Date of Birth: January 10, 1939
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: February 12, 1976
Biography
Salvatore “Sal” Mineo Jr. was born on January 10, 1939, in The Bronx, New York City, to Italian immigrant parents. He began his career as a child actor and rapidly rose to fame in the 1950s. Mineo is perhaps best known for his role as John “Plato” Crawford opposite James Dean in the iconic film “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955), a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He was also notable for his role in “Exodus” (1960), for which he received a second Academy Award nomination. Mineo’s film career included roles in movies like “Giant” (1956), “The Longest Day” (1962), and “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” (1971). Despite his early success, Mineo faced challenges later in his career, struggling to find roles that matched his earlier acclaim. He transitioned to stage and television work, appearing in various productions and guest roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Tragically, Sal Mineo’s life was cut short when he was murdered in West Hollywood, California, on February 12, 1976, at the age of 37. His death shocked the entertainment industry and his fans around the world.
5 Interesting Facts about Sal Mineo
1. Sal Mineo was one of the first major Hollywood actors to be openly gay, although he was not publicly out during his lifetime.
2. He was the youngest actor to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the age of 17 for “Rebel Without a Cause.”
3. Mineo was also a talented musician and had a brief career as a pop singer in the late 1950s.
4. He directed a Los Angeles production of the play “Fortune and Men’s Eyes,” which dealt with homosexuality and prison life, in 1969.
5. Despite his early popularity, Mineo struggled with typecasting and had difficulty finding substantial roles later in his career.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Sal Mineo
1. “I feel there’s a lot of darkness in my work.”
2. “I never realized that I was so good-looking until I saw myself in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ on the screen.”
3. “I was lucky to work with some of the best in the business.”
4. “I think if I had lived a long time ago, I would have been a rebel.”
5. “I never got the girl, but I once got the guy.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Sal Mineo’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, a significant sum for the era.
Children
Sal Mineo did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Sal Mineo on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591116/
2. [Sal Mineo’s Biography on Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actor/sal-mineo
3. [Sal Mineo’s Academy Award Nominations](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/awards-databases-legacy
4. [Sal Mineo’s Find a Grave Memorial](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2396/sal-mineo
5. [Sal Mineo’s Murder Case](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-10-mn-30853-story.html
