Frank Puglia's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) To Rome With Love Bibo

Main Movie Roles 1962 - Girls! Girls! Girls! 1957 - 20 Million Miles to Earth 1956 - Accused of Murder 1954 - A Star Is Born 1953 - The Caddy 1953 - The Steel Lady 1949 - Colorado Territory 1948 - Joan of Arc 1947 - Road to Rio 1947 - Brute Force 1947 - Fiesta 1947 - My Favorite Brunette 1946 - Without Reservations 1944 - Together Again 1944 - Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 1944 - Passage to Marseille 1944 - Tall in the Saddle 1943 - Phantom of the Opera 1943 - Around the World 1943 - Princess O'Rourke 1943 - Journey Into Fear 1943 - For Whom the Bell Tolls 1943 - Action in the North Atlantic 1943 - Background to Danger 1942 - The Boogie Man Will Get You 1942 - Now, Voyager 1942 - Casablanca 1941 - That Night in Rio 1940 - Charlie Chan in Panama 1940 - Castle on the Hudson 1940 - The Mark of Zorro 1940 - Down Argentine Way 1939 - In Name Only 1939 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1938 - Barefoot Boy 1937 - Maytime 1937 - Thin Ice 1937 - Mannequin 1937 - The Firefly 1936 - Wife vs. Secretary 1935 - Captain Blood 1935 - Bordertown 1934 - Viva Villa! 1928 - The Man Who Laughs 1921 - Orphans of the Storm

BIOGRAPHY:

Puglia started his career at age 15 when he joined a traveling operetta company. Frank appeared in Italian opera from the age of 13. He came to the U.S. in 1907 and worked in a laundry before joining an Italian language theatre group in New York. In 1921, while appearing on stage, he was spotted by D.W. Griffith and was hired immediately. Puglia played a number of ethnic roles throughout his 150+ films career, as well as frequently playing priests, diplomats and musicians.


TRIVIA:

• Had a memorable bit as a Morroccan rug merchant who marks down prices to friends of Rick ('Humphrey Bogart' (qv)) in the classic film _Casablanca (1942)_ (qv).
• Originally cast as Bonasera the undertaker in 'The Godfather' (1972) , but illness forced him to withdraw from the role shortly before shooting began. He was replaced by 'Salvatore Corsitto' (qv).
• Was performing as Pierre Forchard in a stage revival of "The Two Orphans" when he was noticed by 'D.W. Griffith' (qv). He hired Puglia to repeat his role in the film version retitled _Orphans of the Storm (1921)_ (qv) starring the Gish sisters. His character dies in the original story, but audiences were so negative that Griffith had him retake the fade-out in which he survives.
• Claimed to have learned English primarily from reading the newspapers.