1. Duncan Renaldo claimed in his defense that he was born in Camden, New Jersey, and only later raised in Romania as Basil Couyanos by people whom he sometimes referred to as "mother" and "father" but at other times by their Christian names, Demetri and Theodora.
Duncan Renaldo claimed never to have known his biological parents and to have been raised in several European countries.
Duncan Renaldo eventually took up acting and signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1928, where he worked in at least two major films, The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Trader Horn.
In January 1933, Renaldo was sentenced to serve two years in federal prison and fined $2000 on conviction of falsely claiming American citizenship, falsifying a passport, and perjury, but he eventually was pardoned by President Franklin D Roosevelt and returned to acting.
Duncan Renaldo found minor roles at Republic Studios and other Poverty Row studios until he persuaded Republic head Herbert Yates in 1939 to introduce a Latin cowboy into The Three Mesquiteers series.
The character only lasted a year, though, and Duncan Renaldo was back to minor roles in B-films, for example Tiger Fangs.
Duncan Renaldo did play some roles in mainstream films as well, including Spawn of the North, with George Raft, Henry Fonda and John Barrymore, and For Whom the Bell Tolls with Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman.
Duncan Renaldo's illustrations are ink sketches of idyllic scenes, primarily seascapes and landscapes.
Duncan Renaldo died of lung cancer in 1980, aged 76, in Goleta, California.
Duncan Renaldo's interment took place in Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara, California.
Duncan Renaldo is pictured with the band War on their 1974 album War Live, which includes the group's 1973 song "The Cisco Kid".