Featured Actor
Win De Lugo
Win De Lugo
Win's current work is in the independent film Touching Down [poster] in which he co-stars as Ted Rhodes, an overprotective father highlighting the dangers of life to his timid and insecure daughter, Sam Rhodes. The film will be making the rounds at the 7th annual Method Fest Independent Film Festival in L.A. (Calabasas) from April 1st through April 8th, 2005. For more information on "Touching Down" go to touchingdown.com.
Paradise almost killed Win. After Star Trek, Mission: Impossible and Dragnet appearances, he left L.A. in '69 to shoot his own movie in the Virgin Islands. He lost his financing, one home burned down and hurricane Hugo destroyed two more before he landed parts in "Caribe" (thanks to Star Trek), a short lived Stacy Keach/Carl Franklin TV series, Bare Essentials, a M.O.W., and Weekend at Bernie's II, which enabled his 1993 return to Hollywood.
In the '60's, Win studied acting with Stella Adler in NYC. He was singled out for praise in the NY Times (11/23/64) by members of the Moscow Art Theatre, visiting NY to assess US understanding of Stanislavsky's technique (in which the artist is required to live the role). "This minor scene was genuine, realistic art that produced a great impression." --- Vasily Toporkov. While appearing as Dirk (the gigolo) on the soap "Love of Life", he worked as assistant manager at all Rugoff Theatres in NYC, this brought him up to speed on great foreign films. After getting glowing reviews in stock, he landed a part on "Trials of O'Brien" opposite Peter Falk, but slept through his first morning "call". Mortified and feeling he had blown it in NYC, it was time to catch "the first thing smoking" and head for the West Coast. While appearing opposite Leslie Parrish in The Adding Machine and Ahna Capri in Period of Adjustment at the Holmes Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, Jocelyn Brando (yes, HIS sister) said "Goodbye Win, I'm leaving the Co., going to New York. I got a part on "Love of Life". He stammered... "I just left that show to come here!?!?" "Idiot," she responded, "don't you know what those things pay?". Receiving a beautiful review in Variety for his stage work in "Zoo Story" while appearing on Star Trek, Judd: For the Defence, Custer, Dragnet, etc. he decided the next logical step was to shoot his own independent film in the Virgin Islands (for great production value!) Sounded good... you know the rest. While licking his wounds between fire and hurricanes, he created the U.S. Virgin Islands Film Commission (5th in the U.S.) bringing millions of dollars into the islands by luring hundreds of national commercials plus features like The Island of Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster), Four Seasons (Alan Alda), Christopher Columbus (Brando) etc.
For more about Win, see the interview he kindly granted me about his Star Trek experiences.
(Excerpts taken from Bio section of www.windelugo.com - Permission Obtained.)