Teresa Celli

Teresa Mara Levis (June 6, 1923 – October 1, 1999), better known as Teresa Celli, was an American actress who was known for her work in films such as The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Black Hand (1950).

Celli was born in June 1923 as Teresa Levis in Dysart, Pennsylvania.[1] She was one of ten children born to an Italian family. When her father inherited an estate in Italy, the family moved there. Her grandmother, Maria Scagnet, and her great-grandmother, Mme. Duval Celli, both sang opera, and it was from the latter that Teresa took her professional last name.[2]

While she lived in Italy, Celli was a student of soprano Ersilde Cervi Caroli,[2] and she became active in both opera and dramatic productions.[3]

Celli's American radio debut occurred March 5, 1949, on the NBC program Star Theater with Frank Sinatra.[4]

Celli's film debut came in Border Incident (1949).[5]

She was the first wife of actor Barry Nelson, being married to him from 1951 to 1965.[6] Celli died in October 1999 at the age of 76.[7][8]

References
  1. International Motion Picture Almanac, 1951, pg. 37
  2. Strong, Edwin J. (September 4, 1949). "Beautiful American-Born Italian Girl to Sing MGM Operatic Roles". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. Part IV - Page 1. Retrieved March 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Voice Heard from Italy Brings Contract". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. November 15, 1948. p. 30. Retrieved March 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "(untitled brief)". The Indianapolis Star. Indiana, Indianapolis. March 5, 1949. p. 13. Retrieved March 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Institute, American Film (1999). The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures produced in the United States. F4,1. Feature films, 1941 - 1950, film entries, A - L. University of California Press. p. 280. ISBN 9780520215214. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  6. Denton-Drew, Andra D. Clarke and Regina (2015). Ciro's: Nightclub of the Stars. Arcadia Publishing. p. 18. ISBN 9781467133791. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  7. Ancestry: Teresa Mara Levis in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  8. Ancestry LifeStory: Teresa Mara Levis
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