Watch The Cisco Kid Videos

The Cisco Kid refers to a character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in the collection Heart of the West. In movies and television, the Kid was depicted as a heroic Mexican caballero, even though he was originally a cruel outlaw. In O. Henry's darkly ironic original story, the Cisco Kid bears little resemblance to later adaptations. The character is a 25-year-old desperado in the Texas-Mexico border country. He kills for sport and is... MORE

The Cisco Kid refers to a character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in the collection Heart of the West. In movies and television, the Kid was depicted as a heroic Mexican caballero, even though he was originally a cruel outlaw. In O. Henry's darkly ironic original story, the Cisco Kid bears little resemblance to later adaptations. The character is a 25-year-old desperado in the Texas-Mexico border country. He kills for sport and is responsible for at least eighteen deaths. His real name is possibly Goodall ("This hombre they call the Kid—Goodall is his name, ain't it?"); no first name is given in the story. The Kid's mixed-ancestry girlfriend, Tonia Perez, both fears and loves him. However, when Texas ranger Lieutenant Sandridge arrives at her home seeking news of the Cisco Kid, they fall in love. He begins visiting twice a week. The Kid arrives to visit Tonia and observes them. Ten yards from his hiding-place, in the shade of the jacal, sat his Tonia calmly plaiting a rawhide lariat. So far she might surely escape condemnation; LESS