Mario Lanza

Opera Singer

Birthday January 31, 1921

Birth Sign Aquarius

Birthplace Philadelphia, PA

DEATH DATE Oct 7, 1959 (38)

#86,862 Most Popular

About

Opera tenor who acted in 1940s Hollywood movies like The Great Caruso and who performed in the opera Madame Butterfly in New Orleans.

Before Fame

He was offered a full scholarship to the Berkshire Music Center after impressing Serge Koussevitzky.

Trivia

His movie debut was in the 1949 film That Midnight Kiss.

Family Life

He married Elizabeth Jeannette "Betty" Hicks on April 12, 1945 and had four children with her.

Associated With

Lanza's music and persona were used in Heavenly Creatures, the 1994 film by Peter Jackson.