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Photos
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Stage Name |
Birth Name |
| Valentino |
Rudolph
Gugliemi |
Rudolph Valentino came to the United States
from Italy with his family in 1913, he was 18 years old. His career got a start at Maxim's
in New York were he was being paid to dance with the female customers (unescorted)
as well as giving dance lessons, later during his movie career, he tried to disprove his
past as a Gigolo. Eventually he paired up with some of the other female pro's and put
routines together doing exhibitions. His greatest pairing was with Joan Sawyerand Bonnie
Glass, who helped his movie career get started.
Valentino's most famous dance partner was Bonnie Glass,
who grabbed him after her breakup with Clifton Webb. They would perform the Nightclub
and Vaudeville circuit around 1915-1916. Valentino's second wife Natascha was a handful,
it is said she never let him "Consummate their Marriage", which drove him to
nastiness in their relationship. It has been reported that Nazimova and Natascha were
lovers and Natascha used Valentino's fame to help her career (costume designer)
only.
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