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Anthony Dexter(1913-2001)

  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Anthony Dexter in Valentino (1951)
After an invisible asteroid draws an astronaut and his ship to its surface, he is miniaturized by the phantom planet's exotic atmosphere.
Play trailer2:45
The Phantom Planet (1961)
3 Videos
16 Photos
Sporting the name Walter Craig when out of the limelight and the stage name Anthony Dexter when in it, he rounded out his years teaching high school English, Speech, and Drama classes at Eagle Rock High School (circa 1968-78) in the Los Angeles area. His best-known role as an actor, however, occurred when he landed the part of Rudolph Valentino in the actor's biopic Valentino (1951). He was reputed to have won the role from a competitive field of 75,000 aspiring Valentinos. The film's producer, 'Edward Small', claimed to have made 400 screen tests for the part until discovering Dexter--the perfect fit. So much alike was Dexter in appearance to Valentino that Valentino fan clubs, upon learning of Dexter, applauded the choice of him to play their star. Even the press lauded Dexter as "incredible. The same eyes, ears, mouth--the same grace in dancing" (according to a 1950 Los Angeles Times article quoting George Melford, who directed Valentino in The Sheik (1921). Although "Valentino" was not the success its producers had hoped for, Dexter managed to garner future parts in movies similar to the roles the real Valentino had played: John Smith in Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953); Captain Kidd in Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl (1954); a pirate leader in The Black Pirates (1954); Christopher Columbus in The Story of Mankind (1957). After these roles, his career gradually diminished until ultimately he was cast in a bit part in Julie Andrews' vehicle Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967).

Dexter grew up on a farm in Talmadge, Nebraska, where he played such good football in high school that he earned a scholarship to St. Olaf's College in Minnesota. There he began his pursuit of stage and screen, singing first in the college's choir before going on to the University of Iowa to get his M.A. in speech and drama. Even during World War II, Dexter--then a sergeant with the Army Special Services--toured England and other parts of the European theater of war doing the show "Claudia." Having not limited himself to movies, he did at least one notable run at summer theatre in San Francisco in "The King and I" and added to his credits parts in the Broadway shows "The Three Sisters," "Ah, Wilderness" and "The Barretts of Wimpole Street." He died at the age of 88 in Greeley, Colorado.
BornJanuary 19, 1913
DiedMarch 27, 2001(88)
BornJanuary 19, 1913
DiedMarch 27, 2001(88)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 1 win total

Photos16

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Known for

The Phantom Planet (1961)
The Phantom Planet
3.9
  • Herron(as Tony Dexter)
  • 1961
The Story of Mankind (1957)
The Story of Mankind
4.8
  • Christopher Columbus
  • 1957
Susan Shaw in Fire Maidens of Outer Space (1956)
Fire Maidens of Outer Space
2.5
  • Luther Blair
  • 1956
Anthony Dexter and Jody Lawrance in Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953)
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
4.7
  • Capt. John Smith
  • 1953

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor



  • Leif Erickson, Linda Cristal, Henry Darrow, Cameron Mitchell, and Mark Slade in The High Chaparral (1967)
    The High Chaparral
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Dave Gore
    • 1967
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
    Thoroughly Modern Millie
    6.9
    • Juarez
    • 1967
  • Saturday Night in Apple Valley (1965)
    Saturday Night in Apple Valley
    4.7
    • 1965
  • Married Too Young (1962)
    Married Too Young
    4.7
    • Lech
    • 1962
  • The Phantom Planet (1961)
    The Phantom Planet
    3.9
    • Herron (as Tony Dexter)
    • 1961
  • Three Blondes in His Life (1961)
    Three Blondes in His Life
    5.2
    • Charlie Walsh
    • 1961
  • 12 to the Moon (1960)
    12 to the Moon
    3.4
    • Dr. Luis Vargas (as Tony Dexter)
    • 1960
  • Bat Masterson (1958)
    Bat Masterson
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Allesandro Vallin
    • 1960
  • Rawhide (1959)
    Rawhide
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Chie
    • 1960
  • Tristram Coffin in 26 Men (1957)
    26 Men
    7.3
    TV Series
    • 1958
  • Terence Cooper in The Fox (1957)
    The Fox
    TV Mini Series
    • The Fox
    • 1957
  • The Story of Mankind (1957)
    The Story of Mankind
    4.8
    • Christopher Columbus
    • 1957
  • Anthony Dexter, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, and Marie Windsor in The Parson and the Outlaw (1957)
    The Parson and the Outlaw
    4.5
    • Billy the Kid
    • 1957
  • Christian Marquand and Simone Silva in The Gay Cavalier (1957)
    The Gay Cavalier
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Sir Edward Claydon
    • 1957
  • The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna (1956)
    The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna
    7.8
    TV Series
    • Ramon
    • 1957

Videos3

Trailer
Trailer 1:53
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:45
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:45
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:01
Official Trailer

Personal details

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  • Alternative name
    • Tony Dexter
  • Height
    • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
  • Born
    • January 19, 1913
    • Talmage, Nebraska, USA
  • Died
    • March 27, 2001
    • Greeley, Colorado, USA(undisclosed)
  • Other works
    Unsold pilot: Starred in a pilot called "The Fox" about a medieval Robin Hood-like hero.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

FAQ

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  • When did Anthony Dexter die?
    March 27, 2001
  • How did Anthony Dexter die?
    Undisclosed
  • How old was Anthony Dexter when he died?
    88 years old
  • Where did Anthony Dexter die?
    Greeley, Colorado, USA
  • When was Anthony Dexter born?
    January 19, 1913

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