Anthony Caruso
(1916 - 2003)He was the typical Italian gangster in early films; stocky, dark and ruggedly handsome. Later he played more diverse roles as other ethnic types: Indians, Mexicans, Hindus, Arabs, etc. His winning smile, square jaw and raspy voice were his trademarks. My favorite description of him was that he was burly and swarthy. I was unaware of his talents until recently when I saw him as a terrific villain on a "Gunsmoke" episode. Later I realized that I'd met him at a Sons of the Desert (Laurel & Hardy) convention and actually chatted with him. He'd worked with them in the film "Jitterbugs" (1943) as a gangster. He was born on April 7, 1916 (many sources say 1913 but Caruso says 1916) in Frankfort, Indiana. His family moved to Long Beach, California when he was 10 years old. He initially tried singing as a career but later turned to acting joining the famed Pasadena Playhouse, many of whose alumni were successful character actors of the 1930s-40s and 50s. His film debut was in "Johnny Apollo" (1940) as Joe the Henchman. His other film credits included: "North West Mounted Police" (1940) uncredited as Halfbreed at Riel's HQ; "The Bride Wore Crutches" (1940) as Max; "Tall, Dark and Handsome" (1941) as Gunman; "Always in My Heart" (1942) as Frank; "Across the Pacific" (1942) uncredited as Taxi Driver; "Lucky Jordan" (1942) as Hired Gun; "Sunday Punch" (1942) as Nat Cucci; "Jitterbugs" (1943) with Laurel & Hardy, uncredited as Mike; "Watch on the Rhine" (1943) with Bette Davis, as Italian Man; "The Phantom" (1943) a serial, as Count Salento; "And Now Tomorrow" (1944) as Peter Gallo; "The Story of Dr. Wassell" (1944) as Male Nurse; "The Crime Doctor's Courage" (1945) as Miguel Bragga; "Objective Burma" (1945) with Errol Flynn, as Miggleori; "Pride of the Marines" (1945) as Johnny Rivers; "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman" (1946) with Johnny Weissmuller, as Mongo; "The Last Crooked Mile" (1946) as Charlie, a Thug; Monsieur Beaucaire" (1946) with Bob Hope, as Masked Horseman; "News Hounds" (1947) as Dapper Dan Greco; "Wild Harvest" (1947) as Pete; "Where There's Life" (1947) as John Fulda; "Devil Ship" (1947) as Venetti; "To the Victor" (1948) as Nikki; "Incident" (1949) as Nails; "Bride of Vengeance" (1949) as Captain of the Guard; "Illegal Entry" (1949) as Teague, Primary Thug; "Song of India" (1949) as Major Doraj; "Anna Lucasta" (1949) as Eddie; "Scene of the Crime" (1949) as Tony Rutzo; "The Threat" (1949) as Nick Damon; "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950) as Louis Ciavelli; "Prisoners in Petticoats" (1950) as Nicky Bowman; "Tarzan and the Slave Girl" (1950) as Sengo; "According to Mrs. Hoyle" (1951) as Morganti; "Boots Malone" (1952) as Joe; "Desert Pursuit" (1952) as Hassan; "The Iron Mistress" (1952) as Jack Studenvant; "Blackbeard the Pirate" (1952) as Pierre La Garde; "The Man Behind the Gun" (1953) as Vic Sutro; "Desert Legion" (1953) as Lt. Massasoud; "Raiders of the Seven Seas" (1953) as Renzo; "Fort Algiers" (1953) as Chavez; "The Steel Lady" (1953) as Zagora; "The Boy from Oklahoma" (1954) as Mayor Barney Turlock; "Phantom of the Rue Morgue" (1954) as Jacques the One-Eyed; "Saskatchewan" (1954) as Spotted Eagle; "Cattle Queen of Montana" (1954) as Natchakoa; "Drum Beat" (1954) as Manok; "Passion" (1954) as Sgt. Munoz; "Santa Fe Passage" (1955) as Chavez; "City of Shadows" (1955) as Tony Finetti; "Jail Busters" (1955) as Percival P. Lannigan; "the Toughest Man Alive" (1955) as Pete Gore; "The Magnificent Matador" (1955) as Emiliano; "Hell on Frisco Bay" (1955) as Sebastian Pasmonick; "When Gangland Strikes" (1956) as Duke Martella; "A Cry in the Night" (1956) as Tony Chavez, a Cop; "Walk the Proud Land" (1956) as Disalin; "The Oklahoman" (1957) as Jim Hawk; "The Big Land" (1957) as Brog, Cattle Buyer; "Baby Face Nelson" (1957) as Hamilton; "Omar Khayyam" (1957) as Shah's Guard; "Joe Dakota" (1957) as Marcus Vizzini; "The Badlanders" (1958) as Comanche; "Legion of the Doomed" (1958) as Sgt. Calvelli; "Never Steal Anything Small" (1959) as Lt. Tevis; "The Wonderful Country" (1959) as Santiago Santos; "Most Dangerous Man Alive" (1961) as Andy Damon; "Escape from Zahrain" (1962) as Tahar; "Where Love Has Gone" (1964) as Rafael; "Sylvia" (1965) as Muscles; "Young Dillinger" (1965) as Rocco; "Never a Dull Moment" (1968) uncredited, as Tony Preston; "Flap" (1970) as Silver Dollar, Tribal Chief; "The Legend of Earl Durand" (1974) as Sheriff Trask; "Mean John Barrows" (1976) as Don Da Vinci; "Zebra Force" (1976) his first lead role; "Mission to Glory" (1977); "Claws" (1977) as Henry Chico; "Savage Harbor" (1987) as Harry and "The Legend of Grizzly Adams" (1990). He was quite prolific on television doing some of his best work there. He appeared in the 1960 mini-series "Daniel Boone" as Chief Blackfish. He also appeared in made for TV movies including: "The Desperate Mission" (1971) and "The Roseann Barr Show" (1987) as General. He guest starred on numerous TV series including: "Gunsmoke"; "The Streets of San Francisco"; "Mission: Impossible"; "The F.B.I."; "The Virginian"; "Mannix"; "It Takes A Thief"; "Green Acres"; "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; "The Wild, Wild West"; "Police Story"; "Baretta"; "The Incredible Hulk and "Hunter." He was sometimes billed as Tony Caruso. He was married to actress Tonia Valente in 1940 and they had a son Tonio. He died after a long illness on April 4, 2003 in Brentwood, California at age 86.
From Great Character Actors, Page 2.
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