Anthony Quinn
“A towering character actor whose passionate roles crossed every border of nationality and temperament.”
After years of supporting roles, Quinn won the 1952 Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 'Viva Zapata!' as Emiliano Zapata's brother, making him a major star. He won a second Oscar for 'Lust for Life' (1956), then defined his legend as the exuberant peasant in 'Zorba the Greek' (1964). His earthy vitality made him an international icon.
Early Life
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1915 during the Mexican Revolution, Quinn grew up poor in East Los Angeles. He worked odd jobs before turning to acting in the mid-1930s.
Rise to Stardom
Marriage into the DeMille family and steady character work led to his Oscar-winning 'Viva Zapata!' (1952). A second Oscar for 'Lust for Life' confirmed his stature as a powerhouse actor.
Legacy
'Zorba the Greek' (1964) cemented his image as an embodiment of robust, life-affirming humanity. Across some 150 films he played every nationality and remained a working star into the 1990s.
Career Timeline
- 1915Born in Chihuahua during the Revolution.
- 1952Viva Zapata! First Oscar. First Mexican-born winner.
- 1954La Strada, for Fellini.
- 1956Lust for Life. Second Oscar.
- 1964Zorba the Greek.
- 1983Zorba on Broadway. He is sixty-seven.
- 2001Dies in Boston at eighty-six. Buried in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Biggest Hits
- He was the first Mexican-American actor to win an Academy Award.
- Quinn was an accomplished painter and sculptor whose artwork was exhibited and sold internationally.
The Moment You Remember
As Zorba, dancing the slow, building sirtaki on a Cretan beach, Quinn turned a moment of ruin into a defiant celebration of life. The image of his outstretched arms and stamping feet became one of the most enduring in postwar cinema, fixing him forever in the popular memory.
Portrait: Unknown author · Public domain (PD-US, no copyright notice) · via Wikimedia Commons