Joseph Calleia

Biography

Joseph Calleia was a Maltese-born actor and singer who worked on Broadway, in Hollywood films, and on radio and television. Raised in Notabile, now Mdina, Malta, he came to the United States and began in musical comedy before taking Broadway roles in The Front Page, The Last Mile and Grand Hotel. Small Miracle, in which he played a murderer, made him a star and led to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He was known for villainous parts but fought typecasting, creating characters who were dark and mysterious yet touched with humor, among them Gilda (1946), The Glass Key (1942) and Golden Boy (1939). During World War II he headed Malta War Relief in America and toured for the Hollywood Victory Committee and the USO. He also starred in the 1948 London premiere of Arthur Miller's All My Sons, and his performance in Orson Welles's Touch of Evil (1958) was regarded as among his finest work.

78years old at death

Born August 4, 1897Mdina
Died October 31, 1975Sliema
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as Joseph Spurin-Calleia, Joseph Spurin and Joseph Spurin Calleja

Movie Career

Films: 26
Career span: 29 years1931 to 1960

Genres

Drama58%, 15 films
Adventure23%, 6 films
Romance23%, 6 films
Comedy19%, 5 films
Crime19%, 5 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Joseph Calleia was replaced by Warner Baxter in the title role of I Am Joaquin, later retitled Robin Hood of El Dorado, after MGM decided Calleia was too old, even though Baxter was six years older.
First role
The Henry W. Savage agency sent Calleia to Denver, and there he first appeared on stage, singing in the chorus of Have a Heart, a musical comedy by Jerome Kern.
Big break
Calleia became a star with the Broadway play Small Miracle, in which he played his first real role as a villain, leading Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to put him under contract.

Joseph Calleia movies on Netflix

The Alamo1960IMDb rating 6.8as Juan Seguin
Touch of Evil1958IMDb rating 7.9as Police Sergeant Pete Menzies
Serenade1956IMDb rating 5.7as Marcatello
The Littlest Outlaw1955IMDb rating 6.0as Padre
Underwater!1955IMDb rating 5.3as Rico Herrera
The Caddy1953IMDb rating 6.3as Papa Anthony
Branded1950IMDb rating 6.7as Rubriz
Four Faces West1948IMDb rating 7.0as Monte Marquez
The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6as Nick Craig
Lured1947IMDb rating 7.0as Nicholas Moryani
The Beginning or the End1947IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Enrico Fermi
Deadline at Dawn1946IMDb rating 6.8as Val Bartelli
Gilda1946IMDb rating 7.6as Det. Maurice Obregon
For Whom the Bell Tolls1943IMDb rating 6.8as El Sordo
The Cross of Lorraine1943IMDb rating 6.6as Rodriguez
Jungle Book1942IMDb rating 6.7as Buldeo
The Glass Key1942IMDb rating 7.0as Nick Varna
Sundown1941IMDb rating 5.7as Pallini
The Monster and the Girl1941IMDb rating 6.0as Deacon
My Little Chickadee1940IMDb rating 6.8as Jeff Badger
Five Came Back1939IMDb rating 7.1as Vasquez
Golden Boy1939IMDb rating 6.8as Eddie Fuseli
Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8as Alejandro Uradi
The Gorilla1939IMDb rating 4.8as Stranger
After the Thin Man1936IMDb rating 7.6as 'Dancer'
My Sin1931IMDb rating 6.5as Juan

Best known for

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

Top

Touch of Evil1958 Crime, Drama, Film-Noir, Thrilleras Police Sergeant Pete Menzies
IMDb rating 7.9116K votes
Gilda1946 Drama, Film-Noir, Romanceas Det. Maurice Obregon
IMDb rating 7.638K votes
After the Thin Man1936as 'Dancer'
IMDb rating 7.613K votes
Jungle Book1942as Buldeo
IMDb rating 6.75.1K votes
The Alamo1960as Juan Seguin
IMDb rating 6.820K votes
My Little Chickadee1940as Jeff Badger
IMDb rating 6.83.4K votes
The Glass Key1942as Nick Varna
IMDb rating 7.08.0K votes
Lured1947as Nicholas Moryani
IMDb rating 7.05.9K votes

Most often with

Stuart Heisler directed two of these films, Norman Taurog two. Frank Puglia appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Frank Puglia

