Anthony Quinn

Quinn said in an interview a few years before his death that he originally accepted a deal that would have paid him a percentage of the profits that Federico Fellini's La Strada generated instead of an upfront salary. When his agent found out about it, the agent changed the deal and insisted an upfront salary and no percentage. Quinn said that decision cost him several million dollars.

For an apprearance on The Tonight Show hosted by Jay Leno, the show's orchestra played Syrtaki (Zorba's Dance), the theme from Zorba the Greek. As he entered, Quinn danced a few steps of the dance, to huge applause. But when seated, Quinn remarked, "I hate that song! Everywhere I go, they play that song!"

By the time Quinn was eighteen years old, he had already worked as a butcher, taxi driver, slaughterhouse worker, street-corner preacher and welterweight boxer, making up to $10 per fight.

Quinn was nominated for Best Foreign Actor at BAFTA Awards for Lawrence of Arabia (1963).

Quinn has fathered thirteen children.

Quinn had a broken foot during filming of Zorba the Greek (1964), and thus couldn't perform the dance on the beach as scripted, which called for much leaping around. Instead, he did a slow shuffle. Director Michael Cacoyannis, asked Quinn what the dance was, and Quinn made up a name and claimed it was traditional.

One of the Rhodian locations used in The Guns of Navarone (1961) has been renamed Anthony Quinn Bay after the actor was reported to have bought property nearby.

Quinn became a naturalized citizen of the United States in the forties.

For his part in Becket had a Tony Award nomination for Best Dramatic Actor on 1961.

In 1968 he starred along with Michael Caine in a movie named The Magus. To play his character was forced to shave his hair and for that reason he had an insurance policy in the case that his hair wouldn't grow back.

Quinn grew up on East Los Angeles shining shoes and selling newspapers.

The second Academy Award he won (in Lust for Life) was an amazing achievement because he only appeared onscreen for eight minutes.

Height: 6'2" (1.88 m).

Quinn has a monument in his natal Chihuahua City.

Quinn is the Oscar-winning actor with more appearances with other Academy Award winners with forty-six: twenty-eight male actors and eighteen female actors.

Quinn has been the only Mexican that has won an Academy Award.

Anthony was considered for the role of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972) before producer/director Francis Ford Coppola, settled on Marlon Brando.

Anthony was nomininated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Onassis: The Richest Man in the World in 1988.

Anthony wrote and co-wrote two autobiographies, The Original Sin (1972) and One Man Tango (1997).

Anthony won two Oscars, for Best Supporting Actor, in Viva Zapata! (1952) and Lust For Life (1956). He was also nominated twice for Best Actor In A Leading Role, in Wild Is The Wind (1957) and Zorba The Greek (1964).

Anthony was nominated for the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor in Mobsters (1991).

Anthony has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 6251 Hollywood Boulevard.

Anthony was a friend of controversial Providence, Rhode Island mayor Vincent Cianci (1974-1984, 1990-2002) who was found guilty of racketeering and is currently serving a Federal prison term at Fort Dix Correctional Institute in New Jersey, to be released on July 27, 2007.

Anthony enjoyed painting and sculpting.

Anthony was a friend of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.