Victor Spinetti
Known for

Acting

Credits

58

Gender

Man

Birthday

2 Sept 1933

Day of death

19 Jun 2012 (78)

Place of birth

Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales

Also known as
Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti

Victor Spinetti

Biography

Victor Sinetti (born Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti) was a Welsh comedy actor, author and poet. He appeared in dozens of films and stage plays throughout his 50-year career, including the three 1960s Beatles films "A Hard Day's Night", "Help!" and "Magical Mystery Tour". Born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales, Spinetti was educated at Monmouth School and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, of which he became a Fellow. After various menial jobs, Spinetti pursued a stage career and was closely associated with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in London, England. Among the productions were "Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be" and "Oh! What a Lovely War" (1963), which transferred to New York City and for which he won a Tony Award. Spinetti's film career developed simultaneously; his dozens of film appearances would include Zeffirelli's "The Taming of the Shrew", "Under Milk Wood", "The Return of the Pink Panther" and "Under the Cherry Moon". During his later career, Spinetti acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in such roles as Lord Foppington in "The Relapse" and the Archbishop in "Richard III", at Stratford-upon-Avon; and, in 1990, he appeared in "The Krays". In 2008 he appeared in a one-man show, "A Very Private Diary", which toured the UK as "A Very Private Diary ... Revisited!", recounting his life story. Spinetti was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 and died of the disease in June 2012.

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
Fred Basset
Sweet Sixteen
2008The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour MemoriesNarrator / Self
2004New Tricks
2002High Hopes
2000In the BeginningHappatezoah, Pharaoh's Magician
1999The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret ServiceColonel Dupree
1999Boobs in the WoodTriar Fuck (as Victor Spineti)
1999Julie and the CadillacsCyril Wise
1995The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the HawkmenBragas / Major M
1995You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night'Self
1993Seriously Seeking SidSelf
1993Tommy Cooper - The Magic Touch
1991The Princess and the GoblinGlump
1991An Actor's Life For Me
1991Paul Merton: The Series
1990The KraysMr. Lawson
1990Romeo.JulietTybalt (voice)
1989The Paradise ClubElliott Rossini
1989The Further Adventures of SuperTed
1988The Attic: The Hiding of Anne FrankHerman Van Daan
1987Bad Boyes
1986Under the Cherry MoonThe Jaded Three #1
1984Mistral's DaughterBianchi
1983SuperTedTexas Pete
1979The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeMr. Tumnus (voice)
1979Take My Wife
19783-2-1
1977Casanova & Co.The Prefect
1977HardcoreDuncan
1976Voyage of the DamnedDr. Erich Strauss
1976EmilyRichard Walker
1975The Return of the Pink PantherHotel Concierge
1975The Great McGonagall
1975Dick Deadeye, or Duty DoneDick Deadeye (voice)
1974The Little PrinceThe Historian
1973Digby, the Biggest Dog in the WorldProf. Ribart
1973The 500 Pound JerkMartin Bloore
1972Under Milk WoodMog Edwards
1970Start the Revolution Without MeDuke d'Escargot
1970Defeat of the MafiaCharles Agostino
1969A Promise of BedGeorge
1969Two in Clover
1968The Biggest Bundle of Them AllCaptain Giglio
1967The Taming of the ShrewHortensio
1967Magical Mystery TourArmy Sergeant
1965Help!Prof. Foot
1965BBC Play of the MonthTrivelin
1965The Wild AffairQuentin
1964A Hard Day's NightT.V. Director
1964BecketFrench Tailor (uncredited)
1964I Think They Call Him JohnNarrator (voice)
1963Sparrows Can't SingArnold
1962The SaintCommissionaire
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
1961The Gentle TerrorJoe
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1990Romeo.JulietWriter
1975Dick Deadeye, or Duty DoneWriter