Renzo Cesana

• Name — Renzo Cesana • Born — 30 October 1907 • Birthplace — Rome, Italy • Died — 8 November 1970 • Place of death — Hollywood, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor

Cesana was the grandson of Luigi Cesana, publisher of one of Rome's largest daily newspapers, Il Messaggero. He emigrated to America as a screenwriter in 1929, to adapt Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer "talkies" for Italian audiences. After a failed attempt at becoming a film star, he appeared on radio in San Francisco, then became the U.S. advertising director for a prominent Italian wine, eventually opening his own advertising agency. He returned to Italy to co-write and appear in childhood friend Roberto Rossellini's film Stromboli (1950), then returned to America in 1949 to begin a film and television acting career in Hollywood. In an era when advertisers and advertising agencies played major roles in program creation and sponsorship, Cesana created The Continental as a radio program that he produced, wrote, and starred in for a Los Angeles station in 1951, where it directly followed The Lonesome Gal, in which a female disk jockey talked soothingly to male listeners. After a brief and unsuccessful run, Cesana convinced a local television station to broadcast a video version of The Continental, which was picked up by the CBS television network in 1952. The program led to a recording contract with Capitol Records, in which the non-singer Cesana would recite the lyrics of romantic songs to a musical accompaniment. For instance, "Walk The Lonesome Night" was a big hit in which Cesana recited the lyrics along with a piano and a theater organ. It was released on the "Ultra-Lounge Vol. 7: The Crime Scene" as an extra track; but it received massive success when it was originally released. In 1967, he appeared in That Girl, as Dr. Cessna – an "ink blot" interpreting personality analyst. On September 20, 1967, Cesana appeared in Bewitched, "Business Italian Style" (Season 4, Episode 3). He played an entrepreneur hoping to have Tate & Stephens Advertising Agency introduce Chef Romani Italian Foods to the American market. He died of lung cancer at age 63 in Los Angeles.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1950 — Stromboli — The Priest • 1950 — A Lady Without Passport — Asa Sestina, Deported Mobster • 1950 — The Sound of Fury — Dr. Vido Simone • 1951 — The Mark of the Renegade — Father Juan • 1951 — The Light Touch — Father Dolzi — Uncredited • 1952 — California Conquest — Fray Lindos • 1958 — Anna of Brooklyn — Il barone Trevassi • 1958 — The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina — James • 1958 — The Naked Maja — Bayeu • 1959 — For the First Time — Angelo • 1959 — The Moralist — The Police Commissioner • 1959 — Hannibal • 1960 — The Warrior Empress — Paeone • 1961 — Francis of Assisi — Friar — Uncredited • 1965 — The Art of Love — Pepe de Winter • 1966 — Three on a Couch — The Ambassador • 1972 — Original: Do Not Project — Brother Dimension — (final film role)

The following is established of the heading itself.

The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. The same evidence establishes that renzo Cesana is recorded with the occupation actor. It is also recorded that renzo Cesana is recorded with the occupation composer. Recorded with the occupation screenwriter. Recorded with the occupation television actor. It is also recorded that renzo Cesana is recorded with the occupation writer. It is also recorded that renzo Cesana is recorded as a citizen of Italy. Institutional cataloguing adds that renzo Cesana is recorded with the gender male. Born on 30 October 1907. It is also recorded that renzo Cesana died on 8 November 1970.