George Humbert (born Umberto Gianni; July 29, 1880 – May 8, 1963) was an Italian-born American actor who appeared in more than 100 films between 1918 and the 1950s. He emigrated to the United States as a steerage passenger on board the Italian steamer ''Sannio'', which sailed from Genoa, Italy and arrived at the Port of New York in June 1907; he was examined by the U.S. immigration service on

Ellis Island Ellis Island is a federally owned island in New York Harbor, situated within the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, that was the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States. From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 mil ...

and allowed to enter the United States legally. He became a United States citizen in 1933. Humbert was a nephew of Italian actor Ernesto Rossi, and he served as an ensign in the Royal Italian Navy. The

Duke of Abruzzi Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, (29 January 1873 – 18 March 1933) was an Italian mountaineer and explorer, briefly Infante of Spain as son of Amadeo I of Spain, member of the royal House of Savoy and cousin of the Italian King ...

, after hearing Humbert perform, recommended that he enter the Florence Music Conservatory. After Humbert performed in opera in Italy, he joined the

San Carlo Opera Company The San Carlo Opera Company was the name of two different opera companies active in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. Henry Russell's San Carlo Opera The first company was founded by impresario Henry Russell, initi ...

in the United States. In addition to his acting, Humbert coached other actors, including

Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most f ...

and

George Beban George Beban (December 13, 1873 – October 5, 1928) was an American actor, director, writer and producer. Beban began as a child performer in San Francisco, California, and became a well-known vaudevillian and stage actor in the 1890s and 1900s ...

, in mannerisms of Italian people.

Selected filmography

References

External links

* * 1880 births 1963 deaths American male film actors Italian emigrants to the United States Actors from Florence 20th-century American male actors {{US-theat-actor-1880s-stub