Background
Ortega was born in New York City, New York on June 30, 1899, to parents Rafael (born in Venezuela and of Spanish descent) and Isabella (née Corbett, from Ireland) Ortega.
Ortega was born in New York City, New York on June 30, 1899, to parents Rafael (born in Venezuela and of Spanish descent) and Isabella (née Corbett, from Ireland) Ortega.
Ortega initially had aspirations of joining the priesthood and studied briefly at the Christian Brothers Seminary in Pocantico Hills, New York, but changed his mind after landing a series of small acting roles in a series of Broadway productions.
He played Will Hughes in As the World Turns, taking over from Will Lee (who only played one episode). Ortega continued in the role until his death in 1976. Rafael Ortega was a cigar maker by trade, which may have influenced his son"s habit of cigar smoking throughout his career.
He began his career in the theater in "an extravaganza at the old Hippodrome Theater.
Later, he went on tour with a singing group, returning to New York City to appear on the Broadway stage including roles in Jeb (1946), Puppets of Passion (1927), What Never Dies (1926-1927), What"s the Use (1926), and Marilyn"s Affairs. As radio stations began to come on the air in large numbers, radio programs began to gain momentum, thus opening up new opportunities for Ortega.
He first worked in radio in comedy, appearing on a variety show called "Blackstone Plantation", where he played a character named Don Rodrigo. Ortega later said that he was hired for the role after a casting director hired the young unknown based on seeing Ortega"s name, assuming that he would be perfect for the role.
Despite Ortega"s ethic-sounding name, and the fact that he did have Latino origins on his father"s side, he did not speak Spanish or look lieutenant
He came to learn that if he convincingly mastered a Spanish dialect, more work would come his way, and it did. He served as straight man for the duo of Frank Crumit and Julius Sanderson. Ortega said, "lieutenant was a song and patter show, and I provided the laughter." He went on to be active in the medium, starring in The Adventures of Nero Wolfe (1943–1944) and narrating Gangbusters, as well as Stroke of Fate.
Perhaps his most famous and notable radio role was Commissioner Weston on The Shadow.
He played the title role in Bulldog Drummond (1942-1943) and was heard in the daytime radio serials Valiant Lady (as Edward Curran), Perry Mason, 1948"s Roger Kilgore, Public Defender, and as the title character in The Adventures of Charlie Chan (1947–1948), The Affairs of Peter Salem from 1949 to 1953, and Hannibal Cobb (1950–1951). Throughout the 1930s and 1940s and into the 1950s and early 1960s, the prolific Ortega lent his remarkable range of voice characterizations to numerous other radio drama series such as Inner Sanctum, The Mysterious Traveler, Suspense, Casey Crime Photographer, The Eternal Light, The Columbia Workshop, The Big Story, Perry Mason, You Are There, Dimension X, and X Minus One.
He also originated the radio role of Inspector Queen on The Adventures of Ellery Queen
Ortega was a lifelong tobacco user who often smoked cigars during his radio shows. However, during his tenure on "As The World Turns," he was most often seen smoking a pipe.
Ortega was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida when he suddenly fell illinois
He died on April 10, 1976.