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Joseph Calleia 1897 - 1975

Joseph Calleia was born on August 4, 1897 at Notabile Triq L-Imdina, in Birkirkara Malta, and died at age 78 years old on October 31, 1975 in Valletta. Joseph Calleia was buried at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery Paola in Southern Harbour. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Joseph Calleia.

Joseph Calleia

August 4, 1897

Notabile Triq L-Imdina, in Birkirkara, Malta

October 31, 1975

Valletta, Malta

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Joseph Calleia Joseph Calleia (1897 - 1975)

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Joseph Calleia's History: 1897 - 1975

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Introduction

Famous character actor.
08/4

1897

Birthday

August 4, 1897

Birthdate

Notabile Triq L-Imdina, in Birkirkara Malta

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Maltese.
Professional Career

Joseph Calleia Born August 4, 1897 in Notabile, Malta Died October 31, 1975 in Valletta, Malta (undisclosed) Birth Name Joseph Spurin-Calleia His full name was Joseph Alexander Caesar Herstall Vincent Calleja - but he was better known as Joseph or Joe Calleia, one of Hollywood's most recognized bad guys. But Calleia's roots and talents ran much deeper than a character actor. He was Maltese, born on that barren but historically important island of Malta between Italy and Africa in the Mediterranean. The Maltese culture was a crossroads of peoples (partially Arabic) but as intrepid fishermen, navigators, and warriors-as they proved to the 16th century Turks - it was a proud one. But it could not hold Calleia, who, blessed with a good singing voice and a talent for composing, joined a harmonica band that left for the Continent in 1914. This was a Europe feeling the initial blows of World War I, and Calleia's band toured the length and breadth of it in music halls and cafes. He went to Paris and eventually came to London to perform some concert singing engagements. And from there the lure of the New World brought him to New York by 1926. It was a natural enough transition for a talented singing performer to acting. Calleia did his first play on Broadway in an original drama suitably called "Broadway" for a long run from late 1926 early 1928. This was the first of seven plays he did into early 1935. He took a double role as actor and stage manager for the 1930-31 run of "Grand Hotel". He received good reviews (once called him a "bright light" on Broadway) and later recalled that his treading the boards were his best years as an actor. By 1931 he had yet another course to steer. Hollywood had noticed him, for his constrained intensity as an actor was matched by a singular visage - heavy-lidded eyes and dark features that gave him a disquieting and menacing appearance. Yet the sometimes telltale lilt in his voice betrayed the fine singer. He had just enough accent to make him Latin or Greek or Middle Eastern - or indigenous sorts. Of course, his look meant early heavy roles as he went under contract to MGM, doing his first two films in that year of 1931. By 1935 his looks landed him the role of Sonny Black, a mob boss with many facets, and with a characteristic clenched-teeth delivery, Calleia acquitted himself in fine fashion. Through the 1930s he was pretty much typed-cast as a mobster with variations. Always with the lean and hungry look, he was a club owner in After the Thin Man (1936) and played a government cop in the atmospheric Algiers (1938). He even had time to help write a screenplay for the film Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936) with veteran Warner Baxter. Calleia ended the decade with roles at opposite ends of the character acting spectrum-somewhat center stage as a priest in the sometimes heavy-handed Full Confession (1939) and most memorable as Vasquez, the brought-to-justice criminal on the ill-fated DC-3 that crash lands in headhunter-infested Amazon highlands in Five Came Back (1939). This is a classic adventure drama -- remade with Rod Steiger -- with a great supporting cast that included everyone's favorite wisecracking redhead, Lucille Ball. Into the 1940s, Calleia was cast in more ethnic roles - particularly as Hispanics of various sorts. But his roles were memorable nonetheless, as El Sordo in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) and Rodriguez in The Cross of Lorraine (1943). But two roles stand out. His Buldeo in the Alexander Korda classic production of The Jungle Book (1942) was a personal favorite, a double role, as a trouble-making villager and the selfsame man now old and wise telling the story to the village children as narrator. The makeup is so good-and Calleia enjoyed character makeup-that most viewers are surprised when the old man reveals his identity. More mainstream Hollywood was his intriguing role as Detective Obregon in Gilda (1946). He's the good guy, right? - but he comes off so sly with his sidelong looks and the way he bates the principals - Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth - that you just don't know. In the end, he has the task, like the chorus in a Shakespearean play, to explain and summarize-perhaps not the best means of getting to the point - but that was the director's choice. His secondary parts receded a bit into the later 1940s and further into the 1950s with Calleia typed to retrace former roles but giving them new nuance just the same. He has little more than a cameo as Indian chief Cuyloga-Native American chiefs being the lot of no few elder actors in 1950s Hollywood - in the otherwise worthwhile Disney adaptation of The Light in the Forest (1958). Calleia ventured into the TV briefly about that time. But also from that year was another of his favorite roles. Without doubt Touch of Evil (1958) is one of the strangest of Orson Welles later efforts as director/star. It borders on the uneven but is so off-the-wall that one cannot help watching and thoroughly enjoying all the antics of Welles still brilliant film techniques: shadow and light, wild camera angles, gringos playing Mexicans-Charlton Heston is a wow and stained darker than necessary-and over-the-top performances with veteran dramatis personae like Marlene Dietrich, Akim Tamiroff, Calleia, of course, and Welles himself looking like a police captain from skid row and using that funny character voice of his that pops up in his films as an aside. Calleia, with white hair, is tired old cop Sergeant Menzies, a long associate of Welles' seedy character. Doing what he has always done, covering up and running interference, in the end, Menzies has to face the truth about his crooked captain. Calleia enjoyed the role as going so against his usual type - showing a man harried by his past and haunted by dirty secrets - vulnerable - and very human. It's a great part. By 1963 Calleia walked away - or, that is - sailed away from Hollywood. He returned to his native Malta for a well-deserved retirement. The Maltese had followed the career of their native son, and he had made several visits during his film career. Not surprisingly his biggest fan club was right at home. He was a kind and generous man and very appreciative of his fans wherever they were - quick to read all their letters and quick to send autographed pictures. It was strictly tongue-in-cheek when he supposedly quipped: "Everyone recognizes my face, but no one knows my name." After his passing, the government of the island state of Malta issued two commemorative stamps (1997) to honor him. A bust was erected before the house in which he was born as a further memorial to this Maltese VIP who had made good. Spouse (1) Eleonore Vassallo (1929 - 1968) (her death) Trivia (4) Orson Welles was extremely impressed by a stage performance of Calleia's in the mid-1930s and vowed to work with him. They finally worked together over 20 years later in Touch of Evil (1958). During his retirement time in Malta he received a telegram from Francis Ford Coppola, who offered him the part of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972). As much as Coppola wanted Calleia for the part, Calleia had to refuse because of health reasons. Before becoming an actor he was a professional opera singer. Became a member of the Screen Actors Guild in late 1935.
Personal Life & Family

