Italian Americans You Should Know

Episode 1 - Jimmy Durante: Comedian

“Durante was born in Brooklyn, New York, the third of four children born to Italian-Americans Bartolomeo Durante and Rosa Durante. He served as an altar boy at New York City’s Saint Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church also known as the Actor’s Chapel. Durante dropped out of school in the eighth grade to become a full-time ragtime pianist."

Episode 2 - Hector Boiardi: Chef

"Ettore Boiardi, also known by the Anglicized name Hector Boyardee, was an Italian-American chef, famous for his eponymous brand of food products, named Chef Boyardee."

Episode 3 - Walter Lantz: Cartoonist

"Walter Benjamin Lantz was an Italian American cartoonist, animator, producer and director best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker. While working as an auto mechanic, Lantz got his first break. Wealthy customer Fred Kafka liked his drawings on the garage's bulletin board and financed Lantz's studies at the Art Students League of New York"

Episode 4 - Brian Piccolo: Football Player

"Brian Piccolo was an American professional football player who was a halfback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for four years. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Piccolo was the subject of the 1971 TV movie "Brians Song". He was portrayed in the original film by actor James Caan and by Seth Maher in the 2001 remake.”

Episode 5 - Iron Eyes Cody: Actor

"Iron Eyes Cody was born Espera or "Oscar" DeCorti, the son of two first-generation immigrants from Italy. In 1924 he moved to California, changed his name from "DeCorti" to "Corti" to Cody, and started working as an actor, presenting himself as a Native American. In 1936, he married Bertha Parker, a Native American archaeologist of Abenaki and Seneca descent."

Episode 6 - Salvatore “Sam” Lucchese: Boot Maker

"Salvatore Lucchese, future founder of Lucchese, is born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. His father, Gaetano Lucchese, is a shoemaker. Salvatore Lucchese immigrates to the United States of America. He reportedly arrives in Galveston, Texas by ship, which sailed from Palermo, Italy. Salvatore Lucchese arrived with his brother Joseph Lucchese."

Episode 7 - Sal Mineo: Actor

"Salvatore (Sal) Mineo Jr. was born to Josephine and Sal Sr. (a casket maker), who emigrated to the U.S. from Sicily. His siblings were Michael, Victor and Sarina. Sal was thrown out of parochial school and, by age eight, was a member of a street gang in a tough Bronx neighborhood. His mother enrolled him in dancing school and, after being arrested for robbery at age ten, he was given a choice of juvenile confinement or professional acting school."

Episode 8 - Charles Atlas: Body Builder

"Charles Atlas was a pioneer of bodybuilding and began to popularize the bodybuilding lifestyle as early as the 1920's. He also competed in one of the very first "bodybuilding" competitions ever."