From Southern Italy to Hollywood
Born in Castellaneta (Taranto), Valentino left Italy at the age of 18 to try his luck in the United States. Thanks to his charisma and slicked-back hair, he managed to find a place among silent film stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo. His captivating and deep gaze made him the archetype of the Latin lover.
After a brief stint as a dancer in France, Valentino settled in the United States, where he initially worked as a waiter and gardener. He then became a professional dancer at Maxim’s nightclub before moving to California to join an operetta theater troupe.
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Sex Symbol and Trendsetter
Valentino became an international sex symbol by performing a mesmerizing tango in the film The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921). He quickly landed leading roles in exotic films such as The Sheik (1921), Blood and Sand (1922), The Young Rajah (1922), The Eagle (1925), and Son of the Sheik (1926).
His meteoric rise also gave birth to a fashion trend, the “Valentino style”: slicked-back hair, plucked eyebrows, and wristwatches. His private life contributed to reinforcing his myth: he was a young man fond of wild nights, luxury, and entertainment.
Gay Icon and Tumultuous Relationships
It has been suggested that Rudy’s melancholic charm was linked to his homosexuality. Although he seduced women, there is no evidence of relationships with men. However, his androgynous appearance was highlighted by the Chicago Tribune, which nicknamed him “piumino da cipria.”
Valentino experienced tumultuous relationships with his partners. He married his first wife, Jean Acker, in 1919, but they separated a month later without consummating their marriage. Shortly after, he met Natacha Rambova, an American dancer and costume designer, who became his second wife.
Trip to Italy and Premature Death
In 1925, Valentino made a trip to Italy, where he requested an audience with Mussolini, who refused. That same year, he applied for American naturalization, which triggered a defamation campaign in Italian newspapers, labeling him a “traitor to the homeland.”
Worn out by excesses and studio pressures, Valentino succumbed to a poorly treated appendicitis that turned into peritonitis. He passed away on August 23, 1926, at the age of 31. His death caused a massive shock, and rumors surrounding the circumstances of his passing fueled his legend.
This article was written based on information provided by Focus magazine website here.
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