Salvador Allende was not a film actor but a prominent Chilean physician and politician. Born in 1908, he became the first Marxist to be elected president in a country with a significant democracy, serving from 1970 until 1973. Allende's presidency focused on socialist reforms, including nationalization of industries and land redistribution. His tenure ended abruptly with a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, during which Allende died under controversial circumstances in the presidential palace.