Richard Conte
Biography
Richard Conte was an American actor known for leading roles in film noir and crime dramas of the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Jersey City, he worked as a truck driver and singing waiter before Elia Kazan and John Garfield helped him into stage work, and he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse on a scholarship. He made his film debut in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence (1939), then signed with 20th Century Fox in 1943 and took the name Richard Conte, appearing in Guadalcanal Diary (1943). His noir and crime credits included Call Northside 777 (1948), Cry of the City (1948), House of Strangers (1949), Whirlpool (1950), The Blue Gardenia (1953) and The Big Combo (1955). He co-starred with Frank Sinatra in Ocean's Eleven (1960), Tony Rome (1967) and Lady in Cement (1968), and played the mob boss Emilio Barzini in The Godfather (1972). He died in 1975.
65years old at death
- Born Jersey City
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Also credited as Nicholas Peter Conte
Movie Career
- Films
- 31
- Career span
- 34 years1939 to 1973
Genres
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A change of course
Before he became an actor, Conte drove a truck, delivered messages, sold shoes and sang as a waiter. Elia Kazan and John Garfield spotted him at a Connecticut resort, and that led to stage work.
Early training
Conte won a scholarship that let him train at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse, and there he stood out as an actor.
A role that slipped away
Conte was at one time considered for the title role of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, a part that went to Marlon Brando.
First role
Conte made his film debut as Nicholas Conte in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence, a 1939 20th Century Fox release. His character Tony was a hobo who encounters Joe and Anita.
Behind the camera
Conte's only work as a director was Operation Cross Eagles, which came out in 1968. He also starred in that film.
Richard Conte movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Henry Hathaway directed three of these films, Lewis Milestone two and Joseph L. Mankiewicz two. Frank Sinatra 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.
Films together
Frank Sinatra's page
Lloyd Nolan's page
Reed Hadley's page
Tito Vuolo's page
Richard Benedict's page
Hope Emerson's page
Henry HathawayDirector, 3 films, 1947 to 1964
All films by Henry Hathaway
Lewis MilestoneDirector, 2 films, 1945 to 1960
All films by Lewis Milestone
All films by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.