Sal Mineo

Salvatore Mineo Jr. (January 10, 1939 – February 12, 1976) was an American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford in the 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'', 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) and Salvatore Mineo Sr. He was of Sicilian descent; his father was born in Italy and his mother, of Italian origin, was born in the United States. Mineo's sister Sarina and brothers Michael and Victor were also actors. He attended the Quintano School for Young Professionals and was one of the few Italian-American actors of his era to keep his last name, saying he was proud of his heritage and identity.

Acting career

Child actor

Mineo's mother enrolled him in dancing and acting school at an early age.
He had his first stage appearance in Tennessee Williams's play ''The Rose Tattoo'' (1951). 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.

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. 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. Mineo also successfully auditioned for a part in ''The Private War of Major Benson'' (1955), as a cadet colonel opposite Charlton Heston.

''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). Mineo's performance resulted in an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. At age 17, he became the fifth-youngest nominee in the category. 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."

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. In the Disney adventure ''Tonka'' (1958), for instance, Mineo starred as a young Sioux named White Bull who traps and domesticates a clear-eyed, spirited wild horse named Tonka that becomes the famous Comanche, the lone survivor of Custer's Last Stand.
By the late 1950s, Mineo was a major celebrity. He was sometimes referred to as the "Switchblade Kid", a nickname he earned from his role as a criminal in the movie ''Crime in the Streets'' (1956).
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. 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. 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?

Mineo made an effort to break his typecasting. In addition to his roles as a Native American brave in ''Tonka'' (1958), and a Mexican boy in ''Giant'' (1956), he played a Jewish Holocaust survivor in ''Exodus'' (1960); for his work in ''Exodus'', he won a Golden Globe Award and received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Career shift

By the early 1960s, Mineo was becoming too old to play the type of role that had made him famous, and rumors of his homosexuality led to his being considered inappropriate for leading roles. For example, he auditioned for David Lean's film ''Lawrence of Arabia'' (1962) but was not hired. 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."

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". Mineo also appeared on the Season 2 episode of ''The Patty Duke Show'': "Patty Meets a Celebrity" (1964).

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. The high point of this period was his portrayal of Uriah in ''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (1965). Mineo guest-starred in an episode of the TV series '' Combat!'' in 1966, playing the role of a GI wanted for murder. He did two more appearances on the same show, including appearing in an installment with Fernando Lamas.

In 1969, Mineo returned to the stage to direct 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