- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGiorgio Dolenz
- George Dolenz was born in Italy in 1908 to a large family. He left Italy in the 1920s to start a new life and it seemed that he didn't want to look back on his old one. He arrived in Los Angeles in the 1940s and it was there that he somehow met up with Howard Hughes. Hughes signed him up as a leading man at RKO Pictures--which he owned--but, under Hughes' contract, George only starred in one film, Vendetta (1950), with Faith Domergue. He became a master of several dialects, and could play urbane Continental roles such as "Baron Sergei" in In Society (1944), with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Latin-American types such as the mysterious "Cortega" in Scared Stiff (1953), with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and even Roman-era royalty such as "Emperor Theodosius" in Sign of the Pagan (1954). When his contract with Hughes ran out, George appeared in many films for other studios throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and starred in the TV series The Count of Monte Cristo (1956). George was the father of actor Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (1965), husband of actress Janelle Johnson Dolenz and the grandfather of actress Ami Dolenz.
- IMDb mini biography by: Sara mijacogeo@dolenz-tribute.net
- SpouseJanelle Johnson Dolenz(July 17, 1944 - February 8, 1963) (his death, 4 children)
- ChildrenDolenz, Micky (I)Dolenz, CocoKathleen DolenzDeborah Dolenz
- RelativesCharlotte Dolenz(Grandchild)Dolenz, Georgia(Grandchild)Emily Claire Dolenz(Grandchild)Dolenz, Ami(Grandchild)
- Before he was cast in Circus Boy (1956), his son Micky (billed as "Mickey Braddock" to avoid confusion with George) didn't quite understand what being a professional actor was all about, but noted the long breaks Dolenz had at home between jobs. When asked what his dad did for a living, Micky answered "He mows the lawn."
- Used the money he received from The Count of Monte Cristo (1956) to buy a restaurant to provide a stable income for his family.
- His ethnic background is Slovene. In A Bullet for Joey (1955), he says "I love you" in a Slovenian dialect to Audrey Totter. Her paternal grandmother was also of Slovene descent.
- Owned the Marquis Restaurant located on Sunset Boulevard in the 1950s and '60s.
- Howard Hughes signed him up as leading man for RKO. Most remembered as "European Leading Man".
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