London-born Cyril Delevanti was a seasoned character actor with a remarkable career spanning multiple decades in American films and television. Born to an Anglo-Italian music professor, Delevanti's family background instilled in him a deep appreciation for the arts. In addition to his acting career, he also pursued a successful secondary career as a respected drama coach, with notable clients including Douglas Fairbanks and James Craig.
Throughout his life, Delevanti divided his time between film, television, and the stage. In the mid-1930s, he served as the director in charge of production at the Little Theatre in Houston, Texas. His early film career, which began in 1931, consisted of numerous uncredited roles, primarily in serials and 'B-horrors'. These roles often called for dignified English gentlemen to portray undertakers, coroners, or townsfolk, which Delevanti fulfilled with ease.
As television became a more prominent medium in the early 1950s, Delevanti seized the opportunity to showcase his talents. With his slender build, heavily-lined face, and shock of white hair, he often appeared older than his years. A specialist in Cockney impersonations, Delevanti's nonplussed features were also well-suited to portray assorted shopkeepers, accountants, butlers, or academic types.
Delevanti's most notable on-screen performance came in the 1964 film The Night of the Iguana, where he played Deborah Kerr's elderly grandfather, Nonno, a renowned poet. His outstanding performance earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. Additionally, he appeared in four episodes of The Twilight Zone (1959),showcasing his comedic abilities as the day-dreaming bank employee, Mr. Smithers, in the episode "A Penny for Your Thoughts" (1961).
