Full Name Enrico Armetta Name Henry Armetta Cause of death heart attack Role Character actor | Occupation Actor | |
 | ||
Born July 4, 1888 ( 1888-07-04 ) Palermo, Sicily, Italy Died October 21, 1945, San Diego, California, United States Spouse Iole Armetta (m. 1920–1945) Movies The Devil's Brother, Street Angel, Imitation of Life, Let's Sing Again, Magnificent Obsession Similar People Charley Rogers, Frank Borzage, John M Stahl, Jack Conway, Sam Wood | ||
Resting place Holy Cross Cemetery Years active 1915–1945; his death | ||
Henry Armetta (July 4, 1888 – October 21, 1945) was an Italian-born American character actor who appeared in at least 150 American films, starting in silents around 1915 to 1946, when his last film was released posthumously.
Contents
Biography
Armetta was born Enrico Armetta in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. At the age of 14, he stowed away on a boat and came to America. The authorities were ready to send him back when an Italian came forwards to act as his sponsor. He performed menial tasks to get by and eventually ended up working as a pants presser in New York City at a well known club where he managed to befriend Raymond Hitchcock, who got him a chorus part in his play A Yankee Consul.
He moved to Hollywood in 1920 and easily found work as stereotypical Italian, often playing a barber, grocer or restaurant owner. He went on to appear in over 152 films (at least 24 films in 1934 alone), sometimes uncredited. In 1938 he appeared in Everybody Sing with Judy Garland, Allan Jones, and Fanny Brice. In 1941, he memorably played the father of a large Italian family shopping for beds in The Big Store opposite the three Marx Brothers.
A much thinner Armetta was briefly glimpsed in one of his last appearances in the 1945 Technicolor musical Anchors Aweigh. He died the same year of a heart attack in San Diego. He was survived by his wife, Yole Armetta, and three children. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Filmography
Actor
1946
Colonel Effingham's Raid as
Jimmy Economy
1945
Anchors Aweigh as
Hamburger Man
1945
Penthouse Rhythm as
Cafe Owner Joe
1945
A Bell for Adano as
Errante - Cart Man
1944
Allergic to Love as
Louie
1944
Ghost Catchers as
Signatelli (uncredited)
1944
Once Upon a Time as
Barber (uncredited)
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars as
Angelo the Barber (uncredited)
1943
Good Luck, Mr. Yates as
Mike Zaloris
1943
Stage Door Canteen as
Henry Armetta
1941
Slick Chick
1941
The Big Store as
Giuseppe
1941
Caught in the Act as
Mike Ripportella
1940
We Who Are Young as
Tony
1940
You're Not So Tough as
Salvatore
1940
The Man Who Talked Too Much as
Tony Spirella
1940
3 Cheers for the Irish as
Tony
1939
Boss Foreman
1939
The Escape as
Guiseppi Peronni
1939
Rio as
Headwaiter (uncredited)
1939
Dust Be My Destiny as
Nick
1939
I Stole a Million as
Nick
1939
The Lady and the Mob as
Zambrogio
1939
Winner Take All as
Papa Luigi Gambini
1939
Fisherman's Wharf as
Beppo
1938
Road Demon as
Papa Luigi Gambini
1938
Submarine Patrol as
Luigi
1938
My Pop (Short)
1938
Speed to Burn as
Papa Gambini
1938
Everybody Sing as
Signor Vittorino
1937
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round as
Spadoni
1937
Make a Wish as
Moreta
1937
Top of the Town as
Bacciagalluppi
1936
The Magnificent Brute as
Buzell
1936
Two in a Crowd as
Toscani
1936
The Crime of Dr. Forbes as
Luigi
1936
Poor Little Rich Girl as
Tony
1936
Let's Sing Again as
Joe Pasquale
1936
Carnival Day (Short) as
Tony
1935
Magnificent Obsession as
Tony
1935
3 Kids and a Queen as
Tony Orsatti
1935
Romance of the West (Short)
1935
Manhattan Moon as
Tony
1935
Unknown Woman as
Joe Scalise
1935
Dinky as
Tony Karamazo - the Junkman
1935
Princess O'Hara as
Spidoni
1935
Straight from the Heart as
Ice Cream Man
1935
I've Been Around as
Italian
1935
Old Age Pension (Short) as
Father
1935
Night Life of the Gods as
Roigi
1935
After Office Hours as
Italian Diner Owner
1934
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head as
Laurent
1934
Henry's Social Splash (Short) as
Henry
1934
Cheating Cheaters as
Prof. Tony Verdi
1934
Imitation of Life as
The Painter
1934
The Merry Widow as
Turk (uncredited)
1934
Two Heads on a Pillow as
Enrico Populopulini
1934
Wake Up and Dream as
Giovanni Cellini
1934
One Night of Love as
Cafe Owner (uncredited)
1934
Embarrassing Moments as
Morganza
1934
Gift of Gab as
Janitor
1934
Hide-Out as
Shuman
1934
Romance in the Rain as
Tulio
1934
Kiss and Make-Up as
Banquet Chairman (uncredited)
1934
Half a Sinner as
The Barber
1934
Let's Talk It Over as
Tony
1934
Good Time Henry (Short) as
Henry Armetta
1934
The Black Cat as
The Sergeant
1934
Viva Villa! as
Alfredo Mendosa
1934
Ceiling Whacks (Short)
1934
Full Coverage (Short)
1934
The Cat and the Fiddle as
Taxi Driver
1934
The Poor Rich as
Tony
1934
Cross Country Cruise as
The Italian
1933
Open Sesame (Short)
1933
