Jay Novello

Biography

Jay Novello was an American character actor who performed in radio, film, and television over a career that spanned 47 years. He began in 1930s radio, where his roles included Jack Packard on I Love a Mystery and Captain Sam Sabaaya on Rocky Jordan, a Cairo police officer. Born in Chicago, he went on to film work in which he was often cast as pompous or fussy professionals, or as ethnic characters such as Italians, Spaniards, and Mexicans. Frank Capra gave him the role of an officious Spanish consul in Pocketful of Miracles (1961), one of his more notable parts. His other films included They Met in Bombay (1941), Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953), The Mad Magician (1954), The Lost World (1960), and Escape from Zahrain (1962). On television he was a regular on McHale's Navy as the con artist Mayor Mario Lugatto, and he guest starred on I Love Lucy and Zorro.

78years old at death

Born August 22, 1904Chicago
Died September 2, 1982North Hollywood
Star sign: LeoLast day of the sign, on the Virgo cusp

Movie Career

Films: 21
Career span: 36 years1941 to 1977

Genres

Drama52%, 11 films
Adventure33%, 7 films
Comedy29%, 6 films
Romance24%, 5 films
Crime19%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Novello's first television guest-starring part came in 1951, when he was seen on CBS's The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.

Jay Novello movies on Netflix

The Domino Principle1977IMDb rating 5.7as Capt. Ruiz
The Caper of the Golden Bulls1967IMDb rating 6.2as Carlos
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?1966IMDb rating 6.6as Mayor Romano
Harum Scarum1965IMDb rating 4.6as Zacha
Escape from Zahrain1962IMDb rating 6.0as Hassan
Atlantis: The Lost Continent1961IMDb rating 5.5as Xandros the Greek Slave
Pocketful of Miracles1961IMDb rating 7.1as Cortego
The Lost World1960IMDb rating 5.5as Costa
The Wonderful Country1959IMDb rating 6.1as Diego Casas
The Perfect Furlough1958IMDb rating 6.3as Rene Valentin
The Pride and the Passion1957IMDb rating 5.7as Ballinger
The Mad Magician1954IMDb rating 6.5as Frank Prentiss
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef1953IMDb rating 5.6as Sinan
Crime Wave1953IMDb rating 7.3as Dr. Otto Hessler
The Big Sky1952IMDb rating 6.9as Trapper
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima1952IMDb rating 6.8as António Abóbora dos Santos
Tell It to the Judge1949IMDb rating 6.4as Gancellos
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands1948IMDb rating 6.8as Sea Captain of Pelicano
Man from Music Mountain1943IMDb rating 6.4as Bzrker - Henchman
Bad Man of Deadwood1941IMDb rating 5.8as Monte Burns
They Met in Bombay1941IMDb rating 6.6as Bolo

Best known for

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

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Crime Wave1953 Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Dr. Otto Hessler
IMDb rating 7.35.5K votes
The Pride and the Passion1957 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Ballinger
IMDb rating 5.73.6K votes
The Lost World1960as Costa
IMDb rating 5.55.2K votes
Harum Scarum1965as Zacha
IMDb rating 4.62.2K votes
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima1952as António Abóbora dos Santos
IMDb rating 6.81.6K votes
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands1948as Sea Captain of Pelicano
IMDb rating 6.82.5K votes
The Domino Principle1977as Capt. Ruiz
IMDb rating 5.73.7K votes
The Mad Magician1954as Frank Prentiss
IMDb rating 6.52.7K votes

Most often with

Stanley Kramer directed two of these films, John Brahm two and Blake Edwards two. Nineteen actors appear in two 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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Steven Geray

John George

Roy Rogers

Fritz Feld

Gilbert Roland

Vito ScottiStanley KramerDirector, 2 films John BrahmDirector, 2 films

Blake EdwardsDirector, 2 films

Films together

Steven Geray2 films together, 1949 to 1952
Steven Geray's page
- The Big Sky1952IMDb rating 6.9Novello as TrapperGeray as "Frenchy" Jourdonnais
- Tell It to the Judge1949IMDb rating 6.4Novello as GancellosGeray as Francois, the Headwaiter
John George2 films together, 1948 to 1952
John George's page
- The Big Sky1952IMDb rating 6.9Novello as TrapperGeorge as Passerby
- Kiss the Blood Off My Hands1948IMDb rating 6.8Novello as Sea Captain of PelicanoGeorge as Midget
Roy Rogers2 films together, 1941 to 1943
Roy Rogers's page
- Man from Music Mountain1943IMDb rating 6.4Novello as Bzrker - HenchmanRogers as Roy Rogers
- Bad Man of Deadwood1941IMDb rating 5.8Novello as Monte BurnsRogers as Brett Starr aka Bill Brady
Fritz Feld2 films together, 1953 to 1961
Fritz Feld's page
- Pocketful of Miracles1961IMDb rating 7.1Novello as CortegoFeld as Pierre
- Crime Wave1953IMDb rating 7.3Novello as Dr. Otto HesslerFeld as Jess
Gilbert Roland2 films together, 1952 to 1953
Gilbert Roland's page
- Beneath the 12-Mile Reef1953IMDb rating 5.6Novello as SinanRoland as Mike Petrakis
- The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima1952IMDb rating 6.8Novello as António Abóbora dos SantosRoland as Hugo da Silva
Vito Scotti2 films together, 1966 to 1967
Vito Scotti's page
- The Caper of the Golden Bulls1967IMDb rating 6.2Novello as CarlosScotti as François Morel
- What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?1966IMDb rating 6.6Novello as Mayor RomanoScotti as Frederico
Stanley KramerDirector, 2 films, 1957 to 1977
All films by Stanley Kramer
- The Domino Principle1977IMDb rating 5.7Novello as Capt. Ruiz
- The Pride and the Passion1957IMDb rating 5.7Novello as Ballinger
John BrahmDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1954
All films by John Brahm
- The Mad Magician1954IMDb rating 6.5Novello as Frank Prentiss
- The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima1952IMDb rating 6.8Novello as António Abóbora dos Santos
Blake EdwardsDirector, 2 films, 1958 to 1966
All films by Blake Edwards
- What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?1966IMDb rating 6.6Novello as Mayor Romano
- The Perfect Furlough1958IMDb rating 6.3Novello as Rene Valentin
Also two films together13 more actors
- Frank DeKovaAtlantis: The Lost Continent (1961) and The Big Sky (1952)
- Anthony CarusoEscape from Zahrain (1962) and The Wonderful Country (1959)
- Charles HorvathThe Domino Principle (1977) and Atlantis: The Lost Continent (1961)
- I. Stanford JolleyAtlantis: The Lost Continent (1961) and Man from Music Mountain (1943)
- Lynton BrentMan from Music Mountain (1943) and Bad Man of Deadwood (1941)
- Rosalind RussellTell It to the Judge (1949) and They Met in Bombay (1941)
- Horace B. CarpenterMan from Music Mountain (1943) and Bad Man of Deadwood (1941)
- Fred BurnsMan from Music Mountain (1943) and Bad Man of Deadwood (1941)
- Hal TaliaferroMan from Music Mountain (1943) and Bad Man of Deadwood (1941)
- Giovanna RalliThe Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967) and What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
- Leon AskinThe Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967) and What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
- Angela ClarkeBeneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953) and The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
- Larry ChanceHarum Scarum (1965) and The Lost World (1960)
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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