That's Entertainment: Dan Guerrero and the Making of a Hollywood Original


Photograph of Dan Guerrero performs ¡Gaytino! The exuberant Dan Guerrero performs his critically acclaimed one-man show, ¡Gaytino!


Photograph of Dan Guerrero and his father Lalo GuerreroDan Guerrero in Los Angeles in the mid 1940s with his father, Lalo Guerrero, considered by many to be the “father of Chicano music.”


Photograph of Dan Guerrero, New York City, 1963Guerrero acted and danced in 
off-Broadway productions early in his career. This photograph was taken in 1963 in New York City by photographer Jack Mitchell.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero performing Bye Bye BirdieGuerrero performed the part of Conrad Birdie in the production of Bye Bye Birdie at the Sharon Playhouse in Connecticut. Reviewer Michele Gerrig wrote: “Danny Guerrero beautifully 
belts out Conrad’s rocking numbers, swivels hips in Elvis fashion, guzzles down cans of beer, and struts about 
in true super-star style.”


Photograph of Dan Guerrero in The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen T“Danny Guerrero” dancing in 
Ben Bagley’s musical comedy The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen Through the Eyes of Cole Porter. Performed at the Washington 
Theater Club.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero at the White House, 1970Guerrero also performed the Ben Bagley musical at the White House for President and Mrs. Nixon in January 1970. This was the first of various meetings with U.S. presidents.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero and Fran DrescherPhotograph of Dan Guerrero and Sarah Jessica ParkerAs a successful Broadway talent agent Dan Guerrero discovered some of Hollywood’s most well-known celebrities, including actresses Fran Drescher (top middle), Sarah Jessica Parker (bottom), and Salma Hayek.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero with group at the 100th El Show de Paul RodriguezHead producer Dan Guerrero with 
a bevy of celebrities and showgirls at the 100th El Show de Paul Rodriguez. This was the first national, bilingual talk and sketch-comedy show where many luminaries were interviewed, including Cesar Chávez and Jack Lemmon. The show ran from 1990-1994.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero directing singer Linda Ronstadt, 1992Directing singer Linda Ronstadt who performed for the 100th El Show de Paul Rodriguez, 1992.


Photograh of Dan Guerrero with Nancy Pelosi and Sonia SotomayoWith tablemates Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the 32nd Annual Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. honoring Latinos in the arts. Dan Guerrero accepted a medal on behalf of his father Lalo Guerrero immediately following remarks by President Barack Obama.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero hamming it up with the make-up teamAs a producer-director Guerrero hams 
it up with the make-up team.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero and his father Lalo Guerrero, 1998Guerrero posing alongside his father, Lalo Guerrero, who in 1998 received an ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) award from the National Council of La Raza. The award celebrates Latinos in the entertainment industry.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero directing ¡Adelita! with Luis Valdez & Dolores HuertaGuerrero directing a rehearsal of ¡Adelita! The Women of the Mexican Revolution with playwright Luis Valdez and UFW labor leader Dolores Huerta at the 2009 San José Mexican Heritage and Mariachi Festival. Valdez introduced Huerta as a modern-day “Adelita.” Linda Ronstadt was artistic director and Guerrero produced and directed 
the show.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero directing Still Life with Beth Grant & Zilah MendozaGuerrero directing Still Life by Harry Clark, starring Beth Grant as Georgia O’Keeffe and Zilah Mendoza as Frida Kahlo. At the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 2011.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero with the Mexican American Legal Defense and EducationGuerrero’s advocacy has included joining with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund to speak out against Arizona SB 1070, a 2010 bill that many accused of encouraging the racial profiling of Latinos.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero and Cesar ChavezPhotograph of Dan Guerrero at funeral of Cesar Chavez, 1993Guerrero’s support for Cesar Chávez (depicted with Guerrero in the top photograph) and the plight of farm workers ran deep. The death of Chávez in April 1993 brought many supporters from throughout the country to his funeral including, from left to right: Little Joe (José María De León Hernández) from the band Little Joe y la Familia, actress Rosanna DeSoto, actor “Cheech” Marin, actress Julie Carmen, actor Ed Begley, Jr., and Dan Guerrero. Bottom photograph by Jocelyn Sherman.


Photograph of Dan Guerrero and artist Carlos AlmarazPhotograph of Dan Guerrero and artist Carlos AlmarazGuerrero’s close friendship with artist Carlos Almaraz endured until Almaraz’s untimely death in 1989 due to complications from AIDS. Almaraz is considered to be one of the most influential Chicano artists.


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