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Lelia Vita Goldoni (nee Rizzuto; October 1, 1936 – July 22, 2023) was an American actress. She was best known for co-starring in John Cassavetes's groundbreaking independent film Shadows (1959).[1] She received two BAFTA Award nominations throughout her career, the first for Shadows and the second for her performance in Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).[2]
Lelia Goldoni | |
|---|---|
 Goldoni in a poster for Shadows (1959) | |
| Born | Lelia Vita Rizzuto October 1, 1936 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2023 (aged 86) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Years active | 1949–2016 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
Early life edit
Goldoni 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 player Phil Rizzuto.[3] She attended Los Angeles City College and was one of the Lester Horton Dancers in the 1950s.[3]
Career edit
Goldoni began her screen career as a child in the late 1940s with uncredited cameos in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's House of Strangers (1949) and John Huston's We Were Strangers (1949).[citation needed]
A decade later, after moving back to New York and meeting John Cassavetes in an acting workshop, Goldoni attracted considerable attention and critical acclaim for her performance in his groundbreaking film Shadows (1959).[1] The film launched Goldoni's acting career,[4] and earned her a BAFTA Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.[2] The New York Times wrote that she "brings a freshness and a touching sort of natural gaucherie to the role of the girl."[5]
Goldoni later co-starred on the episodes "Fair Exchange" and "Two Birds with One Bullet" of the British television series Danger Man (1964) with Patrick MacGoohan.[citation needed] She next starred as Denise James in the 1965 horror film Hysteria.[6] In 1969, Goldoni appeared in The Italian Job.[2][7]
Goldoni attracted further acclaim and a second BAFTA Award nomination for portraying the best friend of Ellen Burstyn's character in Martin Scorsese's feature film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).[2]
In 1975, she starred in the historical drama film The Day of the Locust.[8]
In 1978, she appeared in the horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the coming-of-age film Bloodbrothers.[9][10]
In 2010, she appeared in the drama film Chain Link.[11] Two years later, her final performance was in the horror film The Devil Inside.[citation needed]
In addition to performing, Goldoni also taught acting throughout her life at various institutions, including the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, UCLA, and Hampshire College.[2]
Personal life edit
Goldoni was married twice, first to her Shadows co-star Ben Carruthers and then to writer Robert Rudelson.[2] With Rudelson, she had a child named Aaron.[2]
Goldoni is a second cousin of New York Yankees player Phil Rizzuto.[2]
Goldoni died at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, 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
- ^ a b Carney, Ray (1994). The Films of John Cassavetes: Pragmatism, Modernism, and the Movies. Cambridge UP. p. 35. ISBN 9780521388153.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnes, Mike. "Lelia Goldoni, Actress in 'Shadows' and 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' Dies at 86". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Dancing Co-Ed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 25, 1954. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lane, Lydia (July 20, 1962). "Hollywood Beauty - Lelia Goldoni Individuality". Daily Press. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (March 22, 1961). "Film Improvised Under Cassavetes Opens". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Cotter, Robert Michael “Bobb” (2013). "Goldoni, Lelia (1936-)". The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography. McFarland. p. 89. ISBN 9781476602011. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (September 5, 1969). "'The Italian Job' Plot Includes a Big Chase". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lelia Goldoni In New Role". The Evening Sun. April 16, 1974. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Bloodbrothers' Film Just Doesn't Deliver". The Journal News. September 27, 1978. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Giddins, Gary (2006). Natural Selection: Gary Giddins on Comedy, Film, Music, and Books. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 135. ISBN 9780195179514.
lelia goldoni.
- ^ Thomas, Gary Goldstein; Kevin (February 20, 2009). "Ex-con gets reacquainted with family in 'Chain Link'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
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External links edit
