Henry Armetta
Henry Armetta was an American character actor who appeared in at least 150 American films, beginning in silent movies. His last film was released posthumously in 1946, the year after his death.
Biography
Armetta was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. At the age of 14, he stowed away on a boat to America. The immigration authorities were prepared to send him back, but he found an Italian family to act as his sponsor. He settled in New York City where he delivered groceries, sold sandwiches and pizzas and performed other menial tasks to get by. He eventually ended up working as a pants presser at a well known club where he was befriended by actor/producer Raymond Hitchcock. Hitchcock got him a chorus part in his play A Yankee Consul.
After a friend told him about southern California's mushrooming film industry, Armetta hitchhiked to Hollywood in 1920 and soon found work in films as a stereotypical Italian, often playing a barber, grocer or restaurant owner. He went on to appear in over 152 films, often uncredited. Armetta appeared in several films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer including Romance starring Greta Garbo, What! No Beer? with Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante, Everybody Sing featuring Judy Garland, Allan Jones, and Fanny Brice, The Big Store opposite the Marx Brothers, and a much thinner Armetta was briefly glimpsed in one of his last appearances in the MGM Technicolor musical Anchors Aweigh with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.
Death
Armetta died in 1945 of a heart attack in San Diego, California, aged 57. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Selected filmography
The Plunderer – PedroThe Marble Heart The Eternal Sin – The JesterThe Jungle Trail – GrogasThe Face at Your Window – DangloFantômas – The WopThe Silent Command – PedroThe Desert's Price – ShepherdThe Missing Link – Organ Grinder7th Heaven – Minor Role Paid to Love – Valet A Girl in Every Port – Bartender in Panama Street Angel – MasettoLonesome – Ferris wheel guy The Red Dance – Prisoner Homesick – Bicycle RiderIn Old Arizona – Barber Lady of the Pavements – Papa PierreMadame X – Hotel Owner Half Marriage – Henry – Hot Dog Vendor Jazz Heaven – TonyLove, Live and Laugh – TonyThe Trespasser – Barber Sunny Side Up – Italian Husband The Climax – Anton DonatelliThe Ship from Shanghai – Sailor A Lady to Love – AngeloThe Girl Said No – Grove Cafe Waiter Lovin' the Ladies – Signore SagatelliLadies Love Brutes – Tony, the Waiter Die Sehnsucht jeder Frau – AngeloThe Sins of the Children – Tony the BarberThe Little Accident – Rudolpho AmendelaraRomance – BeppoSei tu l'amore – The exporterLa mujer X – Minor Role A Tailor Made Man – Peter, TailorStrangers May Kiss – WaiterLaughing Sinners – Tony Just a Gigolo – Hotel Manager Five and Ten – Taxi Driver Hush Money – Bootlegger New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford – Henry – Barber The Unholy Garden – Nick the GooseForbidden – Emile High Pressure – Italian Investor The Passionate Plumber – BouncerArsène Lupin – Sheriff's ManSteady Company – Tony CapriScarface – Pietro – Barber Doomed Battalion – AngeloHuddle – Mr. AmattoWeek Ends Only – Washroom AttendantRed-Headed Woman – Waiter Warning Bill of Lipstick Bachelor's Affairs – Tony – Cosmetician Speak Easily – TonyOkay, America! – SamHat Check Girl – Water Wagon Driver Deception – NickProsperity – Henry, a BarberMen of America – Tony GarboniUptown New York – Nick – Restaurant Proprietor A Farewell to Arms – Bonello – Italian Ambulance Driver Central Park – Tony, Hot Dog Vendor They Just Had to Get Married – TonyRasputin and the Empress – Photographer What! No Beer? – TonyThe Cohens and Kellys in Trouble – Captain SilvaSo This Is Africa – Street Cleaner Fra Diavolo – MatteoDon't Bet on Love – Caparillo, Barber Laughing at Life – Fruit VendorHer First Mate – SocratesToo Much Harmony – Mr. GallottiCross Country Cruise – The ItalianThe Poor Rich – TonyThe Cat and the Fiddle – Taxi DriverViva Villa! – Alfredo MendosaThe Black Cat – The SergeantHalf a Sinner – The BarberLet's Talk It Over – TonyKiss and Make-Up – Banquet ChairmanRomance in the Rain – TulioHide-Out – ShumanGift of Gab – JanitorEmbarrassing Moments – MorganzaOne Night of Love – Cafe Owner Wake Up and Dream – Giovanni CelliniTwo Heads on a Pillow – Enrico PopulopuliniThe Merry Widow – Turk Imitation of Life – The PainterCheating Cheaters – Prof. Tony VerdiThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head – LaurentAfter Office Hours – Italian Diner OwnerNight Life of the Gods – RoigiI've Been Around – ItalianStraight from the Heart – Ice Cream ManPrincess O'Hara – SpidoniDinky – Tony Karamazo – the JunkmanUnknown Woman – Joe ScaliseManhattan Moon – TonyThree Kids and a Queen – Tony OrsattiMagnificent Obsession – TonyLet's Sing Again – Joe PasqualePoor Little Rich Girl – TonyThe Crime of Dr. Forbes – LuigiTwo in a Crowd – ToscaniThe Magnificent Brute – BuzellTop of the Town – BacciagalluppiMake a Wish – MoretaManhattan Merry-Go-Round – SpadoniEverybody Sing – Signor VittorinoSpeed to Burn – Papa GambiniSubmarine Patrol – LuigiRoad Demon – Papa Luigi GambiniFisherman's Wharf – BeppoWinner Take All – Papa Luigi GambiniThe Lady and the Mob – ZambrogioI Stole a Million – NickDust Be My Destiny – NickRio – Headwaiter The Escape – Guiseppi PeronniBoss Foreman Three Cheers for the Irish – TonyThe Man Who Talked Too Much – Tony SpirellaYou're Not So Tough – SalvatoreWe Who Are Young – TonyCaught in the Act – Mike RipportellaThe Big Store – GuiseppiSlick Chick Stage Door Canteen – HimselfGood Luck, Mr. Yates – Mike ZalorisThank Your Lucky Stars – Angelo the Barber Once Upon a Time – Barber Ghost Catchers – Signatelli Allergic to Love – LouieA Bell for Adano – Errante – Cart ManPenthouse Rhythm – Cafe Owner JoeAnchors Aweigh – Hamburger ManColonel Effingham's Raid – Jimmy Economy