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Rafaela Ottiano 1888 - 1942

Rafaela Ottiano was born on March 4, 1888, and died at age 54 years old on August 14, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts United States. Rafaela Ottiano was buried on August 17, 1942 at Saint Michael Cemetery Boston, Suffolk County, MA.

Rafaela Ottiano
Name
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Boston, MA.
Last residence
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March 4, 1888
Birth
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August 14, 1942
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Death
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Updated: March 9, 2025
Biography ID: 192954166 What's this
Rafaela Ottiano Rafaela Ottiano (1888 - 1942)
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Rafaela Ottiano's History: 1888 - 1942

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  • 03/4
    1888

    Birthday

    March 4, 1888
    Birthdate
    Unknown
    Birthplace
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  • Early Life & Education

    Early life Ottiano was born on March 4, 1888, in Venice, Italy as the second child and daughter of the six children of Maddalena Polcari, a housewife, and Antonio Ottiano, a musician. Maddalena immigrated to United States in 1880, where she met Antonio who came four years after and married him in 1885. Ottiano was named after her paternal grandmother and older sister. Her sisters were Rafaela Bellizia Ottiano, who died in infancy, and Maria Fransesca "Francis" De Stefano, who moved with her to New York City on April 30, 1899. Her brothers were Pasquale "Patsies" and James, both musicians, and Augustino Ottiano. In 1910, she immigrated to the United States with her parents and then was processed at Ellis Island, and resided in Boston with her family. Ottiano worked as a saleslady in a department store before she began her acting career. Personal life In 1913, Ottiano's youngest sister, Maria Fransesca, was married to Carmen De Stefano, a shoe cutter, and later had two children, Vincent and Madeline De Stefano. The marriage of Francesca later made their family residence in Maverick St. had to be sold in between 1917 and 1920, where the couple took their part of the profits and later purchased a house at 382 Lovell St. in East Boston. The house was valued at USD 6000 in 1930, and the three unmarried Ottiano brothers, Patsies, James, and Augustino, later moved with them as did their uncle and aunt, Nelson and Jennie Mottola. Her mother, Maddalena, died at her residence in East Boston on October 15, 1914, from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 45, and she was buried at St. Michael's Cemetery. Her father, Antonio, died a year later at Massachusetts General Hospital from a lung abscess at the age of 56, and he was interred with her mother. Ottiano never married or had a child; she died at her parents' residence in East Boston on August 14, 1942, at the age of 54.

  • Religious Beliefs

    Catholic.

  • Professional Career

    Rafaela Ottiano Born March 4, 1888 Venice, Veneto, Kingdom of Italy Died August 14, 1942 (aged 54) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Resting place St. Michael's Cemetery, Boston Occupation Actress Years active 1906–1942 Rafaela Ottiano (March 4, 1888 – August 14, 1942) was an Italian-American actress. She was best known for her role as Suzette in Grand Hotel (1932) and as Russian Rita in She Done Him Wrong (1933). Career From the original Broadway production of Grand Hotel (l to r): Henry Hull, William Nunn, Eugenie Leontovich, Lester Alden, and Rafaela Ottiano (1930). Ottiano began acting at age 18 and established herself as a stage actress in Europe before arriving in Hollywood in 1924 and appearing in American movies. She appeared on Broadway in Sweeney Todd (1924), the Mae West play Diamond Lil (1928), and the play version of Grand Hotel (1930). She made her film debut in the John L. McCutcheon-directed drama The Law and the Lady (1924) with Len Leo, Alice Lake, and Tyrone Power, Sr. Ottiano was part of the original 1928 Broadway cast of the hit play Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West. She reprised her role as Rita when the play was adapted for the movie She Done Him Wrong (1933), directed by Lowell Sherman. Throughout the 1930s, she often specialized in roles as sinister, malevolent, or spiteful women,[4] such as her role in the Tod Browning-directed horror film The Devil-Doll (1936), with Lionel Barrymore and Maureen O'Sullivan. Other notable film roles for Ottiano include Lena in As You Desire Me (1932) with Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Erich von Stroheim, Owen Moore, and Hedda Hopper, Mrs. Higgins in the Shirley Temple musical-comedy Curly Top (1935), as a matron in the crime-drama Riffraff (1936), starring Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy, and as Suzette, Greta Garbo's devoted maid in the Edmund Goulding-directed drama Grand Hotel (1932). In 1940, she starred in Victory, a melodramatic film which was adapted from the novel by the same name by Joseph Conrad, and she was credited for her amusing incidental performance by The New York Times. Ottiano's last film was the musical comedy I Married an Angel (1942), starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. During her film career, she appeared in approximately 45 motion pictures with actors such as Barbara Stanwyck, Conrad Nagel, Peter Lorre, Zasu Pitts, and Katharine Hepburn. When Grand Hotel was turned into a Broadway musical in 1989, her character was renamed Rafaela Ottiano in honor of the actress, who had appeared on Broadway in 1930 in the original play version of the Vicki Baum novel and in the subsequent movie adaptation. Partial filmography The Law and the Lady (1924) - Ma Sims Married ? (1926) - Maid Grand Hotel (1932) - Suzette Night Court (1932) - Evil Tongued Neighbor (uncredited) As You Desire Me (1932) - Lena The Washington Masquerade (1932) - Mona She Done Him Wrong (1933) - Russian Rita Bondage (1933) - Miss Trigge Ann Vickers (1933) - Mrs. Feldermans Female (1933) - Della - Alison's Maid (uncredited) Mandalay (1934) - Madame Lacalles All Men Are Enemies (1934) - Filomena The Last Gentleman (1934) - Retta Barr A Lost Lady (1934) - Rosa Great Expectations (1934) - Mrs. Joe Enchanted April (1935) - Francesca Lottery Lover (1935) - Gaby's Maid The Florentine Dagger (1935) - Lili Salvatore One Frightened Night (1935) - Elvira Curly Top (1935) - Mrs. Higgins Remember Last Night? (1935) - Mme. Bouclier Crime and Punishment (1935) - Landlady (uncredited) We're Only Human (1935) - Mrs. William Anderson (uncredited) Riffraff (1936) - Matron The Devil-Doll (1936) - Malita Anthony Adverse (1936) - Signora Buvino Mad Holiday (1936) - Ning That Girl from Paris (1936) - Nikki's Personal Maid (uncredited) Seventh Heaven (1937) - Madame Frisson Maytime (1937) - Ellen The League of Frightened Men (1937) - Dora Chapin The Toy Wife (1938) - Felicianne (uncredited) Marie Antoinette (1938) - Louise - Marie's Maid (uncredited) I'll Give a Million (1938) - Proprietress Suez (1938) - Maria De Teba Paris Honeymoon (1939) - Fluschotska Vigil in the Night (1940) - Mrs. Henrietta Sullivan (uncredited) The Long Voyage Home (1940) - Bella A Little Bit of Heaven (1940) - Mme. Lupinsky Victory (1940) - Madame Makanoff Topper Returns (1941) - Lillian - the Housekeeper The Adventures of Martin Eden (1942) - Marie Sylva I Married an Angel (1942) - Madelon (uncredited)
  • 08/14
    1942