Filmography 1931 My Sin Juan 1931 His Woman Agent 1932 The Divorce Racket Stephen Arnaud 1935 Public Hero#1 Sonny Black 1936 Riffraff Nick Lewis 1936 Exclusive Story Ace Acello 1936 Tough Guy Joe Calerno 1936 Robin Hood of El Dorado — Screenwriter 1936 His Brother's Wife Fish-Eye 1936 Sworn Enemy Joe Emerald 1936 Sinner Take All Frank Penny 1936 After the Thin Man "Dancer" 1937 Man of the People Jack Moreno 1937 The Bad Man of Brimstone Portuguese Ben 1938 Algiers Inspector Slimane National Board of Review Award 1938 Marie Antoinette Drouet 1939 Juarez Alejandro Uradi 1939 The Gorilla Stranger 1939 Five Came Back Vasquez 1939 Golden Boy Eddie Fuseli 1939 Full Confession Father Loma 1940 My Little Chickadee Jeff Badger 1940 Wyoming John Buckley 1941 The Monster and the Girl Deacon 1941 Sundown Pallini 1942 The Jungle Book Buldeo 1942 The Glass Key Nick Varna 1943 For Whom the Bell Tolls El Sordo 1943 The Cross of Lorraine Antonio Rodriguez 1944 The Conspirators Captain Pereira 1946 Deadline at Dawn Val Bartelli 1946 Gilda Det. Maurice Obregon 1947 The Beginning or the End Enrico Fermi 1947 Lured Dr. Moryani 1948 The Noose Hangs High Mike Craig 1948 Four Faces West Monte Marquez 1948 Noose Sugiani U.S. title The Silk Noose 1950 Captain Carey, U.S.A. Dr. Lunati 1950 The Palomino Miguel Gonzales 1950 Branded Mateo Rubriz 1950 Vendetta Guido Barracini 1951 Valentino Luigi Verducci 1951 Pulitzer Prize Playhouse Don Fernando Episode: "Night Over Taos" 1951 The Light Touch Lt. Massiro 1952 When in Rome Aggiunto Bodulli 1952 Yankee Buccaneer Count Domingo Del Prado 1952 The Iron Mistress Juan Moreno 1953 The Caddy Papa Anthony 1955 Underwater! Rico Herrera 1955 The Treasure of Pancho Villa Capt. Pablo Morales 1955 The Littlest Outlaw The Padre 1956 Hot Blood Papa Theodore Caldash 1956 Serenade Maestro Marcatello 1957 Wild Is the Wind Alberto 1958 Touch of Evil Pete Menzies 1958 The Light in the Forest Chief Cuyloga 1958 Have Gun – Will Travel Sheriff Sam Truett Episode: "The Manhunter" 1959 Zorro Padre Simeon Episode: "The Sergeant Sees Red" 1959 Cry Tough Papa Estrada 1960 The Alamo Juan Seguín 1963 Johnny Cool Tourist 1963 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Cagewa Episode: "A Killing at Sundial"
10/31