Bess Flowers

Cedric Hardwicke

George Zucco

Martin Garralaga

George SandersStuart HeislerDirector, 2 films Norman TaurogDirector, 2 films

Films together

Frank Puglia4 films together, 1942 to 1956
Frank Puglia's page
- Serenade1956IMDb rating 5.7Calleia as MarcatelloPuglia as Manuel Montes
- The Caddy1953IMDb rating 6.3Calleia as Papa AnthonyPuglia as Mr. Spezzato
- For Whom the Bell Tolls1943IMDb rating 6.8Calleia as El SordoPuglia as Captain Gomez
- Jungle Book1942IMDb rating 6.7Calleia as BuldeoPuglia as The Pundit
Bess Flowers3 films together, 1942 to 1956
Bess Flowers's page
- Serenade1956IMDb rating 5.7Calleia as MarcatelloFlowers as Opera Attendee
- The Noose Hangs High1948IMDb rating 6.6Calleia as Nick CraigFlowers as Fainting Psychiatrist's Patient
- The Glass Key1942IMDb rating 7.0Calleia as Nick VarnaFlowers as Henrys' Dinner Guest
Cedric Hardwicke3 films together, 1941 to 1947
Cedric Hardwicke's page
- Lured1947IMDb rating 7.0Calleia as Nicholas MoryaniHardwicke as Julian Wilde
- The Cross of Lorraine1943IMDb rating 6.6Calleia as RodriguezHardwicke as Father Sebastian
- Sundown1941IMDb rating 5.7Calleia as PalliniHardwicke as l'évêque Coombes
George Zucco3 films together, 1936 to 1947
George Zucco's page
- Lured1947IMDb rating 7.0Calleia as Nicholas MoryaniZucco as H.R. Barrett
- The Monster and the Girl1941IMDb rating 6.0Calleia as DeaconZucco as Dr. Parry
- After the Thin Man1936IMDb rating 7.6Calleia as 'Dancer'Zucco as Dr. Kammer
Martin Garralaga3 films together, 1948 to 1956
Martin Garralaga's page
- Serenade1956IMDb rating 5.7Calleia as MarcatelloGarralaga as Romero
- Branded1950IMDb rating 6.7Calleia as RubrizGarralaga as Hernandez
- Four Faces West1948IMDb rating 7.0Calleia as Monte MarquezGarralaga as Florencio
George Sanders2 films together, 1941 to 1947
George Sanders's page
- Lured1947IMDb rating 7.0Calleia as Nicholas MoryaniSanders as Robert Fleming
- Sundown1941IMDb rating 5.7Calleia as PalliniSanders as Major A.L. Coombes
Stuart HeislerDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1942
All films by Stuart Heisler
- The Glass Key1942IMDb rating 7.0Calleia as Nick Varna
- The Monster and the Girl1941IMDb rating 6.0Calleia as Deacon
Norman TaurogDirector, 2 films, 1947 to 1953
All films by Norman Taurog
- The Caddy1953IMDb rating 6.3Calleia as Papa Anthony
- The Beginning or the End1947IMDb rating 6.5Calleia as Dr. Enrico Fermi
Also two films together20 more actors
- Henry O'NeillThe Beginning or the End (1947) and Juarez (1939)
- Marc LawrenceSundown (1941) and The Monster and the Girl (1941)
- Brian DonlevyThe Beginning or the End (1947) and The Glass Key (1942)
- Akim TamiroffTouch of Evil (1958) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)
- Steven GerayDeadline at Dawn (1946) and Gilda (1946)
- Joe SawyerDeadline at Dawn (1946) and Gilda (1946)
- Harry DavenportJuarez (1939) and My Sin (1931)
- Lucille BallLured (1947) and Five Came Back (1939)
- Gilbert RolandUnderwater! (1955) and Juarez (1939)
- Hume CronynThe Beginning or the End (1947) and The Cross of Lorraine (1943)
- Willard RobertsonThe Monster and the Girl (1941) and My Little Chickadee (1940)
- William 'Billy' BenedictThe Glass Key (1942) and My Little Chickadee (1940)
- Charles BickfordBranded (1950) and Four Faces West (1948)
- Alan LaddBranded (1950) and The Glass Key (1942)
- Sam LeveneGolden Boy (1939) and After the Thin Man (1936)
- Paul LukasDeadline at Dawn (1946) and The Monster and the Girl (1941)
- Pedro de CordobaFor Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) and Five Came Back (1939)
- Robert KeithUnderwater! (1955) and Branded (1950)
- Gerald MohrGilda (1946) and The Monster and the Girl (1941)
- George MeaderThe Glass Key (1942) and The Monster and the Girl (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.