Richard conte biography

American actor (–)

For the principal and art professor, see Richard Conte (artist).

Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, – April 15, ), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor.^[1] Grace appeared in more than films^[2] from through the s, inclusive of I'll Cry Tomorrow, Ocean's 11, and The Godfather.

Early authenticated and education

Richard Conte was domestic Nicholas Peter Conte on Strut 24, in Jersey City, New-found Jersey, the son of Italian-Americans Julia (Fina), a seamstress, submit Pasquale Conte, a barber.^[3] Lighten up graduated from William L. Poet High School in Jersey City.^[4]

Conte worked as a truck utility, messenger, shoe salesman, and disclosure waiter before starting his feigning career. He was discovered through film director Elia Kazan extort actor John Garfield during government job at a Connecticut impromptu, which led to Conte sentence stage work.^{[citation needed]}

He eventually fair a scholarship to study warrant the Neighborhood Playhouse in Spanking York City,^[5] where he became a standout actor.^{[citation needed]}

Conte was a Republican who campaigned fail to appreciate Dwight Eisenhower during the statesmanlike election.^[6] He was Catholic.^[7]

Career

Stage

He through his film debut under magnanimity name Nicholas Conte in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence () at 20th Century Old harry. He played Tony, a bum who meets up with Joe (Glenn Ford who was too making his film debut) limit Anita (Jean Rogers). The triad of them make their means west hopping trains. They try later joined by Professor Uncomfortable (Raymond Walburn).

He made emperor Broadway debut in My Heart's in the Highlands () perform the Group Theatre. Also mix up with the Group, he was cry Clifford Odets' Night Music (). He performed in the rein in company of Golden Boy.^[8][9]

On Dais, he was in Heavenly Express () and Walk Into Straighten Parlor (). He was on the rocks hit in Jason () fortify was he Family ().^[10][11]

During Environment War II, Conte served straighten out the United States Army, nevertheless he was discharged because point toward eye trouble.^[12]

20th Century Fox

In Haw , Conte signed a continuing contract with 20th Century Violently, changing his name to Richard Conte. His first Fox album was Guadalcanal Diary (), at he was billed fourth.^[13]

He followed it with another war spectacle, The Purple Heart (), scheduled by Lewis Milestone; he was billed second, beneath Dana Andrews.^[14]

Conte had a smaller part place in Captain Eddie (), a biopic about Eddie Rickenbacker, and affected an Italian POW in A Bell for Adano ().

Conte had the star role remark A Walk in the Sun (), another war film watch over Milestone, and he was teamed again with Andrews.

Success

Fox promoted Conte to top billing tally the film noir The Spider (). Although a B ep for the studio, it was successful enough to establish Legend in film noir.^[15]

He had aspect roles in Somewhere in decency Night (), directed by Patriarch Mankiewicz, and the spy integument 13 Rue Madeleine (), confined by Henry Hathaway.

Conte was borrowed by Enterprise Productions production The Other Love () write down Barbara Stanwyck and David Niven. Back at Fox, he was in Hathaway's crime drama Call Northside () as excellence prisoner whose innocence is three-dimensional by James Stewart.^[16]

Conte was teamed with Victor Mature in Cry of the City (). MGM borrowed him for Big Jack (), then he did House of Strangers () with Prince G. Robinson, playing Max Monetti, a lawyer who defends dominion father (Robinson) against government assessment of banking irregularities and goes to prison for jury tamper.

Conte was top billed slur Thieves' Highway (), directed contempt Jules Dassin, and co-starred expanse Gene Tierney in Otto Preminger's film noir Whirlpool ().^[17]

Universal

Conte pure a contract with Universal Films, and he starred in heavy crime films: The Sleeping City (); Hollywood Story (), predestined by William Castle; and The Raging Tide ().^[18]

After doing The Fighter () for United Artists, he returned to Universal carry out The Raiders ().

Conte went to Warner Bros to co-star with Anne Baxter and Ann Sothern in The Blue Gardenia () directed by Fritz Hold forth. Back at Universal, Conte was in Desert Legion (). Stylishness made Slaves of Babylon () for Sam Katzman at Town. Conte started guest starring cut into TV shows such as Medallion Theatre, Ford Television Theatre, build up General Electric Theater.

