Henry Armetta

Henry Armetta (born Enrico Armetta; July 4, 1888 – October 21, 1945) was an American character actor who appeared in at least 150 American films, beginning in silent movies. His last film was released posthumously in 1946, the year after his death.

Biography Armetta was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. At the age of 14, he stowed away on a boat to America. The immigration authorities were prepared to send him back, but he found an Italian family to act as his sponsor. He settled in New York City where he delivered groceries, sold sandwiches and pizzas and performed other menial tasks to get by. He eventually ended up working as a pants presser at a well known club where he was befriended by actor/producer Raymond Hitchcock. Hitchcock got him a chorus part in his play A Yankee Consul.

After a friend told him about southern California's mushrooming film industry, Armetta hitchhiked to Hollywood in 1920 and soon found work in films as a stereotypical Italian, often playing a barber, grocer or restaurant owner. He went on to appear in over 152 films (at least 24 films in 1934 alone), often uncredited. Armetta appeared in several films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer including Romance (1930) starring Greta Garbo, What! No Beer? (1933) with Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante, Everybody Sing (1938) featuring Judy Garland, Allan Jones, and Fanny Brice, The Big Store (1941) opposite the Marx Brothers, and a much thinner Armetta was briefly glimpsed in one of his last appearances in the MGM Technicolor musical Anchors Aweigh (1945) with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.

Death Armetta died in 1945 of a heart attack in San Diego, California, aged 57. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Selected filmography

