Ismael Orlando Godoy

Ismael Orlando Godoy, 83 of Hollywood, California, died peacefully on December 2, 2016. He passed away in the hospital surrounded by his family, following a very brief struggle with pneumonia. Ismael was born on May 8, 1933 in Iquique, Chile, to Rosalia Marchant and Miguel Godoy.

Ismael, who was also known by his middle name Orlando, was the third youngest of nine children. His father, an officer in the Chilean Army, was tragically killed when Ismael was a young boy. His mother died soon thereafter of tuberculosis. As a result of their untimely deaths, Ismael and his two younger siblings, Grisneldo and Raquel, were placed in La Ciudad del Niño, an orphanage in Santiago, Chile. As a young adult, Ismael served two years in the Chilean Army and went on to study agronomy. Later he worked for a time in the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. In 1960, at the age of 27, together with close family friends, he decided to make the great adventure north to the United States.

He arrived in Hollywood, California. He studied and earned an associates degree in art photography at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in 1968. He worked as a press photographer for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and covered entertainment for Italian and South American new media. Early on, he helped many Chilean compatriots and family settle in Los Angeles; his house on Leland Way in Hollywood serving as a home base for those needing a place to stay while they, themselves, settled in to life in the U.S. Among those were his two nephews, and his dear younger brother Grisneldo and sister, Raquel, the youngest of the family. He freely offered his home, time and resources to all.

It was in 1974 when he met a Colombian beauty Argelia Echeverry, whose son Juan Carlos' best friend Billy happened to live next door to Ismael's home. After the introduction was made by Billy's mother, Argelia was smitten with the charming and handsome Chilean bachelor. She also saw him as a strong and noble role model for 9-year-old Juan Carlos. Ismael and Argelia soon fell in love and were married later that same year. Their daughter, Adriana, was born in 1975.

Ismael continued his career in photography as an assignment photographer for a Spanish-language magazine based in Los Angeles, and later he operated his own wedding photography business. He also worked for many years for the now-closed Color Laboratory in Hollywood until his retirement. In the early 90s, he began a "side gig" as a background actor, which he very much enjoyed. Using the stage name G.I. Orlando, he appeared incognito in various commercials, films and television shows such as "Knott's Landing," "Hunter," "What's Love Got to Do With It," "In the Heat of the Night," "Charlie Wilson's War," "True Blood," among others. Up until August 2016, he regularly attended commercial acting classes at the Hollywood Senior Center to help further sharpen his skills. He also enjoyed taking and printing headshots of his fellow senior citizen classmates, who were current and aspiring actors.

Known for his gregarious spirit and sense of humor, Ismael was deeply devoted to his family. He proudly shared stories and showed photographs, news clippings, family members' business cards and other mementos of his family's career and life achievements. He cherished family gatherings and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner the week before his death with his wife, children, sister Raquel and five of his grandchildren. An example of a moment he was most proud of was the May 2015 graduation of his two grandsons Anthony and Jacob from the Air Force Academy, where he joined his son-in-law Mark on a 2,000-mile road trip adventure to Colorado Springs, Colorado so that he could be there in person. This is a testament to his commitment and lasting legacy, and just one of many, many moments that made him proud over the years.

Ismael was a voracious reader, and always carried his iPad to catch the latest news headlines and Facebook posts from family. Ismael was also a wonderful storyteller and loved to create elaborate history-based fiction. For many in the family, he was a rock who supported and helped them succeed in their lives. Ismael made many sacrifices without hesitation to help his family achieve their dreams.

Ismael is survived by his wife of 42 years Argelia Echeverry Godoy; their children Juan Carlos Echeverry and Adriana Godoy Leiss; their seven grandchildren: Anthony, Jacob, Nicholas, Lucas, Alina, Amelia and Gabriela; his older sister Beatriz Borne Godoy (who resides in Santiago, Chile); brother Grisneldo Godoy, and sister Raquel Godoy Lebron (who both reside in the Los Angeles area); and many beloved nieces and nephews in Southern California and throughout Chile.

Ismael will be buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California.