Joe Alex
Joe Alex—the pseudonym of Alejandro Saenz Varona, born on May 19, 1894, in Ica (Peru) and died on August 15, 1948, in Lima (Peru)—was a Peruvian dancer, choreographer, singer, and actor. A prominent figure in the interwar music-hall scene, he made his debut in 1918, appearing in revues, operettas, musicals, and comedies at venues such as the Olympia, the Théâtre du Perchoir, the Bataclan, and the Gaîté-Lyrique. Nicknamed the "tragedian of the dark soul" and regarded by Paul Colin as one of the greatest stars of his era, he was a member of the *Revue Nègre* from 1925 to 1928—alongside Josephine Baker and Sidney Bechet—and founded the *Théâtre Africain* in 1938. While often typecast in roles such as a Black dancer, a "native," or a servant—whether on stage or in film (notably as King Malikoko in *Malices-Coco*, a two-act revue by Jean Bastia and Charles-Alexis Carpentier, and as Bamboula in *Bécassine et Bamboula*, a three-act comedy by Caumery)—he also secured more serious roles, such as Vincent Jackson (a man sentenced to death) in John Wexley’s play *The Last Mile* and Diego in the film *L'Étoile de Valencia*, starring alongside Jean Gabin and Brigitte Helm.
Known For
Credits
- 1947 · Les trois cousines as The black
- 1947 · Le Bateau à soupe as L'indigène
- 1946 · Mr. Gregoire Runs Away as Jeff, Tuffal's colored servant
- 1945 · Children of Paradise as (uncredited)
- 1943 · Adrien as The negro shoe-shine boy (uncredited)
- 1942 · The Lover of Borneo as (uncredited)
- 1939 · Fort Dolorès as
- 1939 · Pasha's Wives as Ali
- 1938 · Satan's Paradise as
- 1937 · Naples Under the Kiss of Fire as Le soutier
- 1937 · Josette as Bamboula, le domestique
- 1936 · Rigolboche as
- 1935 · Le Clown Bux as
- 1934 · The Kidnapping as
- 1934 · Bouboule 1er, roi nègre as
- 1933 · La Terreur de la pampa as
- 1933 · L'Étoile de Valencia as Diego
- 1931 · The Magnificent Wanderers as
- 1930 · Little Lise as Le danseur noir
- 1926 · Le Bouif errant as
- 1926 · Boy as
- 1925 · Le Prince charmant as
- 1924 · The Lion of the Moguls as
- 1923 · Le Nègre du rapide numéro 13 as Zambah-Ambah