From Dreams of Architecture to Hollywood Stardom
As a young Mexican immigrant growing up in Los Angeles, Anthony Quinn had big dreams. He wanted to be an architect. At just 17, he won a drawing contest and even got the chance to study under the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. But life had other plans for him. Wright told Anthony that his speech impediment would stand in the way of becoming an architect. That didn’t stop Anthony. Instead, he underwent surgery to correct the problem. Then, he traded janitorial work at an acting school for speech lessons, setting the stage for a remarkable 65-year career in Hollywood. His talent earned him two Oscars—one for Viva Zapata! and another for Lust for Life. As his son Alex shared with Closer Weekly, “Despite starting from nothing, he always kept moving forward.”
Breaking into Hollywood with Grit and Determination
Anthony’s first big break as an actor came in 1936 when director Cecil B. DeMille cast him as an Indian in the Western The Plainsman. But here's the kicker—Anthony didn’t speak much English at the time, so he cleverly pretended he couldn’t speak it at all to land the part. That bold move not only won him the role but also a contract with the studio. During this time, he married DeMille’s daughter, Katherine, and together they had five children. Tragically, their firstborn, Christopher, drowned in a pool at the tender age of two in 1941. “It was extremely painful,” daughter Valentina, who was born in 1952, revealed to Closer Weekly. Despite this heartbreak, Anthony went on to father a dozen more children, always including Christopher when he referred to his family of 13 children.
Overcoming Obstacles and Defining Roles
Anthony faced racism and typecasting throughout his career but refused to be pigeonholed into one-dimensional roles. He played French artist Paul Gauguin in Lust for Life, Arab tribe leader Auda AbuTayeh in Lawrence of Arabia, and became synonymous with the title character in Zorba the Greek. As Alex put it, “He identified with Zorba’s passion for life and expressed it through his acting, painting, and sculpting.” Art was more than just a passion for Anthony; it was therapeutic. “Creativity allowed him to deal with emotional issues and challenges he faced, like discrimination and losing his father in an auto accident when he was just ten,” said his widow, Kathy Benvin.
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A Life Filled with Creativity and Family
Anthony’s greatest love, though, was his family. After his divorce from Katherine DeMille in 1965, he married costume designer Jolanda Addolori, with whom he had three sons—Francesco, Danny, and Lorenzo. Then, in 1997, he wed his former secretary, Kathy, who became the mother of his daughter Antonia and son Ryan. “He loved being a father—that’s why he had so many kids,” Valentina joked. Kathy added, “He loved the way they shouted, ‘Papa, Papa!’ when he came home. He loved being loved.” That love was reciprocated. “When I had troubles, he was there, concerned and showing love, and for that I’m grateful,” said Valentina. “And when I got married, he and Kathy had just had their little boy a few days before, but he was sweet enough to come to my wedding and walk me down the aisle.”
