His full name was Giuseppe Maria Spurrin-Calleja - but he was better known as Joseph or Joe Calleia, one of Hollywood's most recognized bad guys. But Calleia's roots and talents ran much deeper than character actor. He was Maltese, born on that barren but historically important island of Malta between Italy and Africa in the Mediterranean. The ...
Before becoming an actor he was a professional opera singer.
2
During his retirement time in Malta he received a telegram from Francis Ford Coppola, who offered him the part of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972). As much as Coppola wanted Calleia for the part, Calleia had to refuse because of health reasons.
3
Orson Welles was extremely impressed by a stage performance of Calleia's in the mid-1930s and vowed to work with him. They finally worked together over 20 years later in Touch of Evil (1958).
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
TV Series
Cagewa
Johnny Cool
1963
Tourist
The Alamo
1960
Juan Seguin
Cry Tough
1959
Sr. Estrada
Zorro
1959
TV Series
Padre Simeon
The Phil Silvers Show
1959
TV Series
Alfredo
Have Gun - Will Travel
1958
TV Series
Sheriff Sam Truett
The Light in the Forest
1958
Chief Cuyloga
Touch of Evil
1958
Police Sergeant Pete Menzies
Wild Is the Wind
1957
Alberto
Serenade
1956
Maestro Marcatello
Hot Blood
1956
Papa Theodore
The Littlest Outlaw
1955
Padre
The Treasure of Pancho Villa
1955
Pablo Morales
Underwater!
1955
Rico Herrera
The Caddy
1953
Papa Anthony
The Iron Mistress
1952
Juan Moreno
Yankee Buccaneer
1952
Count Domingo Del Prado
When in Rome
1952
Aggiunto Bodulli
The Light Touch
1951
Lt. Massiro
Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
1951
TV Series
Valentino
1951
Luigi Verducci
Vendetta
1950
Mayor Guido Barracini
Branded
1950
Rubriz
The Palomino
1950
Miguel Gonzales
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
1950
Dr. Lunati
The Silk Noose
1948
Sugiani
Four Faces West
1948
Monte Marquez
The Noose Hangs High
1948
Nick Craig
Lured
1947
Dr. Nicholas Moryani
The Beginning or the End
1947
Dr. Enrico Fermi
Deadline at Dawn
1946
Val Bartelli
Gilda
1946
Det. Maurice Obregon
The Conspirators
1944
Police Captain Pereira
The Cross of Lorraine
1943
Rodriguez
For Whom the Bell Tolls
1943
El Sordo
The Glass Key
1942
Nick Varna
Jungle Book
1942
Buldeo
Sundown
1941
Pallini
The Monster and the Girl
1941
Deacon
Wyoming
1940
John Buckley
My Little Chickadee
1940
Jeff Badger
Full Confession
1939
Father Loma
Golden Boy
1939
Eddie Fuseli
Five Came Back
1939
Vasquez
The Gorilla
1939
Stranger
Juarez
1939
Alejandro Uradi
Algiers
1938
Slimane
Marie Antoinette
1938
Drouet
The Bad Man of Brimstone
1937
Ben
Man of the People
1937
Jack Moreno
After the Thin Man
1936
'Dancer'
Sinner Take All
1936
Penny
Sworn Enemy
1936
Joe Emerald
His Brother's Wife
1936
'Fish-Eye'
Tough Guy
1936
Joseph 'Joe' Calerno
Exclusive Story
1936
Ace Acello
Riffraff
1936
Nick Lewis
Public Hero #1
1935
Sonny
The Divorce Racket
1932
Stephen Arnaud
His Woman
1931
The Agent (as Joe Spurin Calleia)
My Sin
1931
Juan
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Robin Hood of El Dorado
1936
screenplay
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Here's Hollywood
1962
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1958-1961
TV Series
Chief Cuyloga / Padre
Known for movies
Touch of Evil (1958) as Police Sergeant Pete Menzies
$1.4 Million
