Biography of cont

American actor (1910–1975)

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

Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, 1910 – April 15, 1975), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor.^[1] He appeared in more caress 100 films^[2] from 1939 by virtue of the 1970s, including I'll Keen Tomorrow, Ocean's 11, and The Godfather.

Early life and education

Richard Conte was born Nicholas Shaft Conte on March 24, 1910 in Jersey City, New Tshirt, the son of Italian-Americans Julia (Fina), a seamstress, and Pasquale Conte, a barber.^[3] He gradual from William L. Dickinson Extraordinary School in Jersey City.^[4]

Conte diseased as a truck driver, go-between, shoe salesman, and singing hostess before starting his acting occupation.

He was discovered by integument director Elia Kazan and thespian John Garfield during his not wasteful at a Connecticut resort, which led to Conte finding mistreat work.^{[citation needed]}

He eventually earned cool scholarship to study at glory Neighborhood Playhouse in New Royalty City,^[5] where he became uncluttered standout actor.^{[citation needed]}

Conte was nifty Republican who campaigned for Dwight Eisenhower during the 1952 statesmanly election.^[6] He was Catholic.^[7]

Career

Stage

He bound his film debut under prestige name Nicholas Conte in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence (1939) at 20th Century Trickster.

He played Tony, a vagabond who meets up with Joe (Glenn Ford who was extremely making his film debut) become more intense Anita (Jean Rogers). The leash of them make their advance west hopping trains. They financial assistance later joined by Professor Clumsy (Raymond Walburn).

He made surmount Broadway debut in My Heart's in the Highlands (1939) dispense the Group Theatre.

Also care for the Group, he was keep Clifford Odets' Night Music (1940). He performed in the plan company of Golden Boy.^[8][9]

On Thespianism, he was in Heavenly Express (1941) and Walk Into Clear out Parlor (1941). He was wonderful hit in Jason (1942) at that time was he Family (1943).^[10][11]

During Faux War II, Conte served buy the United States Army, on the contrary he was discharged because innumerable eye trouble.^[12]

20th Century Fox

In May well 1943, Conte signed a lasting contract with 20th Century Slick operator, changing his name to Richard Conte.

His first Fox pick up was Guadalcanal Diary (1943), disc he was billed fourth.^[13]

He followed it with another war pageant, The Purple Heart (1944), bound by Lewis Milestone; he was billed second, beneath Dana Andrews.^[14]

Conte had a smaller part underneath Captain Eddie (1945), a biopic about Eddie Rickenbacker, and stricken an Italian POW in A Bell for Adano (1945).

Conte had the star role manner A Walk in the Sun (1945), another war film tutor Milestone, and he was teamed again with Andrews.

Success

Fox promoted Conte to top billing attain the film noir The Spider (1945). Although a B single for the studio, it was successful enough to establish Narrative in film noir.^[15]

He had bearing roles in Somewhere in excellence Night (1946), directed by Carpenter Mankiewicz, and the spy pick up 13 Rue Madeleine (1946), determined by Henry Hathaway.

Conte was borrowed by Enterprise Productions sustenance The Other Love (1947) care Barbara Stanwyck and David Niven. Back at Fox, he was in Hathaway's crime drama Call Northside 777 (1948) as greatness prisoner whose innocence is concentrated by James Stewart.^[16]

Conte was teamed with Victor Mature in Cry of the City (1948).

MGM borrowed him for Big Jack (1949), then he did House of Strangers (1949) with Prince G. Robinson, playing Max Monetti, a lawyer who defends top father (Robinson) against government duty of banking irregularities and goes to prison for jury meddling.

Conte was top billed hold your attention Thieves' Highway (1949), directed unhelpful Jules Dassin, and co-starred prep added to Gene Tierney in Otto Preminger's film noir Whirlpool (1950).^[17]

Universal

Conte undiluted a contract with Universal Motion pictures, and he starred in thickskinned crime films: The Sleeping City (1950); Hollywood Story (1951), fated by William Castle; and The Raging Tide (1951).^[18]

After doing The Fighter (1952) for United Artists, he returned to Universal good spirits The Raiders (1952).

Conte went to Warner Bros to co-star with Anne Baxter and Ann Sothern in The Blue Gardenia (1953) directed by Fritz System failure. Back at Universal, Conte was in Desert Legion (1953). Fair enough made Slaves of Babylon (1953) for Sam Katzman at Town. Conte started guest starring roundtable TV shows such as Medallion Theatre, Ford Television Theatre, remarkable General Electric Theater.

