Vito Scotti

Vito Giusto Scozzari (January 26, 1918 – June 5, 1996), also known as Vito Scotti, was an American character actor who played both dramatic and comedy roles on Broadway, in films, and later on television, primarily from the late 1930s to the mid-1990s. He was known as a man of a thousand faces for his ability to assume so many divergent roles in more than 200 screen appearances in a career spanning 50 years and for his resourceful portrayals of various ethnic types. Of Italian heritage, he played everything from a Mexican bandit, to a Russian doctor, to a Japanese sailor, to an Indian travel agent.

Early life and career Vito Giusto Scozzari was born January 26, 1918, in San Francisco, California. He was the son of Giusto and Virginia Ambroselli Scozzari (1889–1982). His father died in Tunis while Vito was still an infant. His family spent the early 1920s in Naples, Italy. The family returned to the United States on July 4, 1924, and lived briefly at 802 South 8th Street in Philadelphia before moving to New York City the following year.

In 1925, his mother became a diva in New York City theater circles and his father an impresario. Scotti worked the night club circuit as a stand-up magician and Mime artist mainly following the Commedia dell'arte style. where he also played music teacher Pasta Fazooli, a foil to the trickster Froggy the Gremlin. He was cast as French Duclos in the 1959 episode "Deadly Tintype" of the NBC Western series, The Californians.

In 1955, Scotti was reportedly injured while filming with an Elephant named Emma. Emma was reportedly spooked by the faux flora used to dress the set. The elephant shook Scotti and fellow actor Nino Marcel from her back. Scotti suffered a concussion and broken arm. Scotti would work successfully with animals later in his career.

In 1963, Scotti was cast as the Italian farmer Vincenzo Peruggia in the episode "The Tenth Mona Lisa" of the CBS anthology series, General Electric True, hosted by Jack Webb. In the episode set in the year 1911, Peruggia steals the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum in Paris but is apprehended by a French detective when he attempts to unload the painting on an art dealer.

Scotti also appeared in television series, such as How to Marry a Millionaire (as Jules in the 1958 episode "Loco and the Gambler"), in four episodes of The Rifleman, three episodes of Tales of Wells Fargo, Rescue 8 (1959), State Trooper (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), The Texan (1959), Johnny Staccato (1960), The Twilight Zone ("Mr. Bevis", 1960 and "The Gift", 1962), The Investigators (1961), Target: The Corruptors! (1962), Lassie, Stoney Burke (1963), The Wide Country (1963), Dr. Kildare (1963), Going My Way (1963), Breaking Point (1963), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1963), The Addams Family (1964–1965), To Rome with Love and The Andy Griffith Show ("The Gypsies", 1966).

Scotti appeared in two episodes of Bonanza, in Gunsmoke (1965–1970), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1965 and 1967), The Wild Wild West, Ironside, The Monkees, The Flying Nun, He was interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with his first wife Irene, in the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum.

Personal life In addition to his accomplishments as an actor, Scotti was highly regarded as a cook. He loved Italian cooking, especially the recipes of his beloved mother and grandmother. Scotti also enjoyed painting in his spare time.

Scotti was married to former Peruvian Flamenco dancer Irene A. Scozzari from 1949 until her death at age 54 on April 15, 1979. They had two children together; Carmen Antoinette (born 1953) and Ricardo Antonio (born 1956). After Irene's death, Vito married Beverly Scotti. They were together until his death. Scotti was a dedicated fundraiser for the "Carmen Fund", set up by the Joaquin Miller High School Parents Guild, to assist the school's special-needs students. The fund was named after the Scottis’ daughter, one of the first patients to undergo pioneering spinal implant surgery.

