Anthony Quinn Biography, Life, Interesting Facts
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Mexican-American actor Anthony Quinn displayed versatility and power in his movie roles. Anthony Quinn also earned the awards to prove it.
Childhood And Early Life
Anthony Quinn was born on April 21, 1915, in Chihuahua, Mexico. At that time, the country was in the middle of a revolution. The family moved to the United States while he was still a baby. His parents were laborers in California.
When Anthony Quinn was eleven, his father died in an accident. To help support his mother and younger sister, Quinn had to earn some money as well. When Anthony Quinn was a teenager, Anthony Quinn earned money as a professional boxer.
Education
Anthony Quinn attended some schools in his youth. Anthony Quinn went to Belvedere Junior High School, Polytechnic High School, and Belmont High School. However, Anthony Quinn dropped out before graduating.
Anthony Quinn had an interest in art and architecture. In fact, Anthony Quinn was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright encouraged his student's dream of becoming an actor.
Rise To Stardom
Anthony Quinn started his acting career on stage in front of an audience. His first play was in 1936 called “Clean Beds.” Anthony Quinn made movies in the 1930s and 1940s.
Some of his work at that time included the villains of ethnic origins in movies like Dangerous to Know and Road to Morocco. The turning point for international fame started in his award-winning role in the 1952 movie Viva Zapata!.
Career
The 1950s included roles in foreign films, namely Italian films such as La Strada. Anthony Quinn won another award for his portrayal of artist Paul Gauguin in Lust for Life.
As Anthony Quinn established himself more as a powerful actor, he started to have more major roles in movies. Notable movies during the 1960s included Requiem for a Heavyweight and Zorba the Greek. In 1983, Anthony Quinn reprised the role of Zorba the Greek on Broadway in the musical Zorba.
Success did not come as easily for Anthony Quinn in the later years of his career, but he was still active in film. His roles still contributed to popular films such as The Greek Tycoon, Revenge, Jungle Fever, and A Walk in the Clouds to name a few.
His last film was Avenging Angelo with Sylvester Stallone in 2001. Anthony Quinn also played roles in television. Anthony Quinn portrayed the Greek god Zeus in some Hercules TV movies in 1994. Anthony Quinn is also credited in guest roles, television movies, and Spanish-language.
Anthony Quinn also wrote two memoirs in his lifetime: The Original Sin and One Man Tango.
Personal Life And Legacy
Anthony Quinn was married to Katherine DeMille in 1937. Together they had five children. The couple separated in 1965 due to his infidelity. Quinn then married Jolanda Addolori in 1966. They had three children during their union.
However, Anthony Quinn also had two children with Friedel Dunbar during that marriage. Anthony Quinn was also having affairs with several other actresses during that period. Jolanda finally ended the marriage in 1997 as Anthony Quinn was having an affair with his secretary Katherine Benvin. The two married and he had two children with Katherine.
Anthony Quinn died on June 3, 2001, in Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 86.
Awards And Achievements
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Viva Zapata!, 1952
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Lust for Life, 1956
• Six Academy Award nominations
• National Board of Review Award, Best Actor, Zorba the Greek, 1964
• Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, 1987
• First Mexican-American Academy Award winner
Diseases/Disabilities
Anthony Quinn had a speech impediment. He went to speech therapy, but his teacher Frank Lloyd Wright sent him to acting school to help him improve his speech.
Hobbies
Anthony Quinn was fascinated with art as early as six years old. It was a hobby that stayed with him throughout his life. However, when he was in his 80s, he worked more consistently on his paintings and sculptures. He eventually exhibited his artwork around the world
Summary Of Major Works
Film:
• Viva Zapata! (1952)
• Lust for Life (1956)
• Wild is the Wind (1957)
• Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)
• Zorba the Greek (1964)
• The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
• The Children of Sanchez (1978)
• Jungle Fever (1991)
• A Walk in the Clouds (1995)
Television:
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys movies (1994)
• This Can't Be Love (1994)
• Gotti (1996)
Books:
• The Original Sin (1972)
• One Man Tango (1997)