, career, and death, and pay tribute to his legacy as one of the most influential Mexican actors in Hollywood.
Contents
Early Life and Career in Mexico
Alfonso Bedoya was born on April 16, 1904, in Vícam, Sonora, Mexico, of Yaqui Indian heritage. He had a nomadic childhood, traveling throughout the country with his parents and 19 siblings. At the age of 14, he emigrated to the United States and was educated in Houston, Texas. However, he dropped out of school and worked in various jobs, such as a railroad section worker, dishwasher, waiter, and cotton picker.
He returned to Mexico City, where he found work as a character actor in the Mexican film industry, which was struggling at the time. He appeared in over 175 Mexican films between 1935 and 1957, playing mostly villains, bandits, peasants, and soldiers. Some of his notable films in Mexico include Los de abajo (1940), Canaima (1945), La doncella de piedra (1956), and Furia roja (1951).
Breakthrough Role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Bedoya’s career took a turn when he was offered a role by director John Huston in his 1948 adventure film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, starring Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, and Tim Holt. The film tells the story of three American prospectors who search for gold in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico and encounter greed, betrayal, and bandits.
Bedoya played Gold Hat, the leader of a group of bandits who pose as federales (federal police) and try to rob the prospectors. In one of the most memorable scenes of the film, Bedoya confronts Bogart’s character and demands to see his badge. When Bogart refuses, Bedoya utters his famous line: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!”
The line was improvised by Bedoya based on a translation of a line from B. Traven’s novel on which the film was based. The original line was: “Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”
Bedoya’s performance as Gold Hat was praised by critics and audiences alike. He stole the scenes he appeared in with his charismatic and menacing presence. He also became one of the first Mexican actors to be credited in a Hollywood film.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was a critical and commercial success. It won three Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Walter Huston), and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”.
Subsequent Roles in Hollywood
After his breakthrough role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Bedoya continued to work in Hollywood films until his death. He usually played supporting roles as ethnic characters, such as Mexicans, Native Americans, Arabs, or Asians. He often portrayed comic relief or villainous characters.
Some of his notable films in Hollywood include The Black Rose (1950), Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950), Border River (1954), The Stranger Wore a Gun (1953), Sombrero (1953), Man in the Saddle (1951), The Big Country (1958), and Ten Wanted Men (1955).
Bedoya also appeared in some television shows, such as The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin , Zorro , and Tales of Wells Fargo .
Personal Life and Death
Bedoya married Gertrude Elizabeth Larky Karas on March 8, 1950, in Mexico City. They had no children.
Bedoya had a drinking problem that affected his health and career. He also suffered from diabetes and heart disease.
He completed filming The Big Country in November 1957, in California, and returned to Mexico City on December 8. Eight days later, after a night of partying with manicurist María Lucía Solana Martínez, Bedoya, 53, died of a heart attack in a Mexico City motel room.
He was buried in the Panteón Jardín cemetery in Mexico City.
Legacy and Influence
Alfonso Bedoya was one of the most influential Mexican actors in Hollywood. He paved the way for other Mexican and Latino actors to pursue careers in the American film industry. He also contributed to the representation and recognition of Mexican culture and identity in cinema.
His famous line from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre has become a part of pop culture and has been referenced and parodied in numerous films, TV shows, songs, books, and games. Some examples are:
- In Blazing Saddles (1974), a comedy film by Mel Brooks, a bandit leader says: “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!” before throwing his badge away.
- In UHF (1989), a comedy film by Weird Al Yankovic, a character says: “Badgers? We don’t need no stinking badgers!” before being attacked by badgers.
- In The Simpsons (1989-present), an animated TV series, several episodes have referenced or parodied the line, such as: “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges! We have these shiny beads!” or “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges! We have this big knife!”
- In Breaking Bad (2008-2013), a crime drama TV series, a character says: “Magnets? We don’t need no stinking magnets!” before using magnets to destroy evidence.
- In Fallout: New Vegas (2010), a role-playing video game, a character says: “Badges? I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” before attacking the player.
Alfonso Bedoya’s legacy lives on through his films and his iconic line. He is remembered as a talented and charismatic actor who left a mark on cinema history.
