| Anthony Dexter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Walter Reinhold Alfred Fleischmann January 19, 1913 Talmage, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 2001 (aged 88) Greeley, Colorado, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Nationality | |
| Other names | Tony Dexter Walter Craig |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1951 - 1999 |
Anthony John "Tony" Dexter (January 19, 1913 – March 27, 2001) was an American actor known for his resemblance of 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.
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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.[1] During World War II he served in the U.S. Army's Special Services in England earning the rank of Sergeant.[2] 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.[3] His incredible likeness to Valentino led to a contract with Columbia Pictures but hampered him in achieving substantial film roles as when he broke his contract with Edward Small due to his wanting to use him exclusively in Valentino type roles, but soon found other producers wished him to do the same-for less money. He also made three unsuccessful television pilots two of them swashbucklers.[4]