Henry Armetta

Biography

Henry Armetta was an American character actor whose career took in at least 150 films, beginning with silent pictures. Born in Palermo, Sicily, he stowed away to America at 14 and settled in New York City, where he took a series of odd jobs and eventually worked as a pants presser at a club. There the actor and producer Raymond Hitchcock helped him win a chorus part in the play A Yankee Consul. After hearing about the growing film industry in southern California, he hitchhiked to Hollywood in 1920 and soon was playing stereotypical Italian parts, often barbers, grocers or restaurant owners. He appeared in more than 152 films, at least 24 of them in 1934 alone, and many without credit. His Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer work included The Big Store (1941) with the Marx Brothers and a brief appearance in Anchors Aweigh (1945). A final film came out the year after his death in 1945.

57years old at death

Born July 4, 1888Palermo
Died October 21, 1945San Diego
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Enrico Armetta (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 22
Career span: 18 years1927 to 1945

Genres

Drama55%, 12 films
Romance50%, 11 films
Comedy41%, 9 films
Music18%, 4 films
Adventure14%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Armetta ended up pressing pants at a well known club, where the actor and producer Raymond Hitchcock became his friend. Hitchcock then landed him a chorus role in the play A Yankee Consul.
A change of course
In 1920, after a friend described the mushrooming film industry in southern California, Armetta hitchhiked to Hollywood. He quickly landed film roles as a stereotypical Italian, frequently a barber, grocer or restaurant owner.
A first
Armetta appeared in at least 24 films in 1934 alone, and his total screen credits ran to over 152 films, many of them uncredited.

Henry Armetta movies on Netflix

Anchors Aweigh1945IMDb rating 7.0as Hamburger Man
The Big Store1941IMDb rating 6.5as Guiseppi
Dust Be My Destiny1939IMDb rating 6.8as Nick Spelucci
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round1937IMDb rating 5.4as Spadoni
Poor Little Rich Girl1936IMDb rating 7.0as Tony
Magnificent Obsession1935IMDb rating 6.8as Tony
Imitation of Life1934IMDb rating 7.5as The Painter
Kiss and Make-Up1934IMDb rating 5.9as Banquet Chairman
The Black Cat1934IMDb rating 6.9as The Sergeant
The Merry Widow1934IMDb rating 7.1as Turk
The Devil's Brother1933IMDb rating 7.0as Matteo
A Farewell to Arms1932IMDb rating 6.4as Bonello - Italian Ambulance Driver
Forbidden1932IMDb rating 6.9as Emile
Red-Headed Woman1932IMDb rating 7.0as Waiter Warning Bill of Lipstick
Scarface1932IMDb rating 7.7as Pietro, the Barber
Speak Easily1932IMDb rating 5.8as Tony
The Trespasser1929IMDb rating 6.4as Barber
A Girl in Every Port1928IMDb rating 6.6as Bartender in Panama
In Old Arizona1928IMDb rating 5.5as Barber
Lonesome1928IMDb rating 7.7as Ferris Wheel Guy
Street Angel1928IMDb rating 7.2as Mascetto
7th Heaven1927IMDb rating 7.5

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Black Cat1934 Adventure, Crime, Horroras The Sergeant
IMDb rating 6.915K votes
Street Angel1928 Dramaas Mascetto
IMDb rating 7.22.8K votes
A Farewell to Arms1932as Bonello - Italian Ambulance Driver
IMDb rating 6.47.7K votes
Imitation of Life1934as The Painter
IMDb rating 7.56.3K votes
The Devil's Brother1933as Matteo
IMDb rating 7.02.2K votes
The Big Store1941as Guiseppi
IMDb rating 6.55.8K votes
Magnificent Obsession1935as Tony
IMDb rating 6.81.4K votes
7th Heaven1927
IMDb rating 7.54.8K votes

Most often with

Frank Borzage directed three of these films, Howard Hawks two and John M. Stahl two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Sidney Bracey

