Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, 1910 – April 15, 1975), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor.[1] He appeared in more than 100 films[2] from 1939 through the 1970s, including I'll Cry Tomorrow, Ocean's 11, and The Godfather.
Richard Conte was born Nicholas Peter Conte on March 24, 1910 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of Italian-Americans Julia (Fina), a seamstress, and Pasquale Conte, a barber.[3] He graduated from William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City.[4]
Conte worked as a truck driver, messenger, shoe salesman, and singing waiter before starting his acting career. He was discovered by actors Elia Kazan and John Garfield during his job at a Connecticut resort, which led to Conte finding stage work.[citation needed]
He made his film debut under the name Nicholas Conte in Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence (1939) at 20th Century Fox. He played Tony, a hobo who meets up with Joe (Glenn Ford who was also making his film debut) and Anita (Jean Rogers). The three of them make their way west hopping trains. They are later joined by Professor B (Raymond Walburn).
He made his Broadway debut in My Heart's in the Highlands (1939) for the Group Theatre. Also for the Group, he was in Clifford Odets' Night Music (1940). He performed in the road company of Golden Boy.[8][9]
On Broadway, he was in Heavenly Express (1941) and Walk Into My Parlor (1941). He was a hit in Jason (1942) then was he Family (1943).[10][11]
During World War II, Conte served in the United States Army, but he was discharged because of eye trouble.[12]
In May 1943, Conte signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox, changing his name to Richard Conte. His first Fox film was Guadalcanal Diary (1943), where he was billed fourth.[13]
Fox promoted Conte to top billing with the film noir The Spider (1945). Although a B film for the studio, it was successful enough to establish Conte in film noir.[15]
Conte was teamed with Victor MatureinCry of the City (1948). MGM borrowed him for Big Jack (1949), then he did House of Strangers (1949) with Edward G. Robinson, playing Max Monetti, a lawyer who defends his father (Robinson) against government charges of banking irregularities and goes to prison for jury tampering.
In 1953, Conte signed a contract with Bill Broidy to make six films over three years, and he would be paid 25% of the profits.[19][20] The first was the crime drama Highway Dragnet (1954), based on a story by Roger Corman, and he then went to England to make Mask of Dust (1954) for Hammer Films director Terence Fisher. He was going to direct The Wolf Pack for Broidy, but it was not made.[21]
Conte broke out of B movies with the second lead in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), an MGM biopic about Lillian Roth starring Susan Hayward. Conte and director Daniel Mann announced they would make Play by Play, but it was not made.[23]
Conte had a supporting role in Assault on a Queen (1966), and he was one of several stars in Hotel (1967). In 1966, Conte landed a supporting role in the short-lived CBS sitcom The Jean Arthur Show.[25]
Conte was married to actress Ruth Storey,[5] with whom he adopted a son,[26] film editor Mark Conte. In 1950, Conte and Storey were living at 1366 San Ysidro Drive in Beverly Hills.[27] They divorced in 1963.[5] He married his second wife, Shirlee Colleen Garner (1935-2014), in 1973; they remained married until Conte's death.[28][29] His grandson is National Football Leaguefree safetyChris Conte. Chris is the son of Mark Conte.[citation needed]
On April 3, 1975, Conte suffered a massive heart attack and a stroke. He was taken to UCLA Medical Center where the staff worked for eight hours to keep him alive. He was put in intensive care and died on April 15.[2] He is buried in Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.[30][31]
^"The Life Story of Richard Conte". Picture Show. Vol. 53, no. 1388. London. November 5, 1949. p. 12.
^Schallert, Edwin (May 19, 1943). "Drama and Film: 'Johnny Zero' Number Inspires War Feature Richard Conte of Stage to Make Screen Debut in 20th's 'Guadalcanal Diary'". Los Angeles Times. p. 22.
^"Screen News Here and in Hollywood: Warners to Star Ann Sheridan in 'Handbook for Jealousy'". The New York Times. May 15, 1943. p. 13.
^Jones, Jack (April 16, 1975). "Richard Conte, Cold-Eyed Movie Gangster, Dies at 61". Los Angeles Times. p. 8A.
^"Screen News: Richard Conte and Carole Landis to Be Featured". The New York Times. May 24, 1945. p. 16.
^Scheuer, Philip K. (August 30, 1947). "Drama and Film: Stewart, Richard Conte to Call 'Northside 777'". Los Angeles Times. p. A5.
^Henry, Diane (April 16, 1975). "Richard Conte, Actor, 59, Dies; Played Gangster and Hero Roles: Seen in '13 Rue Madeleine,' 'Northside,' 'Guadalcanal Dairy' and 'Oceans 11'". The New York Times. p. 41.
^Pryor, Thomas M. (January 12, 1952). "Universal to Star Conte in Western: Actor Will Require Tutelage in Horsemanship Before He Appears in 'Riding Kid'". The New York Times. p. 10.
^"Hecht-Lancaster to Film 'Way West'". The New York Times. October 24, 1953. p. 12.
^Hopper, Hedda (October 26, 1953). "Looking at Hollywood: Richard Conte to Make Six Films in Next Three Years". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. D8.
^Schallert, Edwin (January 31, 1954). "Directors' Guild and Press Group Honor Zinnemann". Los Angeles Times. p. D4.
^"PALANCE LEAVES 'BIG COMBO' FILM: Richard Conte Will Replace Actor in Co-Starring Role". The New York Times. September 1, 1954. p. 32.
^Schallert, Edwin. "Drama: Richard Conte to Star in 'Play by Play;' Mason TV Show Slated as Film". Los Angeles Times October 5, 1955. p. B9.
^Alpert, Don (February 14, 1960). "Based on Dynamics: Conte Has Own Method Who, Conte Worried About Acting Method? He Has Own". Los Angeles Times. p. G1.
^"Actor Richard Conte Dies of Heart Attack". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, Texas. United Press International. April 16, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved June 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kirby, Walter (January 18, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 40. Retrieved June 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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