Fortunio Bonanova

Fortunio Bonanova was a Spanish-American actor who is best known for his roles in Citizen Kane, Double Indemnity, and Kiss Me Deadly.

Personal and Family Life

Born Josep Lluís Moll in Palma, Spain, on January 13, 1895, Bonanova studied music in Madrid and at the Paris Conservatoire. He changed his name to Fortunio Bonanova to pursue a career in the arts, particularly in opera. He debuted as a baritone in 1922 and gained attention as a talented performer in both Europe and South America before moving to the United States in 1936.

Career

Bonanova’s film career began in the early 1920s, but he became more prominent in Hollywood during the late 1930s and 1940s. He was often typecast in roles that depicted him as an excitable or pompous character, such as opera singers or aristocrats. His most notable performance came in Citizen Kane, where he played Signor Matiste, the frustrated vocal coach of the main character’s wife.

Death and Legacy

Fortunio Bonanova passed away on April 2, 1969, in Woodland Hills, California, due to a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 74. His contributions to cinema and opera are still remembered, and he is regarded as an important figure in the representation of Spanish and Latin characters in American films.

Filmography