List of Italian-American actors

List of Italian American actors From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Italian American actors or must have references showing they are Italian American actors and are notable. As discussed in the 2005 book Hollywood Italians by Peter E. Bondanella, as well as numerous other sources, Italian-American actors have made a significant impact.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The Guild of Italian American Actors was founded in 1937.[citation needed]

Background

Some Italian-American film directors of the silent film era included Robert Vignola, Gregory LaCava, Frank Borzage (Borzaga) and Frank Capra.[7] Italian-American actors included Enrico Caruso in the cultural legitimation of American silent cinema, to Rudolph (Rodolfo) Valentino.

The American film Renaissance (New Hollywood) in the 1970s coincided with Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973) and Coppola's The Godfather (1972), Giuliana Muscio attributes this to Italian Americans becoming better educated and more affluent after World War II.[7]

Muscio connects the prominence of Italian-American director-actors to the Capocomico [it] of traditional Italian theatre. Such director-actors include: Danny DeVito, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, Vincent Gallo, Al Pacino, Stanley Tucci, Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Gary Sinise, Anne Bancroft, and Madonna.[7]

List

The list is organized chronologically, listing Italian American actors by birth date periods.

1880

  • Henry Armetta (1888–1945). movie character actor who appeared in at least 150 films, starting in silents as early as 1915. In 1938, he played in Everybody Sing with Judy Garland, Allan Jones, and Fanny Brice. In 1941, he was hilarious as the father of an Italian family shopping for beds in "The Big Store" with the Marx Brothers and Tony Martin. He appeared in at least 24 films in 1934 alone, sometimes uncredited.
  • Eduardo Ciannelli (1888–1969) was an Italian baritone and character actor with a long career in American films, mostly playing gangsters and criminals
  • Robert G. Vignola (1882–1953), born in Trivigno, Basilicata, Italy, one of the first Italian-American stars in cinema, later one of the silent screen's most prolific directors.[8]

1890

1900s

  • Don Ameche (Amici) (1908–1993) 50% Italian, actor and director[9]
  • Peter Brocco (1903 – 1992) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in over 300 credits, notably Spartacus (1960) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
  • Iron Eyes Cody (Espera Decorti) (1907–1999) son of Sicilian parents – actor, frequently played Native Americans[10]
  • Jerry Colonna (1904–1986) actor, entertainer, musician[11]
  • Russ Columbo (1908–1934) singer, violinist and actor, perhaps most famous for his signature tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love", and the legend surrounding his early death[12]
  • Lou Costello (Cristillo) (1906–1959) 62.5% Italian, 25% Irish, and 12.5% French – actor and comedian known as half of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello[13]
  • Renata Vanni (1909–2004) was born in Naples, Campania, Italy[14]

1910s

  • Robert Alda (Alfonso Roberto D'Abruzzo) (1914–1986) actor, father of Alan Alda[15]
  • Miriam Battista (1912–1980) daughter of Italian immigrants – child actress of the silent film era[16]
  • Ernest Borgnine (Borgnino) (1917–2012) Academy Award-winning actor[15]
  • Adriana Caselotti (1916–1997) actress known for providing the voice behind the lead character in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs[17]
  • Richard Conte (1910–1975) film actor[15]
  • Ann Corio (1914–1999) burlesque stripper and actress[18]
  • Alfred Drake (1914-1992) Born Alfred Capurro. Famous Broadway star of many hit musicals and plays.
  • Dean Martin (Crocetti) (1917–1995) actor/singer, member of the Rat Pack[15]
  • Victor Mature (1913–1999) Italian father – film actor described as a "hunk" whose sculpted, classical features and curly hair resembled ancient Roman statues.[19]
  • Al Molinaro (1919–2015) son of Italian parents – actor (The Odd Couple, Happy Days)[20]
  • Vito Scotti (1918–1996), was an American character actor
  • Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) his parents' Italian heritage included a Sicilian father and a mother from Liguria in northern Italy- actor and singer who many consider to be one of the finest male popular song vocalists of all time[21]

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

See also

References

  • Peter Bogdanella, Hollywood Italians: Dagos, Palookas, Romeos, Wise Guys, and Sopranos, New York: The Continuum IPG, 2004 – ISBN 0-8264-1544-X
  • Victoria Thomas, Hollywood's Latin Lovers: Latino, Italian, and French Men Who Make the Screen Smolder, Santa Monica: Angel City Press, 1998 – ISBN 1-8833-1841-6

Footnotes

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