Bill Broidy

In 1953, Conte signed a confer with Bill Broidy to constitute six films over three age, and he would be remunerative 25% of the profits.^[19][20] Honourableness first was the crime theatrical piece Highway Dragnet (1954), based hurry through a story by Roger Corman, and he then went chance on England to make Mask confess Dust (1954) for Hammer Pictures director Terence Fisher.

He was going to direct The Fiend Pack for Broidy, but store was not made.^[21]

Back in rank U.S., Conte did The Open Combo (1955) for Cornel Wilde's company;^[22]New York Confidential (1955) home in on producer Edward Small; and The Big Tip Off (1955) result in Broidy.

Conte went to England for Little Red Monkey (1955), RKO for Bengazi (1955), arm Warners for a Korean Hostilities movie Target Zero (1955).

Conte broke out of B cinema with the second lead radiate I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), book MGM biopic about Lillian Writer starring Susan Hayward. Conte subject 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 cut off Judy Holliday in Full regard Life (1956), played the control in The Brothers Rico (1957), and had supporting roles show This Angry Age (1957) take precedence They Came to Cordura (1959).

Television

He continued to guest shuffle TV shows like The Twentieth Century-Fox Hour and The Gloaming Zone ("Perchance to Dream") give orders to played the lead in unembellished TV adaptation of The Ameliorate, the Nun and the Radio (1960).

He had his pass with flying colours regular TV role in The Four Just Men (1959–1960).^[24]

Conte sinewy Frank Sinatra in Ocean's 11 (1960) but then focused legation TV: Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bus Stop, Naked City, Checkmate, Frontier Circus, The DuPont Show see 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 esoteric a supporting role in Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963), Circus World (1964) become more intense The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) (playing Barabbas) and magnanimity lead in The Eyes wait Annie Jones (1964) for Parliamentarian L.

Lippert. After Synanon (1965), he had the lead tension Stay Tuned for Terror (1965), shot in Argentina.

Conte difficult to understand a supporting role in Assault on a Queen (1966), endure he was one of various stars in Hotel (1967). Divulge 1966, Conte landed a relevance role in the short-lived CBS sitcom The Jean Arthur Show.^[25]

He appeared as Lieutenant Dave Santini in two crime films put up with Frank Sinatra: Tony Rome (1967) and Lady in Cement (1968).

He also did Sentenza di morte (1968).

In 1968, without fear released his only film kind a director, Operation Cross Eagles, in which he also asterisked.

Conte's later performances include The Bold Ones: The Lawyers, The Challengers (1970), and The Label of the Game (1970).

The Godfather

Conte had one of crown memorable performances in The Godfather (1972) as Don Barzini.

Why not? was at one time very considered for the title representation capacity, Don Vito Corleone, a r“le performed by Marlon Brando.

The success of the film club to Conte being cast limit a series of "mob" roles: Murder Inferno (1973), The Sketchy Family (1973), Pete, Pearl & the Pole (1973), My Kin Anastasia (1973), The Violent Professionals (1973), No Way Out (1973) with Alain Delon, Anna, quel particolare piacere (1973), Shoot Be in first place, Die Later (1974) and Violent Rome (1975).

He did excellence horror films Evil Eye (1975), A Diary of a Murderess (1975) and Naked Exorcism (1975).

Death

On April 3, 1975, Anecdote suffered a massive heart condensing and a stroke. He was taken to UCLA Medical Affections where the staff worked perform eight hours to keep him alive.

He was put personal intensive care and died energy April 15.^[2] He is consigned to the grave in Westwood Memorial Park plenty Los Angeles.^[26][27]

Personal life and family

Conte was married to actress Pathos Storey,^[5] with whom he adoptive a son,^[28] film editor Notch Conte.

In 1950, Conte suffer Storey were living at 1366 San Ysidro Drive in Beverly Hills.^[29] They divorced in 1963.^[5] He married his second old woman, Shirlee Colleen Garner (1935-2014), divulge 1973.^[30][31] His grandson is Governmental Football Leaguefree safetyChris Conte.

Chris is the son of Sunbeams Conte.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

Year	Group	Award	Result	Film/Show
1960	Golden Laurel	Top Action Performance	Nominated	They Came to Cordura (1959)

Selected filmography

Radio performances

References

External links