Too Much Harmony as
Mr. Gallotti
1933
Hello Pop (Short) as
Italian Musician
1933
Her First Mate as
Socrates
1933
Laughing at Life as
Fruit Vendor
1933
Don't Bet on Love as
Caparillo, Barber (uncredited)
1933
The Devil's Brother as
Matteo
1933
So This Is Africa as
Street Cleaner (uncredited)
1933
The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble as
Captain Silva
1933
Pick Me Up (Short)
1933
The Trial of Vince Barnett (Short) as
Judge
1933
What-No Beer? as
Tony
1933
Family Troubles (Short)
1932
Rasputin and the Empress as
Photographer (uncredited)
1932
They Just Had to Get Married as
Tony
1932
Central Park as
Tony, Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
1932
A Farewell to Arms as
Bonello (uncredited)
1932
Uptown New York as
Nick - Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)
1932
Men of America as
Tony Garboni
1932
Prosperity as
Henry, a Barber
1932
Deception as
Nick
1932
Hat Check Girl as
Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
1932
Okay America! as
Sam
1932
Who, Me? (Short)
1932
Speak Easily as
Tony
1932
Bachelor's Affairs as
Tony - Cosmetician (uncredited)
1932
Red-Headed Woman as
Waiter Warning Bill of Lipstick (uncredited)
1932
Week Ends Only as
Washroom Attendant
1932
Huddle as
Mr. Amatto
1932
The Doomed Battalion as
Angelo
1932
Scarface as
Pietro - Barber (uncredited)
1932
Steady Company as
Tony Capri
1932
Arsène Lupin as
Sheriff's Man
1932
The Passionate Plumber as
Bouncer
1932
High Pressure as
Italian Investor (uncredited)
1932
Forbidden as
Emile (uncredited)
1931
Sightseeing in New York (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1931
The Unholy Garden as
Nick the Goose
1931
New Adventures of Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford as
Henry - Barber (uncredited)
1931
Hush Money as
Bootlegger (uncredited)
1931
Five and Ten as
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1931
Just a Gigolo as
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
1931
Laughing Sinners as
Tony (uncredited)
1931
Strangers May Kiss as
Waiter
1931
A Tailor Made Man as
Peter, Tailor
1931
La mujer X as
Bit Role (uncredited)
1931
The Wife O'Riley (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1931
He Loved Her Not (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Hey Diddle Diddle (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Moonlight and Monkey Business (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Sei tu l'amore as
The Exporter (as Enrico Armetto)
1930
Razored in Old Kentucky (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Society Goes Spaghetti (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Romance as
Beppo
1930
Little Accident as
Rudolpho Amendelara
1930
Who's Got the Body? (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Off to Peoria (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
The Sins of the Children as
Tony the Barber
1930
Barnum Was Wrong (Short) as
Tony (as Tony Martin)
1930
Ladies Love Brutes as
Tony, the Waiter (uncredited)
1930
Die Sehnsucht jeder Frau as
Angelo
1930
Lovin' the Ladies as
Signore Sagatelli
1930
The Girl Said No as
Grove Cafe Waiter (uncredited)
1930
A Lady to Love as
Angelo
1930
The Ship from Shanghai as
Sailor (uncredited)
1930
The Climax as
Anton Donatelli
1929
The Trespasser as
Barber (uncredited)
1929
Jazz Heaven as
Tony
1929
Love, Live and Laugh as
Tony
1929
Half Marriage as
Henry - Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
1929
Sunny Side Up as
Italian Husband (uncredited)
1929
Madame X as
Hotel Owner (uncredited)
1929
Lady of the Pavements as
Papa Pierre
1928
Four A.M. (Short)
1928
In Old Arizona as
Barber (uncredited)
1928
Homesick as
Bicycle Rider
1928
The Red Dance as
Prisoner (uncredited)
1928
Lonesome as
Ferris wheel guy (uncredited)
1928
Street Angel as
Masetto
1928
A Girl in Every Port as
Bartender in Panama (uncredited)
1927
Paid to Love as
Valet (uncredited)
1927
A Midsummer Night's Steam (Short)
1927
7th Heaven as
Extra (uncredited)
1927
Girls (Short) as
Cafe Customer - Husband (uncredited)
1927
The Missing Link as
Organ Grinder
1925
The Desert's Price as
Shepherd
1923
The Silent Command as
Pedro
1920
Fantomas as
The Wop
1920
The Face at Your Window as
Danglo
1919
The Jungle Trail as
Grogas
1917
The Eternal Sin as
The Jester
1916
The Marble Heart
1915
The Plunderer as
Pedro
1915
The Nigger
Soundtrack
1939
Fisherman's Wharf (performer: "Fisherman's Chanty" (1939))
1938
Speed to Burn (performer: "My Wild Irish Rose")
1934
Wake Up and Dream (performer: "When You're in Love")
1930
Lovin' the Ladies (performer: "You're Always in My Arms" (1929) - uncredited)
Self
1935
Screen Snapshots Series 14, No. 13 (Documentary short) as
Self
1935
Screen Snapshots Series 14, No. 6 (Short documentary) as
Self
Archive Footage
1933
Going Hollywood as
Henry Armetta (uncredited)
References
Henry Armetta Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA