Anthony Franciosa

Anthony George Franciosa (born as Anthony George Papaleo) was a successful American actor, often billed as Tony Franciosa at the pinnacle of his career. Born on October 25, 1928 in New York City, Franciosa started his journey on stage and made a remarkable breakthrough by portraying the character of a drug addict's brother in the play A Hatful of Rain. The role led to a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Franciosa reprised his role in the subsequent film adaptation of the same play, which won him the 1957 Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actor and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

After moving to Hollywood, he starred in various feature films, including A Face in the Crowd (1957), The Long, Hot Summer (1958), and Career (1959). His performance in Career won him the Golden Globe for Best Actor. He also played lead roles in five television series: Valentine's Day (1964–65), The Name of the Game (1968–71), Search (1972–73), Matt Helm (1975), and Finder of Lost Loves (1984). In his later career, his acting took him to Europe where he was known for his roles in the erotic drama The Cricket (1980) and Dario Argento's giallo Tenebrae (1982).