- Born
- Died
- Birth nameSalvatore Luigi Puglia
- Height1.66 m
- Puglia started his career at age 15 when he joined a traveling operetta company. Frank appeared in Italian opera from the age of 13. He came to the U.S. in 1907 and worked in a laundry before joining an Italian language theatre group in New York. In 1921, while appearing on stage, he was spotted by D.W. Griffith and was hired immediately. Puglia played a number of ethnic roles throughout his 150+ films career, as well as frequently playing priests, diplomats and musicians.- IMDb mini biography by: vicdru@hotmail.com
- SpouseIrene Veneroni(? - December 19, 1973) (her death)
- Had a memorable bit as a Morroccan rug merchant who marks down prices to friends of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) in the classic film Casablanca (1942).
- Claimed to have learned English primarily from reading the newspapers.
- Originally cast as Bonasera the undertaker in 'The Godfather' (1972) , but illness forced him to withdraw from the role shortly before shooting began. He was replaced by Salvatore Corsitto.
- Was performing as Pierre Forchard in a stage revival of "The Two Orphans" when he was noticed by D.W. Griffith. He hired Puglia to repeat his role in the film version retitled Les Deux Orphelines (1921) starring the Gish sisters. His character dies in the original story, but audiences were so negative that Griffith had him retake the fade-out in which he survives.
- From his first appearances in such films as Orphans of the storm and Isn't Life Wonderful? to his later performances in Jungle Book and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves his dark complexion and chiseled features were used in a wide variety of international character roles.
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