Lelia Goldoni

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. 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). She attended Los Angeles City College and was one of the Lester Horton Dancers in the 1950s. and earned her a BAFTA Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.

Goldoni later co-starred in the episodes "Fair Exchange" and "Two Birds with One Bullet" of the British television series Danger Man (1964) with Patrick MacGoohan. She next starred as Denise James in the 1965 horror film Hysteria. In 1969, Goldoni appeared in The Italian Job and, in 1972, in an episode of the British sitcom “Doctor at Large”.

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).

In 1978, she appeared in the horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the coming-of-age film Bloodbrothers.

In 2010, she appeared in the drama film Chain Link. Two years later, her final performance was in the horror film The Devil Inside.

In addition to performing, Goldoni also taught acting throughout her life at various institutions, including the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, UCLA, and Hampshire College.

Partial filmography