    Death

    August 14, 1942
    Death date
    Unknown
    Cause of death
    Boston, Massachusetts United States
    Death location
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  • 08/17
    1942

    Gravesite & Burial

    August 17, 1942
    Funeral date
    Saint Michael Cemetery Boston, Suffolk County, MA
    Burial location
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5 Memories, Stories & Photos about Rafaela

Rafaela Ottiano
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.7k+ favorites
03/04/2025
Rafaela Ottiano
Actress.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Rafaela Ottiano
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
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03/04/2025
Rafaela Ottiano
Publicity shot.
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Rafaela Ottiano
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
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03/04/2025
Rafaela Ottiano
Actress.
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Rafaela Ottiano
Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
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03/04/2025
Rafaela Ottiano
Movie Star who died young but was in 40 famous films.
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Photo of Amanda S. Stevenson Amanda S. Stevenson
17.7k+ favorites
03/04/2025
Rafaela Ottaiano Famous memorial
Birth
4 Mar 1888
Venice, Città Metropolitana di Venezia, Veneto, Italy
Death
14 Aug 1942 (aged 54)
East Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial
Saint Michael Cemetery
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Memorial ID
94446203 · View Source
Memorial
Photos 5
Flowers 162

Added by Jess

Added by Louis du Mort
Actress. The severe-looking character actress from stage and film, will probably best be remembered as Greta Garbo's overly protective caretaker, Suzette, in the 1932 classic 'Grand Hotel'. Ottaiano established herself as a stage actress in Europe before appearing on Broadway in 'Sweeney Todd' (1924), 'Diamond Lil' (1928), and the play version of 'Grand Hotel' (1930). Her first film was 'The Law and the Lady' (1924). Throughout the 1930s and early 40s, Ottaiano would often specialize in roles as sinister, maleveolent, or spiteful women in such films as 'As You Desire Me' (1932), 'She Done Him Wrong' (1933), 'Ann Vickers' (1933), 'The Last Gentleman' (1934), 'Great Expectations' (1934), 'Curly Top' (1935), 'One Frightened Night' (1935), 'The Devil-Doll' (1936), 'Riffraff' (1936), 'Seventh Heaven' (1937), 'Paris Honeymoon' (1939), 'The Long Voyage Home' (1940), 'Victory' (1940) and 'Topper Returns' (1941). Her last film was the musical comedy 'I Married an Angel' (1942). During her career she appeared in approximately 45 motion pictures opposite such actors as Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore, Barbara Stanwyck, Tyrone Power, Mae West, Peter Lorre, John Wayne, Zasu Pitts, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn. Ottaiano, who was never married, died of intestinal cancer.
Bio by: Louis du Mort

Flowers • 162

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Rafaela Ottiano's Family Tree & Friends

Rafaela Ottiano's Family Tree

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Other Biographies

Other Ottiano Family Biographies

Ottiano, Augustine (Aug 30, 1898 - Apr 1987) Ottiano, Centa (Feb 2, 1896 - Jul 1978) Ottiano, John (Jul 23, 1926 - Apr 20, 1995) Ottiano, Angeline (Mar 21, 1899 - Sep 1982) Ottiano, Adeline (Mar 12, 1910 - Jan 1980) Ottiano, George (Feb 22, 1913 - Apr 22, 1990) Ottiano, Christine (Aug 18, 1933 - Jun 1973) Ottiano, Lisa (Feb 19, 1926 - Mar 14, 2004) Ottiano, Carol (Aug 24, 1948 - Jun 8, 2000) Ottiano, Gennaro (Oct 5, 1953 - Aug 26, 2007)
Ottiano, Thomas (May 12, 1916 - Jun 22, 2009) Ottiano, Catherine (Dec 7, 1914 - Jul 2, 2002) Ottiano, John (Mar 27, 1918 - Aug 1987) Ottiano, Raymond (Sep 11, 1931 - Apr 2, 2004) Ottiano, Ann (Jan 1, 1913 - Feb 17, 2008) Ottiano, Anthony (Apr 19, 1906 - Jan 1979) Ottiano, Louis (Jan 25, 1898 - Aug 1977) Ottiano, Michael (Oct 18, 1943 - Jul 25, 2009) Ottiano, Bessie (May 4, 1909 - Oct 5, 1991) Ottiano, Andrew (Nov 21, 1907 - Aug 19, 1992)
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