Filmography

Criss Cross (1949) as Track Usher (uncredited) Illegal Entry (1949) as Mexican Youth (uncredited) East Side, West Side (1949) as Sistina Son (uncredited) The Capture (1950) as Truck Driver (uncredited) Deported (1950) as Guido's Henchman (uncredited) Up Front (1951) as Sergeant Clerk (uncredited) Stop That Cab (1951) as Henry (uncredited) The Light Touch (1951) as Hotel Clerk (uncredited) The Fabulous Senorita (1952) as Esteban Gonzales Bal Tabarin (1952) as Police Secretary (uncredited) The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952) as Villager (uncredited) Assignment – Paris! (1952) as Italian Reporter (uncredited) Shield for Murder (1954) as Joe—Bartender (uncredited) Sabaka (1954) as Rama Conquest of Space (1955) as Sanella The Broken Star (1956) as Pepe (uncredited) The Black Orchid (1958) as Paul Gallo (uncredited) Party Girl (1958) as Hotel Clerk (uncredited) Pay or Die (1960) as Officer Simonetti The Facts of Life (1960) as Fishing Boat Driver (uncredited) Where the Boys Are (1960) as Maitre D' of The Tropical Isle (uncredited) Gold of the Seven Saints (1961) as Gondara's Cook (uncredited) Master of the World (1961) as Topage The Explosive Generation (1961) as H.S. - Custodian Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Priest (uncredited) Saint of Devil's Island (1961) as Louis Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) as Assistant Director The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) as Rick - Flute Player (uncredited) Dime with a Halo (1963) as Doorman Captain Newman, M.D. (1963) as Maj. Alfredo Fortuno Wild and Wonderful (1964) as Andre Honeymoon Hotel (1964) as Waiter (uncredited) Rio Conchos (1964) as Mexican Bandit The Pleasure Seekers (1964) as Neighborhood Man Von Ryan's Express (1965) as Italian Train Engineer Made in Paris (1966) as Fedya (uncredited) Blindfold (1966) as Michaelangelo Vincenti What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) as Frederico Warning Shot (1967) as Designer The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967) as François Morel The Perils of Pauline (1967) as Frandisi The Secret War of Harry Frigg (1968) as Col. Enrico Ferrucci How Sweet It Is! (1968) as Cook Head (1968) as I. Vitteloni Cactus Flower (1969) as Señor Arturo Sánchez The Boatniks (1970) as Pepe Galindo The Aristocats (1970) as Peppo - Italian Cat (voice) The Godfather (1972) as Nazorine Napoleon and Samantha (1972) as The Clown When the Legends Die (1972) as Meo (Dillon's caretaker) The Bull of the West (1972) The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) as Games spectator How to Seduce a Woman (1974) as Bill Herbie Rides Again (1974) as Taxi Driver The Wild McCullochs (1975) as Tony, the Bartender I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? (1976) as Col. Guido Ameche The Big Bus (1976) as Barber Paesano: A Voice in the Night (1977) as Al Lozio Zero to Sixty (1978) as Benny The One Man Jury (1978) as Poker Player #9 The Nude Bomb (1980) as Italian Delegate Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) as Armando Moccia Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981) as Vittorio CBS Children's Mystery Theatre (1981, episode The Haunting of Harrington House) as Marco Roselli Stewardess School (1986) as Carl Stromboli Side Roads (1988) Beverly Hills Brats (1989) as Jerry Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) as Tailor Get Shorty (1995) as Manager at Vesuvio's

