After studying medicine, in 1929 Mayo made his debut in the theatre with the company of Ernesto Vilches. He fought for Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War in aviation. He starred in propaganda films such as Escuadrilla (1941), Harka (1941), A mí la legión (1942) but is perhaps best known for Raza, written by Francisco Franco under the name of Jaime de Andrade.
He became a major star in comedies, dramas and historical films such as Malvaloca (1942), by Luis Marquina; Deliciosamente tontos (1943), by Juan de Orduña, or La leona de Castilla (1951).
In the 1950s he acted in supporting roles in such films as El último cuplé (1957), Una muchachita de Valladolid (1958) and 55 Days at Peking (1963), directed in Spain by Nicholas Ray.
His career had a second golden age during his collaborations with Carlos Saura in La Caza (1966) and Peppermint Frappé (1967).
He appeared in more than 175 other films until his death. He acted in El bosque del lobo (1970), by Pedro Olea, Patrimonio Nacional (1980), by Luis García Berlanga. In Paul Naschy's Los cántabros (1980), he played a druid. He was also in Bearn o la sala de las muñecas (1982), by Jaime Chávarri and starred in the TV series Cañas y barro for Televisión Española.
Awards
Círculo de escritores cinematográficos in 1966 for La caza and in 1969 for Los desafíos.
Sindicato Nacional del Espectáculo in (1973) for La campana del infierno.
Filmography
Actor
1985
El suizo - un amour en Espagne
1985
Luces de bohemia as
Marqués de Bradomín
1985
Goya (TV Mini Series) as
Floridablanca
- Pintor del Rey (1985) - Floridablanca
1985
La huella del crimen (TV Mini Series) as
Padre de Carmen
- El caso del procurador enamorado (1985) - Padre de Carmen
1984
Poppers as
Pablo Jordan
1983
El Cid cabreador as
Padre de Rodrigo
1983
Mar brava as
Anchoa
1983
El mayorazgo de Labraz (TV Mini Series) as
El Predicador
- Marina (1983) - El Predicador
- El sacrilegio (1983) - El Predicador
- Don Ramiro (1983) - El Predicador
- Los viajeros (1983) - El Predicador
1983
Las pícaras (TV Mini Series)
- La hija de Celestina (1983)
1983
Bearn o la sala de las muñecas as
Vicario
1982
Hablamos esta noche as
Padre
1982
Cristóbal Colón, de oficio... descubridor as
Fray Diego de Deza
1982
Cecilia as
General Vives
1982
Perdóname, amor
1982
La máscara negra (TV Series)
- El talismán (1982)
1981
La leyenda del tambor as
Abuelo de Clussá
1981
Quiero soñar as
Alfredo
1981
Patrimonio nacional as
Nacho
1980
Los cántabros as
Lábaro
1980
Les chevaux du soleil (TV Series) as
Général de Bourmont
- La prise d'Alger - Juin 1830 (1980) - Général de Bourmont
1980
La conquête du ciel (TV Mini Series) as
Le commandant espagnol
- Episode #1.4 (1980) - Le commandant espagnol
- Episode #1.3 (1980) - Le commandant espagnol
- Episode #1.2 (1980) - Le commandant espagnol
- Episode #1.1 (1980) - Le commandant espagnol
1979
Manaos as
Sebastián
1979
The Gambler
1979
Con uñas y dientes as
Rodolfo Ortiz
1979
Encounters of the Deep as
Pop
1978
Cabo de vara as
Caballista
1978
Avisa a Curro Jiménez as
Don Fulgencio
1978
Red Gold as
Padre de Aurelia
1978
Los restos del naufragio as
Don Emilio
1978
Cañas y barro (TV Mini Series) as
Tío Palomo
- Episode #1.6 (1978) - Tío Palomo
- Episode #1.5 (1978) - Tío Palomo
- Episode #1.4 (1978) - Tío Palomo
- Episode #1.3 (1978) - Tío Palomo
- Episode #1.2 (1978) - Tío Palomo
- Episode #1.1 (1978) - Tío Palomo
1977
Delirio d'amore as
Aldo
1977
Gusanos de seda as
D. Ernesto
1977
Secretos de alcoba as
Conde
1977
Curro Jiménez (TV Series) as
Don Esteban
- La mujer de negro (1977) - Don Esteban
1977
El apolítico as
Sr. Bustos
1977
Pasión
1977
Estoy hecho un chaval as
Don Amalio
1976
El chiste as
Hombre emocionado / Emiliano / Alfredo / ...
1976
La espuela as
Don Pedro
1976
Call Girl (La vida privada de una señorita bien) as