Joseph Campanella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Campanella
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Campanella in The Nurses, 1965
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| Born |
Joseph Anthony Campanella
November 21, 1924 Manhattan, New York, U.S.
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| Died | May 16, 2018 (aged 93) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Manhattan College Columbia University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–2009 |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathryn Jill Bartholomew
(m. 1964) |
| Children | 7 |
| Relatives | Frank Campanella (brother) |
Joseph Anthony Campanella (born November 21, 1924 – died May 16, 2018) was an American character actor. He appeared in more than 200 television shows and movies. His career lasted from the early 1950s until 2009.
Many people remember Campanella for his roles as Joe Turino on Guiding Light (1959–1962) and Lew Wickersham on the detective series Mannix (1967–1968). He also played Brian Darrell on The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (1969–1972) and Harper Deveraux on Days of Our Lives (1987–1992). Later, he had a regular role as Jonathan Young on The Bold and the Beautiful (1996–2005).
He was also a voice actor. He voiced Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1997). Campanella also narrated the Discover science TV series on the Disney Channel from 1992 to 1994. Throughout his long career, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.
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Early Life and Education
Joseph Campanella was born in Manhattan, New York City. His parents, Philip and Mary O. Campanella, were immigrants from Sicily, Italy. His father was a pianist, and his mother was a homemaker and dressmaker. Joseph was the younger brother of actor Frank Campanella. The family lived in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. Joseph and his brothers grew up speaking Italian before they learned English. The Campanella family was very Catholic.
Campanella served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a landing craft commander. At just 18 years old, he was one of the youngest commanders in the Navy. He served from 1944 to 1946. After the war, he went to Manhattan College and graduated in 1948. He then studied drama at Columbia University. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a radio sportscaster in Lewistown, Pennsylvania.
Acting Career Highlights
Joseph Campanella had a very busy acting career. He appeared in many well-known television shows. Some of these include Combat!, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rockford Files, The Golden Girls, Lois & Clark, and Baywatch.
From 1959 to 1962, Campanella had a regular role as Joe Turino on the long-running CBS daytime drama Guiding Light. He also played Dr. Ted Steffen on the medical show The Doctors and the Nurses from 1964 to 1965.
One of his most famous roles was Lew Wickersham in the first season (1967–1968) of the TV series Mannix. He played the boss of the detective agency where Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) worked. He later played attorney Brian Darrell in The Bold Ones: The Lawyers from 1969 to 1972. In 1973, he appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as an old friend of Mary Richards.
Campanella also played Ann Romano's (Bonnie Franklin) ex-husband, Ed Cooper, in eight episodes of One Day at a Time (1975–1984). He was also Barbara Stanwyck's love interest in The Colbys (1985–1986). He had a big role as Harper Deveraux on the soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1987 to 1988. He also appeared in Beauty and the Beast (1989–1990) and General Hospital (1991–1992). From 1996 to 2005, he had a regular role on The Bold and the Beautiful.
Campanella hosted the Canadian educational program Science International from 1976 to 1979. This show was also shown on Nickelodeon as What Will They Think Of Next?
On Broadway, Campanella performed in three plays in the 1960s. His role in A Gift of Time in 1962 earned him a Tony Award nomination.
For a while, Campanella was the voice for BMW car commercials in the United States. He famously said, "BMW — the ultimate driving machine." He was also a spokesperson for NAPA Auto Parts starting in the 1970s.
As a voice actor, he was the voice of Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard on Spider-Man: The Animated Series from 1994 to 1997. He also narrated the Discover science series on the Disney Channel from 1992 to 1994. His last movie roles were in For Heaven's Sake (2008) and Lost Dream (2009).
Awards and Recognition
Joseph Campanella was recognized for his acting talent several times.
- In 1962, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his work in the play A Gift of Time.
- In 1968, he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series nomination for his role as Lew Wickersham in Mannix.
- In 1989, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Harper Deveraux in Days of Our Lives.
Personal Life and Family
Joseph Campanella met his wife, Kathryn Jill Bartholomew, in 1963. She was a singer and dancer. They met when he was performing in the Broadway musical Hot Spot. They got married on May 30, 1964.
Joseph and Kathryn had seven sons together:
- Philip (born 1965)
- Robert Yale (born 1966)
- Joseph Anthony Jr. (born 1967)
- Dominic Peter (born 1969)
- Anthony F. (born 1974)
- John Mario (born 1977)
- Andrew Michael (born 1979)
Joseph Campanella passed away at the age of 93 on May 16, 2018. He died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, due to problems from Parkinson's disease.
