20 Things You Didn't Know About Licence To Kill (1989)
5. Acknowledging Bond’s Allies, Onscreen And Offscreen
James Bond has had some memorable allies over the years, perhaps none more so than Pedro Armendáriz’s Ali Kerim Bey in From Russia With Love (1963). Armendáriz was one of Mexico’s leading actors, but was sadly battling cancer whilst filming the second Bond epic and chose to take his own life shortly after his scenes were completed.
His son, Pedro Armendáriz Junior appeared in Licence to Kill as Presidente Hector Lopez, the puppet leader of The Republic of Isthmus. He is, of course, subservient to Franz Sanchez, who rules the region with his policy of lead or silver (“plata o plomo”).
He was a recognisable actor himself, appearing in Earthquake (1974), Tombstone (1993), The Mask of Zorro (1998), and The Legend of Zorro (2005). He even portrayed a Mexican police chief named Commandante Sanchez in Columbo: A Matter of Honour (1976).
The President of Isthmus was also named in recognition of the services of the film’s production manager, Héctor López.