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Quiz about The Life and Times of Sal Mineo

The Life and Times of Sal Mineo Quiz

Sal Mineo was both a teen idol and a great actor, not too common in Hollywood. See how much you know about this great star.

A multiple-choice quiz by nic6987. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
nic6987

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
129,734

Updated
Jun 12 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
898

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Salvatore Mineo, Jr. was born January 10, 1939. Do you know where he grew up? Hint

Barcelona, Spain

Sicily, Italy

Bronx, New York

West Hollywood, California

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Question 2 of 15

2. Sal went to acting school at the age of ten. What inspired this move? Hint

He wanted to be like his idol Clark Gable

His mother thought it would keep him out of trouble

That was where the cute neigborhood girls were

He won acting lessons in a contest

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Question 3 of 15

3. One of Sal's first professional jobs was on Broadway in what famous musical that made Yul Brynner a star?

Answer: (Four Words - Him and Me)

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Question 4 of 15

4. Sal starred alongside James Dean and Natalie Wood in the classic "Rebel Without a Cause." His character went by the nickname of Plato. What was Plato's real name? Hint

John

Robert

William

Michael

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Question 5 of 15

5. Sal was reunited with James Dean in the 1956 film "Giant." Another cast member from "Rebel Without a Cause" was also in this film. Do you know who? Hint

Peter Fonda

Dennis Hopper

Robert Duvall

Russ Tamblyn

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Question 6 of 15

6. Having a penchant for playing rebellious characters, Sal had the obligatory Hollywood nickname. What was it? Hint

The Tiny Terror

The Switchblade Kid

Little Rebel

The Bronx Badboy

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Question 7 of 15

7. In 1959's "The Gene Krupa Story," Sal played the title role. Gene Krupa was famous for performing which occupation? Hint

baseball player

religious leader

criminal

drummer

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Question 8 of 15

8. Sal co-starred in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and 1960's "Exodus" with which actor? Hint

Paul Newman

Steve McQueen

Jack Lemmon

Gene Hackman

9. Who wasn't in 1962's "The Longest Day!" Sal appeared with smaller stars like Fabian, Paul Anka, and Peter Lawford, respected actors like Roddy McDowell, Robert Wagner, and Red Buttons, and legends like Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, and Robert Mitchum. Even Sean Connery was here in a pre-Bond role. The real star of the film, is mostly known for either westerns or war movies. Do you know who?

Answer: (Two Words - Full name or last name)

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Question 10 of 15

10. In 1965's "Who Killed Teddy Bear," Sal explored a darker, unconventional side of life (especially for 1965) that he was very well acquainted with. What was it? Hint

prostitution

drug addiction

homosexuality

strip clubs

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Question 11 of 15

11. In 1969, Sal returned to the stage, directing "Fortune and Men's Eyes," a controversial play about violent sex in a men's prison. What future 80s television icon starred in this play? Hint

Don Johnson

Larry Hagman

Tom Selleck

John Forsythe

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Question 12 of 15

12. In 1971, Sal went back to more conventional filmmaking with "Escape From the Planet of the Apes." His co-star, Kim Hunter, is best known for her role in what classic film?

Answer: (Four Words - Brando yelling "Stella!")

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Question 13 of 15

13. Sal was in a Columbo mystery, "A Case of Immunity" in 1975, another great theater-funding job. "Columbo", "McCloud", and "McMillan & Wife" were showcased in "NBC Sunday Night Mysteries," popular in the 1970's. One of Sal's co-stars from his early career starred in "McMillan & Wife." Do you remember who?

Answer: (Two Words - Full name or last name; gay, but not as open as Sal)

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Question 14 of 15

14. On February 12, 1976, Sal was coming home after rehearsal on his newest theater project, "P.S.: Your Cat Is Dead." Unfortunately, he never made it to his house. How did Sal die that day? Hint

car accident

earthquake

heart attack

homicide

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Question 15 of 15

15. Lionel Ray Williams has a chapter in Sal's life.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Salvatore Mineo, Jr. was born January 10, 1939. Do you know where he grew up?

Answer: Bronx, New York

His father was a casketmaker. Sal had two brothers and a sister.

2. Sal went to acting school at the age of ten. What inspired this move?

Answer: His mother thought it would keep him out of trouble

Sal lived in a tough neighborhood and his mother thought it would save him from the streets. By the age of seventeen, he had an Oscar Nomination.

3. One of Sal's first professional jobs was on Broadway in what famous musical that made Yul Brynner a star?

Answer: The King and I

Sal played the young prince in the Broadway version of "The King and I." Yul Brynner won the 1952 Tony for this role, along with the 1956 Academy Award.

