
Nestor Paiva
ActingAbout 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.
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.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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".




