Sporting the name Walter Craig when out of the limelight and the stage
name Anthony Dexter when in it, he rounded out his years teaching high
school English, Speech, and Drama classes at Eagle Rock High School
(circa 1968-78) in the Los Angeles area. His best-known role as an
actor, however, occurred when he landed the part of
Rudolph Valentino in the
actor's biopic
Valentino (1951). He was
reputed to have won the role from a competitive field of 75,000
aspiring Valentinos. The film's producer, 'Edward Small', claimed to
have made 400 screen tests for the part until discovering Dexter--the
perfect fit. So much alike was Dexter in appearance to Valentino that
Valentino fan clubs, upon learning of Dexter, applauded the choice of
him to play their star. Even the press lauded Dexter as "incredible.
The same eyes, ears, mouth--the same grace in dancing" (according to a
1950 Los Angeles Times article quoting
George Melford, who directed Valentino in
The Sheik (1921). Although "Valentino"
was not the success its producers had hoped for, Dexter managed to
garner future parts in movies similar to the roles the real Valentino
had played: John Smith in
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953);
Captain Kidd in
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl (1954);
a pirate leader in
The Black Pirates (1954);
Christopher Columbus in
The Story of Mankind (1957).
After these roles, his career gradually diminished until ultimately he
was cast in a bit part in
Julie Andrews' vehicle
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967).
Dexter grew up on a farm in Talmadge, Nebraska, where he played such
good football in high school that he earned a scholarship to St. Olaf's
College in Minnesota. There he began his pursuit of stage and screen,
singing first in the college's choir before going on to the University
of Iowa to get his M.A. in speech and drama. Even during World War II,
Dexter--then a sergeant with the Army Special Services--toured England
and other parts of the European theater of war doing the show
"Claudia." Having not limited himself to movies, he did at least one
notable run at summer theatre in San Francisco in "The King and I" and
added to his credits parts in the Broadway shows "The Three Sisters,"
"Ah, Wilderness" and "The Barretts of Wimpole Street." He died at the
age of 88 in Greeley, Colorado.
The High Chaparral(1967)as Dave Gore
Thoroughly Modern Millie(1967)as Juarez
Saturday Night in Apple Valley(1965)as The Bullfighter
Married Too Young(1962)as Lech
The Phantom Planet(1961)as Herron
The Colgate Comedy Hour(1950)as Self
Screen Snapshots, Series 31, No. 8: Hollywood Night Life(1952)as Self
Inside the Marx Brothers(2003)as Columbus (clip from The Story of Mankind (1957))
