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Michael Galitzen

1909 – 1959

American competitive diver

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About Michael Galitzen

Lived 1909 – 1959 (aged 49). Michael Galitzen was an American competitive diver.

Michael Riley Galitzen, also known as Mickey Riley (September 6, 1909, Los Angeles, California – June 6, 1959, Hollywood, California) was an American diver who won four total medals, one gold, at the 1928 Summer Olympics and 1932 Summer Olympics.

Galitzen won acclaim both for his individual diving and as a tandem diver with his brother John. He won two medals in diving at Amsterdam in 1928 as Michael Galitzen. In 1931 his coach suggested that the brothers use Americanized stage names — "Mickey Riley" and "Johnny Riley". He won gold and silver medals in Los Angeles in 1932 under that name. After the Olympics, he worked as a film editor, and he and John appeared frequently in diving shows. He was found dead in his Hollywood apartment in 1959; the death was attributed to natural causes.

Galitzen was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Theodore Roosevelt High School, University of Southern California
Also known as
Michael Riley Galitzen

People in Michael Galitzen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Michael Galitzen's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Michael Galitzen?

American competitive diver

When was Michael Galitzen born?

Michael Galitzen was born on 6 September 1909 in Los Angeles.

When did Michael Galitzen die?

Michael Galitzen died on 6 June 1959 in Hollywood.

What was Michael Galitzen's occupation?

Michael Galitzen was a competitive diver.

What nationality was Michael Galitzen?

Michael Galitzen was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Michael Galitzen

· Wikidata: Q6830489

· DBpedia: Michael Galitzen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Michael Galitzen. https://biography.guide/michael-galitzen/

MLA: "Michael Galitzen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/michael-galitzen/.

Chicago: "Michael Galitzen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/michael-galitzen/.

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