1975

Death

October 31, 1975

Death date

Cause of death

Valletta Malta
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery Paola in Southern Harbour Malta
Burial location
Obituary

Joseph Calleia ORIGINAL NAME Calleja BIRTH 4 Aug 1897 Rabat, Western, Malta DEATH 31 Oct 1975 (aged 78) San Giljan, Northern Harbour, Malta BURIAL Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery Paola, Southern Harbour, Malta MEMORIAL ID 8044869 · View Source MEMORIAL PHOTOS 6 FLOWERS 262 PLANT TREES Actor. He is best remembered for films such as "My Sin" (1938), "Juarez" (1939), "The Glass Key" (1942), "For Whom The Bell Tolls" (1943), "Gilda" (1946), "Touch of Evil" (1958) and "The Alamo" (1960). He died in his home in Sliema (Malta).

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Joseph Calleia lived 3 years longer than the average family member when died at the age of 78.

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8 Memories, Stories & Photos about Joseph

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/03/2023

Joseph Calleia

A MONTAGE by Robert Dockery.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

Actor.

Played Latin and Foreign types.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

Such a good actor.

I liked him in The Conspirators.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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There he is in a tux with Rita Hayworth.

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

There he is in a tux with Rita Hayworth.

He is fun to watch.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

He was an opera singer in real life.

He was Maltese.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

Joseph Calleia. Died 1975.

Character actor.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

Joseph Calleia.

Famous character actor.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Aug. 4 is the birthday in 1897 of actor Joseph Calleia. Died 1975.

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

08/04/2021

Aug. 4 is the birthday in 1897 of actor Joseph Calleia. Died 1975.

Famous character actor.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

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Joseph Calleia's Family Tree & Friends

Joseph Calleia's Family Tree

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Joseph Calleia Aug 4, 1897 - Oct 31, 1975

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Other Biographies

Other Calleia Family Biographies

Calleia, Kathleen (Nov 6, 1912 - May 9, 2004) Calleia, Charles (Oct 10, 1903 - Oct 12, 1993) Calleia, Alfonso (May 6, 1913 - Jan 1984) Calleia, Lawrence (Dec 31, 1904 - May 1978) Calleia, Pauline (Apr 28, 1938 - Dec 2, 1995) Calleia, Raimondo (Nov 16, 1923 - Jan 17, 2000) Calleia, Susan (May 18, 1962 - Oct 22, 2005)

Calleia, Rosalia (May 20, 1909 - May 1984) Calleia, Gregory (Jun 17, 1924 - Nov 8, 2005) Calleia, Virginia (May 31, 1923 - May 10, 2008) Calleia, Theresa (Dec 11, 1893 - Jul 1967) Calleia, Louis (Jul 14, 1921 - Nov 26, 2002) Calleia, Dovie (Sep 26, 1922 - Sep 27, 2009) Calleia, Alfonso (May 15, 1899 - Apr 1972)

About the AncientFaces Community

Joseph Calleia 1897 - 1975

Joseph Calleia's History: 1897 - 1975

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Professional Career

Personal Life & Family

Death

Gravesite & Burial

Obituary

8 Memories, Stories & Photos about Joseph

Joseph Calleia's Family Tree & Friends

Joseph Calleia's Family Tree

Joseph's Friends

Other Calleia Family Biographies