Remembering Eduardo Cianelli

Eduardo Cianelli was born in Ischia, Italy on August 30, 1889 and graduated from the University of Naples with a degree in medicine. He found his calling in Opera and made a name for himself throughout Italy. He came to the United States in the early 1920s and expanded his acting repertoire to include stage plays. Eduardo, now Edward, made his Broadway debut in “Rose Marie” (1925) and his American film debut in “Reunion in Vienna” 1933. He would make a name for himself in American films as a villain in many serials and films. He would appear in major films including “Gunga Din” (1939), “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (1943) “Dillinger” (1945) and “The Secret of Santa Vittoria” (1969). He returned to Italy in the 1960s and would appear in two Spaghetti Westerns “Massacre at Grand Canyon” (1963) and “Boot Hill” (1969). Eduardo is the father of actor Lewis E. Cianelli. Eduardo Cianelli died of cancer on October 18, 1969 in Rome. Today we celebrate what would have been his 120th birthday.