Nestor Paiva - Actor Profile

Nestor Paiva

Acting
Updated: May 09, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Jun 30, 1905
Birth Place: Fresno, California, USA

About Nestor Paiva

Nestor Paiva (June 30, 1905 - September 9, 1966) was a prolific American actor of Portuguese descent who portrayed the innkeeper on Walt Disney's live-action television series Zorro by ABC and its feature film The Sign of Zorro which was shot in Burbank's Walt Disney Studios. Nestor appeared in motion pictures and television shows from the 1930s to the 1960s such as Get Smart, Bonanza, I Spy, Family Affair, Gunsmoke, The Beverly Hillbillies, and The Addams Family. In 1943, he played the Italian Major in the 20th Century Fox wartime movie Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas. He played the part of Lucas (the boat captain) in the 1954 horror film The Creature from the Black Lagoon starring Ben Chapman as the title monster; Paiva would reprise this role in that film's sequel Revenge of the Creature the following year. He appeared in more than 250 movies. Paiva married in 1941 and had two children, Joseph and Caetana, who appeared with him in the 1956 movie Comanche with Dana Andrews. Paiva died of cancer in 1966. He is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. Description above from the Wikipedia article Nestor Paiva, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Nestor Paiva Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Nestor Paiva reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Nestor Paiva's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 100% of Nestor Paiva's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Ride The High Iron, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Nestor Paiva Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Nestor Paiva's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Nestor Paiva has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1962 The Wild Westerners John Bullard Hit Similar →
1961 Gold of the Seven Saints Gondora Henchman Hit Similar →
1960 Can-Can Bailiff Hit Similar →
1959 The Purple Gang Orlofsky Hit Similar →
1958 Outcasts of the City Pastor Skira Super Hit Similar →
1956 Ride The High Iron Yard Boss Super Hit Similar →
1956 The First Texan Priest (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1955 All That Heaven Allows Manuel Hit Similar →
1954 The Desperado Captain Jake Thornton Hit Similar →
1954 Moby Dick Capt. Peleg Super Hit Similar →
1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon Captain Lucas Hit Similar →
1952 South Pacific Trail Carlos Alvarez Super Hit Similar →
1952 5 Fingers - Super Hit Similar →
1952 Viva Zapata! New General (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1951 The Lady Pays Off Manuel Super Hit Similar →
1951 A Millionaire for Christy Mr. Rapello Hit Similar →
1949 Señor Droopy Bullfight Attender (voice) (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1949 Alias Nick Beal Karl Hit Similar →
1948 Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Joe Appollonio Hit Similar →
1947 Road to Rio Cardoso Hit Similar →
1947 The Trouble with Women 2nd Tony - the Waiter (uncredited) Super Hit Similar →
1947 Carnival in Costa Rica Padre Rafael Hit Similar →
1947 Humoresque Orchestra Leader Hit Similar →
1946 Road to Utopia McGurk Hit Similar →
1945 Along the Navajo Trail Janza Super Hit Similar →
1944 Shine on Harvest Moon Romero (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1943 True to Life Kapopolis (uncredited) Super Hit Similar →
1943 Background to Danger Koylan Hit Similar →
1943 Don Winslow of the Coast Guard The Scorpion Super Hit Similar →
1942 Road to Morocco Sausage Vendor (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1942 King of the Mounties Count Baroni Super Hit Similar →
1942 Timber! Jules Fabian Super Hit Similar →
1942 The Girl from Alaska Geroux Super Hit Similar →
1942 The Adventures of Martin Eden - Super Hit Similar →
1942 Fly By Night Grube Hit Similar →
1941 Hold Back the Dawn Flores Hit Similar →
1941 Hold That Ghost Glum Hit Similar →
1940 The Green Hornet Strikes Again! Rufus - Henchman in Hawaii Hit Similar →
1940 Dark Streets of Cairo Ahmend, waiter-thug Super Hit Similar →
1940 He Stayed for Breakfast Gendarme Super Hit Similar →
1940 Boom Town Venezuelan Officer (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1940 The Sea Hawk First Slavemaster Hit Similar →
1940 Primrose Path Bluebell Manager (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1939 Another Thin Man West Indies Club Headwaiter (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1939 The Hunchback of Notre Dame Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1939 Unseen Guardians Mail Order Crook Hit Similar →
1939 Beau Geste Corporal Golas (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1939 Union Pacific Canadian Pacific Conductor (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1939 Midnight Woman's Escort (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1938 Prison Train Morose Hit Similar →

Nestor Paiva - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Nestor Paiva?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Nestor Paiva is "Ride The High Iron" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Nestor Paiva acted in?

Nestor Paiva has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Nestor Paiva?

Other notable films include "Outcasts of the City", "Don Winslow of the Coast Guard", and "The Trouble with Women".

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