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Joseph Calleia

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Actor

The Resume

    (August 4, 1897-October 31, 1975)
    Born in Mdina, Malta
    Appeared in the films ‘Public Hero #1’ (1935), ‘Algiers’ (1938), ‘Marie Antoinette’ (1938), ‘Juarez’ (1939), ‘Five Came Back’ (1939), ‘Golden Boy’ (1939), ‘My Little Chickadee’ (1940), ‘The Glass Key’ (1942), ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (1943), ‘Gilda’ (1946), ‘The Beginning of the End’ (1947), ‘Vendetta’ (1950), ‘Underwater!’ (1955), ‘Touch of Evil’ (1958), and ‘The Alamo’ (1960)
    Appeared on Broadway in ‘The Front Page’ (1928-29), ‘Grand Hotel’ (1930-31), ‘Honeymoon’ (1932-33), ‘Ten Minute Alibi’ (1933-34), and ‘Small Miracle’ (1934-35)
    Last name pronounced Cal-AY-ah

Why he might be annoying:

    He had four middle names: Alexander, Caesar, Herstall, and Vincent.
    He originally appeared on stage using his mother’s maiden name, Spurin, because his father disapproved of acting; he then went by the hyphenated Spurin-Calleia, before reverting to his original last name.
    MGM fired him from ‘Robin Hood of El Dorado’ for being too old – then replaced him with Warner Baxter, who was eight years older (1935).

Why he might not be annoying:

    While breaking into acting, he sold pianos, and was so successful that he was offered the chance to manage his own store.
    He served with the British Transport Service during World War I, and was hospitalized for three months after his ship was torpedoed.
    During World War II, he headed the American branch of the Malta War Relief Fund and toured with the USO.
    Orson Welles said, ‘He’s always played very stereotyped parts in pictures, but is one of the best actors I’ve ever known.’
    When he retired to Malta, his house was the first one on the island with air conditioning.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying