Sal Mineo

Salvatore Mineo Jr. (January 10, 1939 – February 12, 1976) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford in the coming-of-age drama film Rebel Without a Cause (1955), which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at age 17, making him the fifth-youngest nominee in the category.

Mineo also starred in films such as Crime in the Streets, Giant (both 1956), Exodus (1960), for which he won a Golden Globe and received a second Academy Award nomination; The Longest Day (1962), John Ford's final western Cheyenne Autumn (1964), and Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971).

Early life and education

Mineo was born in The Bronx, New York City, the son of coffin makers Josephine (née Alvisi) (1913 - 1989) and Salvatore Mineo Sr. (1913 - 1972)^[2][3] He was of Sicilian descent. His father was born in Italy and immigrated to the United States. His mother, also ethnic Italian, was born in New York. Mineo's sister Sarina (1941 - 2024) and brothers Michael (1937 - 1984) and Victor (1935 - 2015) also became actors. He attended the Quintano School for Young Professionals, a performing arts school in New York City.^[4][5] Mineo was one of the few Italian-American actors of his era to keep his surname, saying he was proud of his heritage and identity.^[6]

Acting career

Child actor

Mineo's mother enrolled him in dancing and acting school at an early age.^[7] He had his first stage appearance in Tennessee Williams's play The Rose Tattoo (1951).^[8] He also played the young prince opposite Yul Brynner in the stage musical The King and I. Brynner took the opportunity to help Mineo better himself as an actor.^[1]

On May 8, 1954, Mineo portrayed the Page (lip-synching to the voice of mezzo-soprano Carol Jones) in the NBC Opera Theatre's production of Richard Strauss's Salome (in English translation), set to Oscar Wilde's play.^[9][10] Elaine Malbin performed the title role, and Peter Herman Adler conducted Kirk Browning's production.

As a teenager, Mineo appeared on ABC's musical quiz program Jukebox Jury. Mineo made several television appearances before making his screen debut in the Joseph Pevney film Six Bridges to Cross (1955). He beat out Clint Eastwood for the role.^[11] Mineo successfully auditioned for a part in The Private War of Major Benson (1955), as a cadet colonel opposite Charlton Heston.^[12]

Rebel Without a Cause and stardom

Mineo's breakthrough as an actor came in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he played John "Plato" Crawford, a sensitive teenager smitten with main character Jim Stark (played by James Dean).^[8] Mineo's performance resulted in an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and he became the fifth-youngest nominee in the category, at the age of 17.^[1] Mineo's biographer Paul Jeffers recounted that Mineo received thousands of letters from young female fans, was mobbed by them at public appearances, and further wrote: "He dated the most beautiful women in Hollywood and New York City."^[13]

In Giant (1956), Mineo played Angel Obregon II, a Mexican boy killed in World War II. Many of his subsequent roles were variations of his role in Rebel Without a Cause, and he was typecast as a troubled teen.^[14] In the Disney adventure Tonka (1958), for instance, Mineo starred as a young Sioux named White Bull who traps and trains a clear-eyed, spirited wild horse named Tonka. Later the horse is bought by the US Army and renamed Comanche. He was injured but survived Custer's Last Stand; afterward he was treated and honored by Army officials.

By the late 1950s, Mineo was a major celebrity. He was sometimeŕs referred to as the "Switchblade Kid", a nickname he earned from his role as a criminal in the movie Crime in the Streets (1956).^[1]

In 1957, Mineo made a brief foray into pop music by recording a handful of songs and an album. Two of his singles reached the Top 40 in the United States' Billboard Hot 100.^[15] The more popular of the two, "Start Movin' (In My Direction)", reached No. 9 on Billboard's pop chart. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.^[16]

He starred as drummer Gene Krupa in the movie The Gene Krupa Story (1959), directed by Don Weis with Susan Kohner, James Darren, and Susan Oliver. He appeared as the celebrity guest challenger on the June 30, 1957, episode of What's My Line?^[17]

Mineo made an effort to break out of the typecasting.^[18] In addition to his roles as an Indian brave in Tonka (1958),^[18] and a Mexican youth in Giant (1956),^[19] he played a Jewish Holocaust survivor in Exodus (1960). He immigrated to Palestine and joined armed resistance to British authority. For his work in Exodus, he won a Golden Globe Award and received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.^[20][21][18]

Career shift

By the early 1960s, Mineo was becoming too old to play the type of role that had made him famous. Rumors of his homosexuality resulted in his being considered inappropriate for leading roles. He auditioned for David Lean's film Lawrence of Arabia (1962) but was not hired.^[7] Mineo appeared in The Longest Day (1962), in which he played a private killed by a German after the landing in Sainte-Mère-Église. Mineo was baffled by his sudden loss of popularity, later saying: "One minute it seemed I had more movie offers than I could handle; the next, no one wanted me."^[22]

Mineo was the model for Harold Stevenson's painting The New Adam (1963). Now in the Guggenheim Museum's permanent collection, the painting is considered "one of the great American nudes".^[23]

Mineo appeared on the Season 2 episode of The Patty Duke Show: "Patty Meets a Celebrity" (1964).^{[24][25][26][27]}

Mineo's role as a stalker in Who Killed Teddy Bear (1965), which co-starred Juliet Prowse, did not seem to help his career. Although his performance was praised by critics, he found himself typecast again—this time as a deranged criminal.^[28][29] The high point of this period was his portrayal of Uriah in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965).^[30] Mineo guest-starred in an episode of the TV series Combat! in 1966, playing the role of a GI wanted for murder.^[31] He appeared in two more episodes of this series, including one featuring Fernando Lamas.^[32]

In 1969, Mineo directed a Los Angeles production of the gay-themed play Fortune and Men's Eyes (1967), featuring then-unknown Don Johnson as Smitty and Mineo as Rocky. The production received positive reviews, although its expanded prison rape scene was criticized as excessive and gratuitous.^{[33][non-primary source needed]} Mineo's last role in a motion picture was a small part in the film Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971);^[34] he played the chimpanzee Dr. Milo.

In December 1972, Mineo stage-directed the Gian Carlo Menotti short opera The Medium in Detroit.^[35] Muriel Costa-Greenspon portrayed the title character, Madame Flora, and Mineo played the mute, Toby. In 1975, Mineo appeared as Rachman Habib, the assistant to a murderous consular head (portrayed by Hector Elizondo) of a Middle Eastern country, in the Columbo episode "A Case of Immunity," on NBC-TV. One of his last roles was a guest spot on the TV series S.W.A.T. (1975),^[36] in which he portrayed a cult leader similar to Charles Manson.

By 1976, Mineo's career had begun to turn around.^[37] While playing the role of a bisexual burglar in a series of stage performances of the comedy P.S. Your Cat Is Dead in San Francisco, Mineo received substantial publicity from many positive reviews; he moved to Los Angeles along with the play.^[38][39][40]

Personal life

In a 1972 interview with Boze Hadleigh, Mineo confirmed his bisexuality.^[41]

Mineo met English-born actress Jill Haworth on the set of the film Exodus in 1960, in which they portrayed young lovers. She was then 15 years old. Mineo and Haworth were in an on-and-off relationship for many years. They were engaged to be married at one point. According to Mineo biographer Michael Gregg Michaud, Haworth cancelled the engagement after she caught Mineo having sexual relations with a man.^[42] The two remained very close friends until Mineo's death.^[42][43]

Mineo expressed disapproval of Haworth's brief relationship with television producer Aaron Spelling, because he was 22 years older than she. One night, when Mineo found Haworth and Spelling at a private Beverly Hills nightclub, he punched Spelling in the face, yelling, "Do you know how old she is? What are you doing with her at your age?"^[42]

At the time of his death, Mineo was in a six-year relationship with actor and retired acting coach Courtney Burr III (1948-).^[42][44]

In 2010, Michael Gregg Michaud published a biography of Sal Mineo. He received critical acclaim for his depth of research and the contributions he gained from Sal's friends, family, acquaintances and co-stars. Michaud dedicated the book to Jill Haworth and Courtney Burr III: both were significant partners to Mineo and they emained close friends until Haworth's death.^[42]

Death

On the night of February 12, 1976, Mineo returned home at 10:00 pm from a rehearsal for the play P.S. Your Cat Is Dead.^[45] After parking his car in the carport below the West Hollywood apartment that he shared with Courtney Burr III, he was attacked and fatally stabbed in the heart by a mugger.^[46][47] Mineo was found lying and bleeding profusely in the parking alley by his neighbor Raymond Evans, who had heard his cries and helped him to his feet. Mineo walked only a few steps before he collapsed. He was pronounced dead at the scene at the age of 37, due to massive hemorrhage.^[45]

A funeral for Mineo was held at Most Holy Trinity Church, Mamaroneck, on February 17, 1976, and was attended by 250 mourners.^[48] Mineo was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.^[49]

In March 1979, Lionel Ray Williams, who had a long criminal record, was convicted and sentenced to 51 years in prison for killing Mineo, and for committing ten robberies.^[37] The police investigation concluded that Mineo was killed in a random robbery and that Williams did not know his victim that night. ^[50] He has long asserted his innocence in Mineo's death, including after being released from prison in 1990. A documentary film titled Unseen Innocence (2024) sought to raise awareness of Williams' case and his unsuccessful efforts to gain exoneration.^[51]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of Italian-American actors
• List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees – Youngest nominees for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• List of LGBTQ Academy Award winners and nominees – Confirmed individuals for Best Supporting Actor
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations
• List of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories

References

Citations

1. ^ Bell, Rachael. "The Switchblade Kid: The Life and Death of Sal Mineo". Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
2. ^ Mendez, Antonio (January 2006). Guía del cine clásico: Protagonistas – Antonio Mendez – Google Books. Vision Libros. ISBN 9788498213881. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
3. ^ Michaud, Michael Gregg (2011). Sal Mineo: A Biography. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307716675. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
4. ^ Harper, Valerie (January 15, 2013). I, Rhoda. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451699487. – via Google Books.
5. ^ Katz, Mike & Kott, Crispin (June 1, 2018). Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781493037049. – via Google Books.
6. ^ "Sal Mineo Newstand". Salmineo.com. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
7. ^ Noe, Denise. "The Murder of Sal Mineo". Archived June 6, 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
8. ^ Holliday, Peter J. (November 8, 2008 [2002]). "Mineo, Sal (1939–1976)". Archived May 25, 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
9. ^ "Comet Over Hollywood's Gone Too Soon: Sal Mineo". Kirksville Daily Express – Kirksville, MO. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
10. ^ Michaud, Michael Gregg (June 13, 2011). Sal Mineo: A Biography. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307716675. – via Google Books.
11. ^ McGilligan, Patrick (1999). Clint: The Life and Legend. London: HarperCollins. p. 63. ISBN 0-00-638354-8.
12. ^ Ellis, Chris & Ellis, Julie (July 27, 2005). The Mammoth Book of Celebrity Murder: Murder Played Out in the Spotlight of Maximum Publicity. Berghahn Books. p. 415. ISBN 978-1-57181-140-0. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
13. ^ Jeffers, Paul (2000). Sal Mineo: His Life, Murder, and Mystery. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. ISBN 0-7867-0777-1.
14. ^ Smith, Laura C. (February 10, 1995). "Untimely End for a 'Rebel'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived May 19, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
15. ^ "Sal Mineo Mini biography". Salmineo.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
16. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs. 2nd ed. London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 94. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
17. ^ What's My Line? – Sal Mineo; Ernie Kovacs (panel); Martin Gabel (panel) (June 30, 1957)
18. ^ "The Murder of Sal Mineo Crime Magazine". Crimemagazine.com
19. ^ "The Advocate". Here Publishing. August 19, 1997. – via Google Books.
20. ^ "Book helps rediscover murdered Hollywood star". CNN.
21. ^ "Watch the Trailer for James Franco's "Sal" Biopic". Nbcchicago.com. October 2, 2013.
22. ^ Michaud, Michael Gregg (June 13, 2011). Sal Mineo: A Biography. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307716675. – via Google Books.
23. ^ Vogel, Carol (September 30, 2005). "Exposure for a Nude". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
24. ^ "The Patty Duke Show: Season 2". Amazon. February 9, 2010.
25. ^ Egner, Jeremy (March 30, 2016). "Video: Remembering Patty Duke". The New York Times
26. ^ "The Patty Duke Show S2E19 Patty Meets a Celebrity". February 14, 2017. – via YouTube.
27. ^ Patty Meets a Celebrity, Episode 55 Original Air Date January 20, 1965 List of The Patty Duke Show episodes
28. ^ "CLOSED – The Sal Mineo Story "Rebel with A Cause" – Feb 9th &10, 2016". January 18, 2016.
29. ^ Michaud, Michael Gregg (June 13, 2011). Sal Mineo: A Biography. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307716675. – via Google Books.
30. ^ "Desert Sun 24 November 1962 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". Cdnc.ucr.edu
31. ^ Davidsmeyer, Jo. "Nothing to Lose". Combat! Fan Site. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
32. ^ Michaud, Michael Gregg (June 13, 2011). Sal Mineo: A Biography. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307716675. – via Google Books.
33. ^ "INTERVIEW WITH DON JOHNSON, AGE 20 ~ by Marvin Jones | Facebook". – via Facebook.
34. ^ "Actor Sal Mineo is killed in Hollywood". History.com
35. ^ Stevenson, Harold. "The New Adam Article". Archived from the original on September 22, 2008.
36. ^ Michaud, Michael Gregg (June 13, 2011). Sal Mineo: A Biography. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307716675. – via Google Books.
37. ^ Ellis, Chris & Ellis, Julie (2005). The Mammoth Book of Celebrity Murder. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. pp. 419–422. ISBN 0-7867-1568-5.
38. ^ "Sal Mineo Knifed to Death in Hollywood". The New York Times. February 14, 1976.
39. ^ "James Ellroy: Cracking the Case of Murdered Actor Sal Mineo". The Hollywood Reporter. December 21, 2018.
40. ^ "Sal Mineo". Biography.com
41. ^ "Boze Hadleigh interview with Sal Mineo, 1972". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
42. ^ Michael Gregg Michaud. "Sal Mineo: A Biography". Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
43. ^ Michael Gregg Michaud. "The Relevance of Sal Mineo". Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
44. ^ Matthew Carey. "Book helps rediscover murdered Hollywood star". CNN. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
45. ^ UPI (February 14, 1976). "Sal Mineo Knifed to Death in Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
46. ^ "Actor Sal Mineo Is Stabbed to Death". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
47. ^ Rachael Bell (2008). "The Switchblade Kid: The Life and Death of Sal Mineo". TruTV. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2008. The autopsy revealed that Sal died of a single stab wound to the heart.
48. ^ "250 Attend Sal Mineo Funeral; Actor Is Called 'Gentle Person'". The New York Times. February 18, 1976.
49. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 32658-32659). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
50. ^ "Sal Mineo Murder Site | One Archives". One.usc.edu
51. ^ Underwood, Keith L. "'Unseen Innocence:' Did a Black Man Kill Actor Sal Mineo?". Los Angeles Sentinel. Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. Retrieved May 11, 2025.

Sources

• Johansson, Warren & Percy, William A (1994). Outing: Shattering the Conspiracy of Silence. Harrington Park Press. p. 91.
• Gilmore, John (1998). Laid Bare: A Memoir of Wrecked Lives and the Hollywood Death Trip. Amok Books. ISBN 1-878923-08-0.
• Frascella, Lawrence & Weisel, Al (2005). Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause. Touchstone. ISBN 0-7432-6082-1.

External links

• Abel, Bob (February 1970). "Sal Mineo interviewed". SalMineo.com. Cavalier. Archived from the original on May 7, 2006.