Stage-trained character player whose dark, angular features pegged him as assorted Indian, Latino and Oriental heavies and pyschopaths from the early 1950s. Silva was memorable as the high-kicking assassin in the political thriller, "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), and as the sadistic lead in "Johnny Cool" (1963).
- Also Credited As:
Henry Silva
- Born:
in Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Job Titles:
Actor, Delivery boy, Longshoreman
Significant Others
Education
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Actors Studio, New York, New York
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Group Theater, New York, New York
Milestones
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1952 First major film credit in Viva Zapata!
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1957 Cast as a malicious henchman to Richard Boone in The Tall T
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1957 Portrayed the drug pusher Mother in A Hatful of Rain
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1960 First onscreen teaming with Frank Sinatra in Ocean s Eleven
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1960 Played recurring role of gangster Little Charlie on The Untouchables (ABC)
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1962 Acted with Sinatra in Sargeants 3
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1962 Appeared as Laurence Harvey s houseboy in The Manchurian Candidate ; Sinatra was also in the cast
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1963 Had title role of gangster Johnny Cool
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1963 Made guest appearance in the unsold ABC pilot Weapons Man
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1965 Played the title role in The Return of Mr. Moto
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1971 Had featured role in the CBS movie Black Noon
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1977 Acted alongside Frank Sinatra in the NBC TV-movie Contract on Cherry Street
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2000 Acted in Justice (aired on Cinemax)
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2000 Played an aging gangster in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
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Worked in Italy for several years on films like Un Fiume di dollari/The Hills Run Red (1966) and Probability Zero (1968)