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Lelia Vita Goldoni(neeRizzuto;October 1, 1936 – July 22, 2023) was an American actress. She was best known for co-starring inJohn Cassavetes's groundbreakingindependent filmShadows(1959).[1]She received twoBAFTA Awardnominations throughout her career, the first for Shadows and the second for her performance inMartin Scorsese'sAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore(1974).[2]
Lelia Goldoni | |
|---|---|
 Goldoni in a poster forShadows(1959) | |
| Born | Lelia Vita Rizzuto October 1, 1936 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2023(aged 86) |
| Years active | 1949–2016 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editGoldoni was born Lelia Vita Rizzuto in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her father was an Italian actor and she was a second cousin to baseball playerPhil Rizzuto.[3]She attendedLos Angeles City Collegeand was one of theLester HortonDancers in the 1950s.[3]
Career
editGoldoni began her screen career as a child in the late 1940s with uncredited cameos inJoseph L. Mankiewicz'sHouse of Strangers(1949) andJohn Huston'sWe Were Strangers(1949).[citation needed]
A decade later, after moving back to New York and meetingJohn Cassavetesin an acting workshop, Goldoni attracted considerable attention and critical acclaim for her performance in his groundbreaking filmShadows(1959).[1]The film launched Goldoni's acting career,[4]and earned her aBAFTA Awardnomination for Most Promising Newcomer.[2]The New York Timeswrote that she "brings a freshness and a touching sort of natural gaucherie to the role of the girl."[5]
Goldoni later co-starred in the episodes "Fair Exchange" and "Two Birds with One Bullet" of the British television seriesDanger Man(1964) withPatrick MacGoohan.[citation needed]She next starred as Denise James in the 1965 horror filmHysteria.[6]In 1969, Goldoni appeared inThe Italian Job.[2][7]
Goldoni attracted further acclaim and a second BAFTA Award nomination for portraying the best friend ofEllen Burstyn's character inMartin Scorsese's feature filmAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore(1974).[2]
In 1975, she appeared in the historical drama filmThe Day of the Locust.[8]
In 1978, she appeared in the horror filmInvasion of the Body Snatchersand the coming-of-age filmBloodbrothers.[9][10]
In 2010, she appeared in the drama filmChain Link.[11]Two years later, her final performance was in the horror filmThe Devil Inside.[citation needed]
In addition to performing, Goldoni also taught acting throughout her life at various institutions, including theLee Strasberg Theatre Institute,UCLA,andHampshire College.[2]
Personal life
editGoldoni was married twice, first to herShadowsco-starBen Carruthersand then to writer Robert Rudelson.[2]With Rudelson, she had a child named Aaron.[2]
Goldoni is a second cousin ofNew York YankeesplayerPhil Rizzuto.[2]
Goldoni died at theActors Fund HomeinEnglewood, New Jersey,on July 22, 2023, at the age of 86.[2]
Partial filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | We Were Strangers | Consuelo Valdés | Uncredited |
| 1949 | House of Strangers | Italian Girl | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Shadows | Lelia | |
| 1965 | Hysteria | Denise James | |
| 1967 | Theatre of Death | Dani Gireaux | |
| 1969 | The Italian Job | Mrs. Beckerman | Uncredited |
| 1974 | Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore | Bea | |
| 1975 | The Day of the Locust | Mary Dove | |
| 1976 | Baby Blue Marine | Mrs. Townsley | |
| 1976 | The Disappearance of Aimee | Sister Emma Shaffer | |
| 1978 | Bloodbrothers | Maria | |
| 1978 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers | Katherine Hendley | |
| 1980 | The Unseen | Virginia Keller | |
| 1981 | Choices | Jean Carluccio | |
| 1981 | Gangster Wars | Mrs. Lasker | |
| 1985 | Rainy Day Friends | Barbara Marti | |
| 1994 | Somebody to Love | Venice Waitress | |
| 2000 | A Constant Forge | Herself | |
| 2008 | Chain Link | Floraine | |
| 2010 | The Pacific | Dora Basilone | |
| 2012 | The Devil Inside | Susan Meadows |
References
edit- ^abCarney, Ray (1994).The Films of John Cassavetes: Pragmatism, Modernism, and the Movies.Cambridge UP. p. 35.ISBN9780521388153.
- ^abcdefghiBarnes, Mike."Lelia Goldoni, Actress in 'Shadows' and 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' Dies at 86".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJuly 27,2023.
- ^ab"Dancing Co-Ed".The Cincinnati Enquirer.April 25, 1954.RetrievedJuly 29,2018– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Lane, Lydia (July 20, 1962)."Hollywood Beauty - Lelia Goldoni Individuality".Daily Press.RetrievedJuly 29,2018– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Crowther, Bosley (March 22, 1961)."Film Improvised Under Cassavetes Opens".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedAugust 2,2023.
- ^Cotter, Robert Michael “Bobb” (2013)."Goldoni, Lelia (1936-)".The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography.McFarland. p. 89.ISBN9781476602011.RetrievedJuly 27,2018.
- ^Thomas, Kevin (September 5, 1969)."'The Italian Job' Plot Includes a Big Chase ".The Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 29,2018– via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Lelia Goldoni In New Role".The Evening Sun.April 16, 1974.RetrievedJuly 29,2018– via Newspapers.com.
- ^"'Bloodbrothers' Film Just Doesn't Deliver ".The Journal News.September 27, 1978.RetrievedJuly 29,2018– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Giddins, Gary (2006).Natural Selection: Gary Giddins on Comedy, Film, Music, and Books.Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp.135.ISBN9780195179514.
lelia goldoni.
- ^Thomas, Gary Goldstein; Kevin (February 20, 2009)."Ex-con gets reacquainted with family in 'Chain Link'".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.RetrievedJuly 29,2018.
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External links
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