4. Sal starred alongside James Dean and Natalie Wood in the classic "Rebel Without a Cause." His character went by the nickname of Plato. What was Plato's real name?

Answer: John

Sal received his first Oscar nomination for this film at the age of 17. One of the great classic American films, "Rebel" was the first movie that portrayed teens in a true light. Released only days after James Dean's death, it is what locked him into icon status. I had the privilege of seeing this film on the big screen at a 45th anniversary revival. Frank Mazzolla, who played Crunch in the film, was the host. He had very fond memories of Sal. By the way, Sal's character in "Rebel" was named John Crawford.

5. Sal was reunited with James Dean in the 1956 film "Giant." Another cast member from "Rebel Without a Cause" was also in this film. Do you know who?

Answer: Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper played Goon in "Rebel" and Jordan Benedict III in "Giant," where he was the son of Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.

6. Having a penchant for playing rebellious characters, Sal had the obligatory Hollywood nickname. What was it?

Answer: The Switchblade Kid

Sal often played the misunderstood rebel. Because of his dark, ethnical look, he frequently was cast as Latino, like in "Giant" and other films, even though he was Sicilian. He also did films where he played Native American and Jewish characters.

7. In 1959's "The Gene Krupa Story," Sal played the title role. Gene Krupa was famous for performing which occupation?

Answer: drummer

Gene Krupa was one of the great drummers of the Jazz Age. Though the actual drumming in the film was recorded by Krupa himself, Sal learned to play the drums so he would look like he knew what he was doing. Susan Kohner played his girlfriend, Ethel. Susan was a powerhouse actress who quit making films in the sixties to raise a family.

A whole new generation of movie fans should thank her for it! Her son, Paul, directed "American Pie" and he and his brother, Chris, were executive producers on "American Pie 2."

8. Sal co-starred in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and 1960's "Exodus" with which actor?

Answer: Paul Newman

"Somebody Up There Likes Me" was originally slated to star James Dean before his untimely death. That would have been the third movie he and Sal would have done together. "Exodus", in which Sicilian Sal plays a Jewish immigrant, was his second Oscar nomination.

Answer: John Wayne

"The Longest Day" is a great film about the invasion of Normandy. I wonder if the only credential you needed to be in this film was to be a white male with a SAG card! Others in this film are Eddie Albert, Mel Ferrer, Jeffrey Hunter, George Segal and Rod Steiger.

10. In 1965's "Who Killed Teddy Bear," Sal explored a darker, unconventional side of life (especially for 1965) that he was very well acquainted with. What was it?

Answer: homosexuality

Unlike many Hollywood stars, Sal was open about his homosexuality. He did many films and plays on the subject, though some said it hurt his career the more open he became. But he paved the way for others to be more open about themselves and for this, he is a true trailblazer.

11. In 1969, Sal returned to the stage, directing "Fortune and Men's Eyes," a controversial play about violent sex in a men's prison. What future 80s television icon starred in this play?

Answer: Don Johnson

Staying with his controversial projects, Sal won rave reviews with his productions in both New York and Los Angeles.

12. In 1971, Sal went back to more conventional filmmaking with "Escape From the Planet of the Apes." His co-star, Kim Hunter, is best known for her role in what classic film?

Answer: A Streetcar Named Desire

"Apes" was not exactly Sal's favorite movie. By this time, he was looking for film work to help fund his controversial stage plays that were successful, but no one wanted to finance them.

Answer: Rock Hudson

Sal made many television appearances throughout his career. From "Mission Impossible" and "Hawaii 5-O," to his appearance as himself on the "Patty Duke Show," in the episode "Patty Meets a Celebrity." My favorite "funding for theater" job would definitely be the fact that Sal narrated a segment about the dangers of LSD for a series of 60's drug education films.

14. On February 12, 1976, Sal was coming home after rehearsal on his newest theater project, "P.S.: Your Cat Is Dead." Unfortunately, he never made it to his house. How did Sal die that day?

Answer: homicide

Sal was stabbed to death in the driveway outside the carport of his Los Angeles apartment. Neighbors heard him screaming for his life as they saw the assailant run away. His killer didn't know him. Sal was murdered while being robbed. The 2002 film version of "P.S Your Cat is Dead" is dedicated to the memory of Sal.

15. Lionel Ray Williams has a chapter in Sal's life.

Answer: True

Mr. Williams is the man who was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for Sal's murder. Sal Mineo is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York, with his older brother, Michael. I didn't discover Sal until nine years after he died, but he is still an icon in my heart. Thanks, Sal, for all you gave us.

Source: Author nic6987

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor JuniorTheJaws before going online.
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