ANTHONY CARUSO
( 1915 - 2003 )

Anthony Caruso was in many of Alan Ladds movies and there are a nice little story how they become friends. Both were on audition at Pasadena Playhouse sometimes in the 30ths. After the test Caruso suggested that they should go and have lunch, but Ladd was broken and hade no money. Caruso had his father with him and he then invited Ladd and paid for him . They had no contact after that day, but many years later when they both should be in "The Glass Key" (1942) Caruso was contacted by Ladd. Ladd was the star of the movie, he had the year before suddenly over a night a big break in "This Gun for Hire". Ladd had never forgotten the lunch with the Carusos and that was the beginning of their lifelong friendship. Caruso got parts in 11Ladd-movies, but missed the biggest role. Ladd had wanted Caruso to play the gunman Wilson in the classic "Shane" (1953), but he was in another picture at that time and could not take the job. The part went to Jack Palance - the rest is moviehistory!

Read about Anthony Caruso in "Classic Images" (# 161 and 200) "Wildest Westerns" (#4), and in Jim & Tom Goldrups "Feature Players" (vol 2). There are videos with Caruso from Memphis Film Festival 1983 (where he is talking about his friendship with Ladd) , and TV-intervjues from 1982 and from Memphis together with Henry Brandon. Caruso in Ladd-movies: "The Glass Key" (1942), "Lucky Jordan" (1942), "The Blue Dahlia" (1946), "Wild Harvest" (1947),"The Iron Mistress" (1951), "The Desert Legion" (1952), "Saskatchewan" (1953), "Drum Beat" (1953), "Hell on Frisco Bay" (1955), "The Big Land" (1957) and "The Badlanders" (1958). Caruso was in many westerns on TV, most notably 14 episodes of "Gunsmoke".

Anthony Caruso died April 4 2003 - 88 years old.

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