Cesare Gravina

Cesare Gravina (23 January 1858 – 16 September 1954) was an Italian actor of the silent era who appeared in more than 70 films from 1911 to 1929.

Born in Naples, Gravina was an orchestra conductor in his native Italy. As the conductor at La Scala, he worked with performers such as Mary Garden and Enrico Caruso. At some point, he left music to become a character actor, not explaining his reasons for the career change with anyone. As the owner of many theaters in South America, Gravina became financially secure to retire from motion pictures by 1924, but he preferred to remain in acting.

Gravina starred as the philosopher and travelling theatre manager Urso, in Paul Leni's The Man Who Laughs (1928).

Partial filmography

The White Pearl (1915) - Setsu Madame Butterfly (1915) - The Soothsayer Poor Little Peppina (1916) - Villato Hulda from Holland (1916) - Apartment Neighbor (uncredited) Less Than the Dust (1916) - Jawan The Price She Paid (1917) - Moldini The Siren (1917) - Her Father The Fatal Ring (1917) Miss Nobody (1917) - 'Daddy' Crespi Let's Get a Divorce (1918) - Head Waiter The Mysterious Client (1918) - Ton Cavallo The Street of Seven Stars (1918) - Minor Role Marriage For Convenience (1919) - Lazzare Mothers of Men (1920) - Mr. Schultz - Gaston Glass Scratch My Back (1920) - Johoda The Penalty (1920) - Art Teacher (uncredited) Madame X (1920) - Victor From Now On (1920) - Tony Lomazzi The Leopard Woman (1920) - Arab (uncredited) Beach of Dreams (1921) - Prof. Epnard God's Country and the Law (1921) - 'Poleon Foolish Wives (1922) - Cesare Ventucci Daddy (1923) - Cesare Gallo Merry-Go-Round (1923) - Sylvester Urban Circus Days (1923) - Luigi, the Clown The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) - (uncredited) The Humming Bird (1924) - Charlot The Virgin (1924) - The Money Lender The Family Secret (1924) - Tomaso Silvano Butterfly (1924) - Von Mandescheid The Rose of Paris (1924) - George Those Who Dare (1924) - Panka Greed (1924) - Zwerkow - Junkman (uncredited) The Charmer (1925) - Señor Sprott Contraband (1925) - Pee Wee Bangs The Phantom of the Opera (1925) - Opera House Manager (uncredited) Fifth Avenue Models (1925) - Ludani's Tenement Neighbor An Enemy Of Men (1925) - Tony Caruso The Man in Blue (1925) - Tony Sartori Don Dare Devil (1925) - Esteban Salazar A Woman's Faith (1925) - Odillon Turcott The Circus Cyclone (1925) - Pepe Flower of Night (1925) - Servant Monte Carlo (1926) - Count Davigny The Midnight Sun (1926) - Opera Director The Blonde Saint (1926) - Ilario The Magic Garden (1927) - Maestro The Road to Romance (1927) - Castro Cheating Cheaters (1927) - Tony Verdi The Divine Woman (1928) - Gigi The Trail of '98 (1928) - Henry Kelland - Berna's Grandfather The Man Who Laughs (1928) - Ursus How to Handle Women (1928) - Tony The Wedding March (1928) - Martin Schrammell - Mitzi's father Burning the Wind (1929) - Don Ramón Valdez