Ramon Novarro achieved his biggest success in 1925 with the silent film version of Ben-Hur. With revealing costumes he became a sex symbol with the film’s release and a Hollywood heartthrob overnight. After Rudolph Valentino’s death in 1926, Novarro became the top Latin actor in Hollywood and was known for his swashbuckler action roles. Considered one of the great romantic leads, he hid the fact that he was gay for most of his life. He starred opposite Norma Shearer in The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) and Joan Crawford in Across to Singapore (1928). As movies became talkies his voice didnt translate well and he star persona suffered.