Gia Scala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gia Scala
Scala in Goodyear Theatre (1957)
Born	Josephine Grace Johanna Scoglio March 3, 1934 Liverpool, England
Died	April 30, 1972 (aged 38) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1955–1969
Spouse(s)	Don Burnett (1959–1970)

Gia Scala (born Josephine Grace Johanna Scoglio) was a British-American actress. She was born on March 3, 1934, and passed away on April 30, 1972, at the age of 38. Gia Scala was known for her roles in many films and TV shows during the 1950s and 1960s. She had a mixed background, with an Italian father and an Irish mother.

Early Life and Moving to America

Gia Scala was born in Liverpool, England. Her father, Pietro Scoglio, was from Sicily, and her mother, Eileen O'Sullivan, was Irish. Gia had a sister named Tina Scala, who also became an actress.

Gia grew up in Sicily, Italy, in towns like Messina and Mili San Marco. Her grandfather, Natale Scoglio, owned a large citrus farm there. When Gia was 16, she moved to the United States. She lived with her aunt Agata in Whitestone, Queens, New York City.

After finishing high school at Bayside High School, Gia moved to Manhattan. She wanted to become an actress. To support herself, she worked at a travel agency during the day. At night, she took acting classes from teachers like Stella Adler. During this time, she met Steve McQueen and they dated for a few years. Gia also appeared on TV game shows, where a Universal International executive named Maurice Bergman noticed her.

Becoming a Hollywood Star

Scala in the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "Mother, May I Go Out to Swim?"

In 1954, Gia Scala traveled to Los Angeles with her mother for an acting tryout. She didn't get the specific part she tried out for, but Peter Johnson at Universal Studios was very impressed with her. This led to Gia's first job in Hollywood. She had a small, uncredited role in the movie All That Heaven Allows, which starred Rock Hudson.

Even though her role was small, Universal Studios saw her potential. They signed her to a contract, changed her hair to dark brown, and gave her the stage name Gia Scala. They also had her front teeth capped.

The famous songwriter Henry Mancini met Gia Scala while working on the movie Four Girls in Town. He was so inspired by her beauty that he wrote a song called "Cha Cha for Gia." This song was featured in the 1957 film.

Scala and Russ Tamblyn in Don't Go Near the Water (1957)

In 1958, Gia Scala became an American citizen. Soon after, she landed roles in several movies. These included Tip on a Dead Jockey (1957), The Garment Jungle (1957), The Tunnel of Love (1958), and the well-known war film The Guns of Navarone (1961). In The Guns of Navarone, she acted alongside stars like Gregory Peck and David Niven.

Gia Scala also appeared often on American television during the 1960s. She was in popular shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Tarzan. Her last acting role was in the 1969 episode "The Artist Is for Framing" of the series It Takes a Thief.

Later Life and Legacy

On August 21, 1959, Gia Scala married Don Burnett, who was an actor and later became an investment banker. They were married for 11 years.

In 2015, a book about Gia Scala's life was written by Sterling Saint James. It was titled Gia Scala: The First Gia. Gia's sister, Tina Scala, shared many personal details for the book.

Gia Scala passed away on April 30, 1972, at her home in Hollywood Hills. She was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Film and Television Roles

Images for kids

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  Scala in Goodyear Theatre (1957)