Famed private investigator, Jay J. Armes, once hired by actor Marlon Brando, to track down Brando’s son in Mexico, died last week. He was 92.
Posting on Facebook, his son, Jay. J. Armes III, said, “Everyone believes that their father is a superhero. My father actually was one.”
Unmistakable with two metal prosthetic hands – he lost his real hands in an explosion as a child — Armes worked for decades as a private investigator and was so well known his likeness was turned into a toy action figure.
Born Julian Armas in 1932 – he changed his name in 1977 – he grew up and lived most of his life in El Paso, Texas.
He made his way to Hollywood in the late 40s and while he claimed to have appeared in 39 movies and 28 television shows, the only verifiable credit is an appearance in an episode of Hawaii Five-O titled Hookman.
He returned to El Paso in 1958 and started his private investigation agency, The Investigators.
During his time as an investigator, he was famously involved in the kidnapping case involving Malron Brando’s son. Armes made around $25,000, plus expenses, for that case.
He was also allegedly involved in a jailbreak that later inspired the movie Breakout.
In the 1960s, Armes had a small private zoo. He raised German Shepherds, big cats and owned a chimpanzee.
In 1976, the year Ideal Toys made a J.J. Armes action figure, he released his autobiography, J.J. Armes, Investigator: The World’s Most Successful Private Eye.
In 1978, he launched The Investigators Security Course. Designed as a mobile patrol and security service, the organization served the community for a number of years until the patrol division was discontinued. Armes had been a certified Peace Officer.
From 1989 to 1993, he served on the El Paso City Council. He sought election to the council again in 2001, but was defeated and returned to his investigation business.
Despite his disability, Armes learned to drive, fly a jet plane and scuba dive.
He and his wife, Linda Chew, had three children.