Television

Andy's Gang (1955-1957) How to Marry a Millionaire (1958) as Jules The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1958) as Shop Owner Rescue 8 (1959) as Dal Singh Perry Mason (1959) as Joseph D'Amato Sugarfoot (1959) as Ramon Acquistapace State Trooper (1959) as Reggie Sorbin Playhouse 90 (1959) as Cabinet Minister Peter Gunn (1959) as Pete's Guest / Herman Klip / Joe Wagon Train (1959) as Tony Tales of Wells Fargo (1959-1961) as Joe Caboose / Abner Dabler / Mr. Mute Johnny Staccato (1960) as Carlos Lascaratti Cheyenne (1960 episode "Counterfeit Gun") as Julio Zorro (1960) as Chato The Real McCoys (1960-1961) as Pablo / Carlos Bonanza (1961, 2 episodes) as Pooch / Leon Flores The Investigators (1961, episode "A Man of Means") Rawhide (1962) as Manuel Target: The Corruptors! (1962) as Garcia The Twilight Zone (1960-1962) as Rudolpho / Peddler Lassie (1962) as Magico the Great The Dick Powell Show (1961-1963) as Karam / Dolpho Stoney Burke (1963) as Polo The Dick Van Dyke Show (1963) as Vito Giotto Breaking Point (1963) as Tony Going My Way (1963) as Mr. Molletti The Wide Country (1963) as Carlos Grijalves The Rifleman (1962-1963) as Alphonso / Marcello Ciabini / Soto The Joey Bishop Show (1963) as Supermarket Manager / Frank the Barber My Favorite Martian (1963-1964) as Waiter / Junkyard Manager Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963-1964) as The Lieutenant / Harry The Danny Thomas Show (1964) as The Tailor The Donna Reed Show (1964) as Prince Georgivani Dr. Kildare (1962-1964) as Signore Fortuno / Jesus Munoz / Grocer The Jack Benny Program (1961-1965) as Mexican Captain / Mexican cafeteria employee Bewitched (1965) as Mario Laredo (1965) as Chicho The Virginian (1965) as Gilly The Addams Family (1964-1965) as Sam Picasso / Professor Altshuler / Miri Haan The Farmer's Daughter (1964-1965) as Llewellyn / Ambassador Cortez The Andy Griffith Show (1966) as Murrillos (Episode, "The Gypsies") The Lucy Show (1962-1966) as Sam Boscovitch / Fencing Instructor The Munsters (1965-1966) as Roman Broadcaster / Man on Radio The John Forsythe Show (1966) as Gonzales Gilligan's Island (1965-1966) as Japanese Sailor / Dr. Boris Balinkoff Batman (1966) as Matey Dee The Wild Wild West (1966) as Cefalu Rango (1967) as El Carnicero (Episode: "Viva Rango") The Monkees (1967) as Dr. Marcovich in S1:E17, "The Case of the Missing Monkee" The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1967) as Dr. Igor Gork The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1965-1967) as Beirut / Charles Chikhli Daniel Boone (1967) as Priest The Flying Nun (1967-1969) as Capt. Gaspar Fomento / Captain Dominic Lopez Hogan's Heroes (1969) as Major Bonacelli Ironside (1969) as Manuel Rodriguez Sr. Get Smart (1965-1970) as Gino Columbus / Dante Gunsmoke (1965-1970) as The Indian / Indiana / Savrin / Torreon To Rome with Love (TV series) (1969-1971) as Nico Barefoot in the Park (1970) as Victor Velasquez The Odd Couple (1971) as Pepe The Brady Bunch (1971) as Cooking Show Host (voice, uncredited) The Six Million Dollar Man (1973) as 2nd Taxi Driver McMillan & Wife (1971-1974) as Sykes / Alonzo / Guido Barteloni Get Christie Love! (1974) as Emilio Adam-12 (1974) as Charley Prender Shaft (1974) Murder One / The Killing The Bionic Woman (1976) as Romero Monster Squad (1976) as Albert/Alberta Police Woman (1977) as Luigi C.P.O. Sharkey (1977) as Vito Baretta (1977) as Franco Happy Days (1979) as Otto Charlie's Angels (1980) as Tyrone Hawaii Five-O (1980) as Bill Baskin Vega$ (1980-1981) as Casino Manager / Valeria Viceria Hart to Hart (1981) as Vito Madame's Place (1982) as Inspector Putzeau, Episode: "The Stolen Portrait" Fantasy Island (1979-1982) as Vito Orsotti / Antoine de Vouvray CHiPs (1977-1983) as Charles / Emilio Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1975-1983) as Games Spectator / Taxi Driver / Pepe Galindo Blood Feud (1983) as Vince Bocca Trapper John, M.D. (1984) Who's the Boss? (1985 & 1988) as Uncle Aldo Micelli Charles in Charge (1988) as Dino Firenzi The Golden Girls (1988-1989) as Dominic Bosco / Vincenzo Columbo (1973-1989) as Vito / Salvatore Defonte / Thomas Dolan / Mr. Grindell / Chadwick / Maitre d' The Fanelli Boys (1990) as Sicilian #1 Northern Exposure (1992) as Godfather Empty Nest (1994) as Mr. Tartaglia Mad About You (1995) as Antonio