Anthony Dexter
Encyclopedia
Anthony John "Tony" Dexter (January 19, 1913 – March 27, 2001) was an American
actor
known for his resemblance of Rudolph Valentino
, whom he portrayed in the 1951 biographic Valentino
. Dexter sometimes used the pseudonym Walter Craig. He was known for portraying many real-life characters such as Captain John Smith, Captain
William Kidd
, Billy the Kid
and Christopher Columbus
.
, he earned an athletic scholarship to St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
and later earned a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa
. During World War II
he served in the U.S. Army's Special Services
in England earning the rank of Sergeant. After the war he performed on Broadway productions of The Three Sisters, Ah, Wilderness and The Barretts of Wimpole Street
.
When preparing a film biography of Rudolph Valentino
Valentino
, producer Edward Small
chose Dexter for the lead from over 75,000 applicants and 400 screen test
s. His incredible likeness to Valentino led to a contract with Columbia Pictures
but hampered him in achieving substantial film roles as when he broke his contract with Edward Small due to his wanting to use him exclusively in Valentino type roles, but soon found other producers wished him to do the same-for less money. He also made three unsuccessful television pilots two of them swashbucklers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
known for his resemblance of Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
, whom he portrayed in the 1951 biographic Valentino
Valentino (1951 film)
Valentino is a 1951 American drama film billed as the life story of movie legend Rudolph Valentino.- Cast :*Anthony Dexter as Rudolph Valentino*Eleanor Parker as Joan Carlisle / Sarah Gray*Richard Carlson as William 'Bill' King...
. Dexter sometimes used the pseudonym Walter Craig. He was known for portraying many real-life characters such as Captain John Smith, Captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
William Kidd
William Kidd
William "Captain" Kidd was a Scottish sailor remembered for his trial and execution for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. Some modern historians deem his piratical reputation unjust, as there is evidence that Kidd acted only as a privateer...
, Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
and Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
.
Biography
Born Walter Reinhold Alfred Fleischmann in NebraskaNebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, he earned an athletic scholarship to St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
and later earned a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the U.S. Army's Special Services
Special Services (entertainment)
Special Services are the entertainment branch of the American military. The unit was created on 22 July 1940 by the War Department as part of the Army Service Forces. Special Services would not only use their own specially trained and talented troops but would often engage local performers.Special...
in England earning the rank of Sergeant. After the war he performed on Broadway productions of The Three Sisters, Ah, Wilderness and The Barretts of Wimpole Street
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a 1934 American film depicting the real-life romance between poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning , despite the opposition of her father Edward Moulton-Barrett . The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture...
.
When preparing a film biography of Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
Valentino
Valentino (1951 film)
Valentino is a 1951 American drama film billed as the life story of movie legend Rudolph Valentino.- Cast :*Anthony Dexter as Rudolph Valentino*Eleanor Parker as Joan Carlisle / Sarah Gray*Richard Carlson as William 'Bill' King...
, producer Edward Small
Edward Small
Edward Small was a film producer from the late 1920s through 1970....
chose Dexter for the lead from over 75,000 applicants and 400 screen test
Screen test
A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film and/or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a camera to see if they are suitable...
s. His incredible likeness to Valentino led to a contract with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
but hampered him in achieving substantial film roles as when he broke his contract with Edward Small due to his wanting to use him exclusively in Valentino type roles, but soon found other producers wished him to do the same-for less money. He also made three unsuccessful television pilots two of them swashbucklers.
Filmography
- ValentinoValentino (1951 film)Valentino is a 1951 American drama film billed as the life story of movie legend Rudolph Valentino.- Cast :*Anthony Dexter as Rudolph Valentino*Eleanor Parker as Joan Carlisle / Sarah Gray*Richard Carlson as William 'Bill' King...
(1951) as Rudolph Valentino - The BrigandThe BrigandThe Brigand is a 1950s romantic adventure filmed in Technicolor and directed by Phil Karlson. It is the second film that Anthony Dexter made for producer Edward Small for Columbia Pictures after his debut in Valentino. Loosely based on The Brigand by Alexandre Dumas, the film is set in the...
(1952) as Carlos Delargo/King Lorenzo III - Captain John Smith and PocahontasCaptain John Smith and PocahontasCaptain John Smith and Pocahontas is a 1953 American historical film directed by Lew Landers. The distributor was United Artists. It stars Anthony Dexter, Jody Lawrance and Alan Hale. It depicts the foundation of the Jamestown Colony in Virginia by English settlers and the relationship between...
(1953) as Captain John Smith - Captain Kidd and the Slave GirlCaptain Kidd and the Slave GirlCaptain Kidd and the Slave Girl is a 1954 Action-adventure film about a woman who disguises herself as a slave girl in order to try to gain information from Captain Kidd about his hidden treasure. The film was directed by Lew Landers, and stars Anthony Dexter, Eva Gabor, and Alan Hale Jr.....
(1954) as Captain William KiddWilliam KiddWilliam "Captain" Kidd was a Scottish sailor remembered for his trial and execution for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. Some modern historians deem his piratical reputation unjust, as there is evidence that Kidd acted only as a privateer... - The Black PiratesThe Black PiratesThe Black Pirates is a 1954 adventure film made by Salvador Films Corp. about a band of Pirates scouring a small Central American town for a buried treasure. The movie was directed by Allen H. Miner and produced from a screenplay by Fred Freiberger and Al C...
(1954) as Dargo - Fire Maidens of Outer Space (1956) as Luther Blair
- He Laughed LastHe Laughed LastHe Laughed Last is a 1956 film by Blake Edwards. A Runyonesque Roaring 20s musical comedy about a show girl who circumstance casts as an unlikely mob boss. Edwards adapted the film for his 1999 off-Broadway show, Big Rosemary. Edwards directed Cady Huffman in the Lucy Marlow role from the original...
(1956) as Dominic Rodriguez - The Parson and the Outlaw (1957) as Billy The KidBilly the KidWilliam H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
- The Story of Mankind (1957) as Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
- The Phantom PlanetThe Phantom PlanetThe Phantom Planet is a science fiction film directed by William Marshall.Footage from the film was used in a 2010 advertising campaign for La Quinta Inns and Suites, an American hotel chain...
(1961) as Herron - Three Blondes in His LifeThree Blondes in His Life- Cast :*Jock Mahoney as Duke Wallace*Greta Thyssen as Helen Fortner*Anthony Dexter as Charlie Walsh*Jesse White as Ed Kelly*Valerie Porter as Martha Carr*Elaine Edwards as Lois Collins...
(1961) as Charlie Walsh - Married Too Young (1962) as Grimes
- Saturday Night Bath in Apple Valley (1965) as an Actor
- Thoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris focuses on a naive young woman who finds herself in the midst of a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss.The...
(1967) as Juarez