Anthony John "Tony" Dexter (born Walter Reinhold Alfred Fleischmann,
January 19, 1913 â€" March 27, 2001) was an American actor known for
his striking resemblance to silent film hero Rudolph Valentino, whom
he portrayed in the 1951 biographic Valentino. Dexter sometimes used
the pseudonym Walter Craig. He was known for portraying many real-life
characters such as Captain John Smith, Captain William Kidd, Billy the
Kid and Christopher Columbus.Born Walter Reinhold Alfred Fleischmann
in Nebraska, he earned an athletic scholarship to St. Olaf College in
Northfield, Minnesota and later earned a Master of Arts from the
University of Iowa. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army's
Special Services in England earning the rank of Sergeant. After the
war he performed on Broadway productions of The Three Sisters, Ah,
Wilderness and The Barretts of Wimpole Street.When preparing a film
biography of Rudolph Valentino, Valentino, producer Edward Small chose
Dexter for the lead from over 75,000 applicants and 400 screen tests.
His incredible likeness to Valentino led to a contract with Columbia
Pictures, but hampered him in achieving substantial film roles. When
Dexter broke his contract with Edward Small due to the producer
wanting to use him exclusively in Valentino-type roles, Dexter soon
found that other producers wished him to do the same - for less money.
He also made three unsuccessful television pilots, two of them
swashbucklers.
January 19, 1913 â€" March 27, 2001) was an American actor known for
his striking resemblance to silent film hero Rudolph Valentino, whom
he portrayed in the 1951 biographic Valentino. Dexter sometimes used
the pseudonym Walter Craig. He was known for portraying many real-life
characters such as Captain John Smith, Captain William Kidd, Billy the
Kid and Christopher Columbus.Born Walter Reinhold Alfred Fleischmann
in Nebraska, he earned an athletic scholarship to St. Olaf College in
Northfield, Minnesota and later earned a Master of Arts from the
University of Iowa. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army's
Special Services in England earning the rank of Sergeant. After the
war he performed on Broadway productions of The Three Sisters, Ah,
Wilderness and The Barretts of Wimpole Street.When preparing a film
biography of Rudolph Valentino, Valentino, producer Edward Small chose
Dexter for the lead from over 75,000 applicants and 400 screen tests.
His incredible likeness to Valentino led to a contract with Columbia
Pictures, but hampered him in achieving substantial film roles. When
Dexter broke his contract with Edward Small due to the producer
wanting to use him exclusively in Valentino-type roles, Dexter soon
found that other producers wished him to do the same - for less money.
He also made three unsuccessful television pilots, two of them
swashbucklers.
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