Herman Bing

Boris Karloff

Alan Hale

Doris Lloyd

Andy DevineFrank BorzageDirector, 3 films

Howard HawksDirector, 2 films John M. StahlDirector, 2 films

Films together

Sidney Bracey3 films together, 1932 to 1935
Sidney Bracey's page
- Magnificent Obsession1935IMDb rating 6.8Armetta as TonyBracey as Butler
- Red-Headed Woman1932IMDb rating 7.0Armetta as Waiter Warning Bill of LipstickBracey as Man Wanting to Use Phone Booth
- Speak Easily1932IMDb rating 5.8Armetta as TonyBracey as Jenkins
Herman Bing3 films together, 1932 to 1934
Herman Bing's page
- The Black Cat1934IMDb rating 6.9Armetta as The SergeantBing as Car Steward
- The Merry Widow1934IMDb rating 7.1Armetta as TurkBing as Zizipoff
- A Farewell to Arms1932IMDb rating 6.4Armetta as Bonello - Italian Ambulance DriverBing as Swiss Postal Clerk
Boris Karloff2 films together, 1932 to 1934
Boris Karloff's page
- The Black Cat1934IMDb rating 6.9Armetta as The SergeantKarloff as Hjalmar Poelzig
- Scarface1932IMDb rating 7.7Armetta as Pietro, the BarberKarloff as Gaffney
Alan Hale2 films together, 1934 to 1939
Alan Hale's page
- Dust Be My Destiny1939IMDb rating 6.8Armetta as Nick SpelucciHale as Michael 'Mike' Leonard
- Imitation of Life1934IMDb rating 7.5Armetta as The PainterHale as Martin the Furniture Man
Doris Lloyd2 films together, 1932 to 1934
Doris Lloyd's page
- Kiss and Make-Up1934IMDb rating 5.9Armetta as Banquet ChairmanLloyd as Mme. Durand
- A Farewell to Arms1932IMDb rating 6.4Armetta as Bonello - Italian Ambulance DriverLloyd as Nurse
Andy Devine2 films together, 1928 to 1934
Andy Devine's page
- The Black Cat1934IMDb rating 6.9Armetta as The SergeantDevine as Bit Part
- Lonesome1928IMDb rating 7.7Armetta as Ferris Wheel GuyDevine as Jim's Friend
Frank BorzageDirector, 3 films, 1927 to 1932
All films by Frank Borzage
- A Farewell to Arms1932IMDb rating 6.4Armetta as Bonello - Italian Ambulance Driver
- Street Angel1928IMDb rating 7.2Armetta as Mascetto
- 7th Heaven1927IMDb rating 7.5
Howard HawksDirector, 2 films, 1928 to 1932
All films by Howard Hawks
- Scarface1932IMDb rating 7.7Armetta as Pietro, the Barber
- A Girl in Every Port1928IMDb rating 6.6Armetta as Bartender in Panama
John M. StahlDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1935
All films by John M. Stahl
- Magnificent Obsession1935IMDb rating 6.8Armetta as Tony
- Imitation of Life1934IMDb rating 7.5Armetta as The Painter
Also two films together24 more actors
- George DavisMagnificent Obsession (1935) and The Black Cat (1934)
- Edward Everett HortonKiss and Make-Up (1934) and The Merry Widow (1934)
- Adolphe MenjouA Farewell to Arms (1932) and Forbidden (1932)
- Luis AlberniManhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937) and The Black Cat (1934)
- Sara HadenPoor Little Rich Girl (1936) and Magnificent Obsession (1935)
- Una MerkelThe Merry Widow (1934) and Red-Headed Woman (1932)
- Gilbert EmeryMagnificent Obsession (1935) and A Farewell to Arms (1932)
- Jean HarlowRed-Headed Woman (1932) and Scarface (1932)
- Ed BradyRed-Headed Woman (1932) and The Trespasser (1929)
- Ann DvorakManhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937) and Scarface (1932)
- Mary ForbesA Farewell to Arms (1932) and The Trespasser (1929)
- Arthur HoytPoor Little Rich Girl (1936) and Magnificent Obsession (1935)
- Albert ContiThe Black Cat (1934) and Red-Headed Woman (1932)
- Paul StantonThe Big Store (1941) and Poor Little Rich Girl (1936)
- Marcelle CordayA Farewell to Arms (1932) and The Trespasser (1929)
- Thelma ToddThe Devil's Brother (1933) and Speak Easily (1932)
- Purnell PrattScarface (1932) and The Trespasser (1929)
- Blanche FridericiA Farewell to Arms (1932) and The Trespasser (1929)
- Leila HyamsRed-Headed Woman (1932) and A Girl in Every Port (1928)
- Charles FarrellStreet Angel (1928) and 7th Heaven (1927)
- Janet GaynorStreet Angel (1928) and 7th Heaven (1927)
- Gladys BrockwellA Girl in Every Port (1928) and 7th Heaven (1927)
- Lucille LundKiss and Make-Up (1934) and The Black Cat (1934)
- Natalie KingstonA Girl in Every Port (1928) and Street Angel (1928)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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