He began his career in American silent films in and eventually became a leading man and one of the top box-office attractions of the s and early s. Novarro was promoted by MGM as a " Latin lover " and became known as a sex symbol after the death of Rudolph Valentino. He is recognized as the first Latin American actor to succeed in Hollywood. Mariano N. The Samaniegos were an influential and well-respected family in Mexico.
Many Samaniegos had prominent positions in the affairs of state and were held in high esteem by the president. Ramon's grandfather, Mariano Samaniego, was a well-known physician in Juarez. Known as a charitable and outgoing man, he was once an interim governor for the State of Chihuahua and was the first city councilman of El Paso, Texas Ramon's father, Dr. After receiving his degree in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania , he moved to Durango, Mexico, and began a flourishing dental practice.
The family estate was called the " Garden of Eden ". Novarro began his film career in , playing bit parts, supplementing his income by working as a singing waiter, a taxi dancer and as a dancer in revues choreographed by Ernest Belcher father of Marge Champion. His friends, actor and director Rex Ingram and his wife, actress Alice Terry , began to promote him as a rival to Rudolph Valentino , and Ingram suggested he change his name to "Novarro".
His role in Scaramouche brought him his first major success. Novarro achieved his greatest success in , in Ben-Hur. His revealing costumes caused a sensation. He was elevated into the Hollywood elite. Novarro was popular as a swashbuckler in action roles, and considered one of the great romantic lead actors of his day.
He made his first talking film , starring as a singing French soldier, in Devil-May-Care When his contract with MGM Studios expired in and the studio did not renew it, Novarro continued to act sporadically, appearing in films for Republic Pictures , a Mexican religious drama, and a French comedy.