The Plunderer (1915) – Pedro The Marble Heart (1916) The Eternal Sin (1917) – The Jester The Jungle Trail (1919) – Grogas The Face at Your Window (1920) – Danglo Fantômas (1920, Serial) – The Wop The Silent Command (1923) – Pedro The Desert's Price (1925) – Shepherd The Missing Link (1927) – Organ Grinder 7th Heaven (1927) – Minor Role (uncredited) Paid to Love (1927) – Valet (uncredited) A Girl in Every Port (1928) – Bartender in Panama (uncredited) Street Angel (1928) – Masetto Lonesome (1928) – Ferris wheel guy (uncredited) The Red Dance (1928) – Prisoner (uncredited) Homesick (1928) – Bicycle Rider In Old Arizona (1928) – Barber (uncredited) Lady of the Pavements (1929) – Papa Pierre Madame X (1929) – Hotel Owner (uncredited) Half Marriage (1929) – Henry – Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited) Jazz Heaven (1929) – Tony Love, Live and Laugh (1929) – Tony The Trespasser (1929) – Barber (uncredited) Sunny Side Up (1929) – Italian Husband (uncredited) The Climax (1930) – Anton Donatelli The Ship from Shanghai (1930) – Sailor (uncredited) A Lady to Love (1930) – Angelo The Girl Said No (1930) – Grove Cafe Waiter (uncredited) Lovin' the Ladies (1930) – Signore Sagatelli Ladies Love Brutes (1930) – Tony, the Waiter (uncredited) Die Sehnsucht jeder Frau (1930) – Angelo The Sins of the Children (1930) – Tony the Barber The Little Accident (1930) – Rudolpho Amendelara Romance (1930) – Beppo Sei tu l'amore (1930) – The exporter La mujer X (1931) – Minor Role (uncredited) A Tailor Made Man (1931) – Peter, Tailor Strangers May Kiss (1931) – Waiter Laughing Sinners (1931) – Tony (uncredited) Just a Gigolo (1931) – Hotel Manager (uncredited) Five and Ten (1931) – Taxi Driver (uncredited) Hush Money (1931) – Bootlegger (uncredited) New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford (1931) – Henry – Barber (uncredited) The Unholy Garden (1931) – Nick the Goose Forbidden (1932) – Emile (uncredited) High Pressure (1932) – Italian Investor (uncredited) The Passionate Plumber (1932) – Bouncer Arsène Lupin (1932) – Sheriff's Man Steady Company (1932) – Tony Capri Scarface (1932) – Pietro – Barber (uncredited) Doomed Battalion (1932) – Angelo Huddle (1932) – Mr. Amatto Week Ends Only (1932) – Washroom Attendant Red-Headed Woman (1932) – Waiter Warning Bill of Lipstick (uncredited) Bachelor's Affairs (1932) – Tony – Cosmetician (uncredited) Speak Easily (1932) – Tony Okay, America! (1932) – Sam Hat Check Girl (1932) – Water Wagon Driver (uncredited) Deception (1932) – Nick Prosperity (1932) – Henry, a Barber Men of America (1932) – Tony Garboni Uptown New York (1932) – Nick – Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited) A Farewell to Arms (1932) – Bonello – Italian Ambulance Driver (uncredited) Central Park (1932) – Tony, Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited) They Just Had to Get Married (1932) – Tony Rasputin and the Empress (1932) – Photographer (uncredited) What! No Beer? (1933) – Tony The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble (1933) – Captain Silva So This Is Africa (1933) – Street Cleaner (uncredited) Fra Diavolo (1933) – Matteo Don't Bet on Love (1933) – Caparillo, Barber (uncredited) Laughing at Life (1933) – Fruit Vendor Her First Mate (1933) – Socrates Too Much Harmony (1933) – Mr. Gallotti Cross Country Cruise (1934) – The Italian The Poor Rich (1934) – Tony The Cat and the Fiddle (1934) – Taxi Driver Viva Villa! (1934) – Alfredo Mendosa The Black Cat (1934) – The Sergeant Half a Sinner (1934) – The Barber Let's Talk It Over (1934) – Tony Kiss and Make-Up (1934) – Banquet Chairman Romance in the Rain (1934) – Tulio Hide-Out (1934) – Shuman Gift of Gab (1934) – Janitor Embarrassing Moments (1934) – Morganza One Night of Love (1934) – Cafe Owner (uncredited) Wake Up and Dream (1934) – Giovanni Cellini Two Heads on a Pillow (1934) – Enrico Populopulini The Merry Widow (1934) – Turk (uncredited) Imitation of Life (1934) – The Painter Cheating Cheaters (1934) – Prof. Tony Verdi The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934) – Laurent After Office Hours (1935) – Italian Diner Owner Night Life of the Gods (1935) – Roigi I've Been Around (1935) – Italian Straight from the Heart (1935) – Ice Cream Man Princess O'Hara (1935) – Spidoni Dinky (1935) – Tony Karamazo – the Junkman Unknown Woman (1935) – Joe Scalise Manhattan Moon (1935) – Tony Three Kids and a Queen (1935) – Tony Orsatti Magnificent Obsession (1935) – Tony Let's Sing Again (1936) – Joe Pasquale Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) – Tony The Crime of Dr. Forbes (1936) – Luigi Two in a Crowd (1936) – Toscani The Magnificent Brute (1936) – Buzell Top of the Town (1937) – Bacciagalluppi Make a Wish (1937) – Moreta Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937) – Spadoni Everybody Sing (1938) – Signor Vittorino Speed to Burn (1938) – Papa Gambini Submarine Patrol (1938) – Luigi Road Demon (1938) – Papa Luigi Gambini Fisherman's Wharf (1939) – Beppo Winner Take All (1939) – Papa Luigi Gambini The Lady and the Mob (1939) – Zambrogio I Stole a Million (1939) – Nick Dust Be My Destiny (1939) – Nick Rio (1939) – Headwaiter (uncredited) The Escape (1939) – Guiseppi Peronni Boss Foreman (1939) Three Cheers for the Irish (1940) – Tony The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940) – Tony Spirella You're Not So Tough (1940) – Salvatore We Who Are Young (1940) – Tony Caught in the Act (1941) – Mike Ripportella The Big Store (1941) – Guiseppi Slick Chick (1941) Stage Door Canteen (1943) – Himself Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943) – Mike Zaloris Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) – Angelo the Barber (uncredited) Once Upon a Time (1944) – Barber (uncredited) Ghost Catchers (1944) – Signatelli (uncredited) Allergic to Love (1944) – Louie A Bell for Adano (1945) – Errante – Cart Man Penthouse Rhythm (1945) – Cafe Owner Joe Anchors Aweigh (1945) – Hamburger Man Colonel Effingham's Raid (1946) – Jimmy Economy (final film role)