Michael Dante (born Ralph Vitti; September 2, 1931 in Stamford, Connecticut) is an American award-winning actor of television, films and stage and a former professional minor league baseball player.As a boy growing up on the West Side neighborhood of Stamford, he would sneak into a local movie theater with his friends to watch westerns."I grew up wanting to be the sidekick of The Lone Ranger and wanting to follow my heroes," Dante told a reporter in 2006.He was a shortstop on the Stamford High School baseball team, then played for "The Advocate All-Stars" team which won a 1949 New England baseball championship.After graduating from high school, Dante signed a bonus contract with the Boston Braves. He used his $6,000 bonus went to buy his family a four-door Buick with whitewalls.
[about producer David Weisbart, for whom he worked on Custer (1967)] Truly, in or out of the business, one of the most wonderful human beings . . . We were doing very well in the ratings until about halfway through the 17 shows, Weisbart was on the golf course and had just uttered the words, "Isn't this a beautiful day, a gorgeous day to be out here . . . " and two minutes later he had a heart attack and died on the golf course.
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Fact
1
As of 2010 was living with his wife, Mary Jane, in Rancho Mirage, CA.
2
Was a shortstop on the Stamford High School baseball team, then played for "The Advocate All-Stars" team which won a 1949 New England baseball championship. He signed a $6,000 bonus contract with the Boston Braves out of high school.
$200,000
