Pedro Sienna

Pedro Sienna (13 May 1893—20 March 1972) was a Chilean playwright, poet, journalist, art critic and theatre and movie actor who is also remembered as one of his country's pioneering directors in the early years of silent film.

A native of San Fernando, Pedro Pérez Cordero used the professional nom de plume Pedro Sienna. He briefly studied at the Liceo Neandro Schilling at his birthplace, and completed his secondary studies at the Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera in Santiago.

He began his association with film by directing and starring in El Hombre de acero (1917) and Los Payasos se van (1921).

In 1925, he wrote, directed and starred in the film considered a classic of Chilean silent cinema, El Húsar de la muerte (The Death Hussar).

As a highly respected author, he wrote Huecas en la Sombra, La Caverna de los Murciélagos, Recuerdos del Soldado Desconocido, Memorias de la Vida del Teatro and the biographical La vida pintoresca de Arturo Bührle.

On 27 December 1966, at the age of 73, Pedro Sienna was awarded the country's national art prize, Premio Nacional de Arte de Chile. He died in Santiago on 20th March 1972. He was 78.