Bill Broidy

In , Conte signed a procure with Bill Broidy to rattle six films over three adulthood, and he would be cashed 25% of the profits.^[19][20] Rendering first was the crime scene Highway Dragnet (), based section a story by Roger Corman, and he then went be introduced to England to make Mask magnetize Dust () for Hammer Motion pictures director Terence Fisher. He was going to direct The Womanizer Pack for Broidy, but abundant was not made.^[21]

Back in magnanimity U.S., Conte did The Cavernous Combo () for Cornel Wilde's company;^[22]New York Confidential () luggage compartment producer Edward Small; and The Big Tip Off () set out Broidy.

Conte went to England for Little Red Monkey (), RKO for Bengazi (), near Warners for a Korean Fighting movie Target Zero ().

Conte broke out of B cinema with the second lead mosquito I'll Cry Tomorrow (), wholesome MGM biopic about Lillian Writer starring Susan Hayward. Conte station director Daniel Mann announced they would make Play by Play, but it was not made.^[23]

Columbia

Conte made a series of pictures for Columbia. He co-starred liking Judy Holliday in Full pageant Life (), played the advantage in The Brothers Rico (), and had supporting roles rafter This Angry Age () suggest They Came to Cordura ().

Television

He continued to guest make known TV shows like The Ordinal Century-Fox Hour and The Crepuscle Zone ("Perchance to Dream") delighted played the lead in pure TV adaptation of The Haler, the Nun and the Radio (). He had his foremost regular TV role in The Four Just Men (–).^[24]

Conte slender Frank Sinatra in Ocean's 11 () but then focused system TV: Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bus Stop, Naked City, Checkmate, Frontier Circus, The DuPont Show regard the Week, The Untouchables, Alcoa Premiere, Going My Way, Kraft Mystery Theater, 77 Sunset Strip, The Reporter, Kraft Suspense Theatre and Arrest and Trial.^[9]

He difficult a supporting role in Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (), Circus World () skull The Greatest Story Ever Told () (playing Barabbas) and goodness lead in The Eyes prepare Annie Jones () for Parliamentarian L. Lippert. After Synanon (), he had the lead advise Stay Tuned for Terror (), shot in Argentina.

Conte difficult to understand a supporting role in Assault on a Queen (), esoteric he was one of indefinite stars in Hotel (). Keep , Conte landed a correlation role in the short-lived CBS sitcom The Jean Arthur Show.^[25]

He appeared as Lieutenant Dave Santini in two crime films considerable Frank Sinatra: Tony Rome () and Lady in Cement (). He also did Sentenza di morte ().

In , illegal released his only film pass for a director, Operation Cross Eagles, in which he also marked.

Conte's later performances include The Bold Ones: The Lawyers, The Challengers (), and The Reputation of the Game ().

The Godfather

Conte had one of emperor memorable performances in The Godfather () as Don Barzini. Take action was at one time extremely considered for the title conduct yourself, Don Vito Corleone, a character performed by Marlon Brando.

The success of the film full of life to Conte being cast radiate a series of "mob" roles: Murder Inferno (), The Billowing Family (), Pete, Pearl & the Pole (), My Sibling Anastasia (), The Violent Professionals (), No Way Out () with Alain Delon, Anna, quel particolare piacere (), Shoot Be foremost, Die Later () and Violent Rome (). He did glory horror films Evil Eye (), A Diary of a Murderess () and Naked Exorcism ().

Death

On April 3, , Fable suffered a massive heart incursion and a stroke. He was taken to UCLA Medical Feelings where the staff worked carry out eight hours to keep him alive. He was put unveil intensive care and died attraction April ^[2] He is below ground in Westwood Memorial Park extort Los Angeles.^[26][27]

Personal life and family

Conte was married to actress Ballplayer Storey,^[5] with whom he adoptive a son,^[28] film editor Categorize Conte. In , Conte endure Storey were living at San Ysidro Drive in Beverly Hills.^[29] They divorced in ^[5] Inaccuracy married his second wife, Shirlee Colleen Garner (), in ^[30][31] His grandson is National Province Leaguefree safetyChris Conte. Chris legal action the son of Mark Conte.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

Selected filmography

Radio performances

References

External links