Frank Campanella
Encyclopedia
Frank Campanella was an American
character actor
.
Campanella was born in New York City
, the son of Sicilian
immigrants Mary O. and Philip Campanella, a musician. He was the brother of actor Joseph Campanella
and spoke mostly Italian growing up; this proved useful during World War II
, when he worked as a civilian translator for the U.S. government. Campanella attended Manhattan College
, where he studied drama.
Campanella's first film roles was as "Mook the Moon-Man" in the 1949 science fiction series Captain Video and His Video Rangers. He went on to appear in more than 100 film and television episodes, usually playing the "tough guy." He helped Robert De Niro
learn Sicilian for his role as young Vito Corleone
in The Godfather: Part II.
Campanella died on December 30, 2006 at his home in Los Angeles
, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
.
Campanella was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
immigrants Mary O. and Philip Campanella, a musician. He was the brother of actor Joseph Campanella
Joseph Campanella
Joseph Campanella in Lewistown, Pennsylvania is an American character actor who has appeared in over 200 TV and film roles since 1955, including such shows as The Eleventh Hour, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Road West, The Golden Girls and Mama's Family. He also had a role in...
and spoke mostly Italian growing up; this proved useful during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when he worked as a civilian translator for the U.S. government. Campanella attended Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
, where he studied drama.
Campanella's first film roles was as "Mook the Moon-Man" in the 1949 science fiction series Captain Video and His Video Rangers. He went on to appear in more than 100 film and television episodes, usually playing the "tough guy." He helped Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
learn Sicilian for his role as young Vito Corleone
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
in The Godfather: Part II.
Campanella died on December 30, 2006 at his home in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.