Cesare Danova

Cesare Danova was born in Rome Italy. Perhaps he portrayed aristocrats so well because he was actually descended from a German count on his father’s side. Cesare’s mother was a descendant of the famed medieval artist who was mentioned in the poem Filippo Lippi by Robert Browning.

Cesare was studying to be a surgeon at the University of Rome when Dino De Laurentis approached him to test for the lead in the movie The Captain’s Daughter.

He eventually won the part and for three years did both acting and medical school. He finally decided to go with acting. He thought that being an actor would disgrace his family name of Deitinger so he changed his name to Danova. It was a word he found in an ancient Italian dictionary and meant “medieval monk” Cesare’s successful career could not have been considered a disgrace. His film and television appearances span from 1947 till shortly before his death in 1992. His final role, ironically enough,was playing a monk on In the Heat of the Night. It was to have been a recurring role.

Cesare appeared in such films as Cleopatra, Don Juan, Gidget Goes to Rome, Viva Las Vegas, National Lampoon’s Animal House, Tender is the Night, Boy! Did I Get a Wrong Number, King of Kings, Tarzan, the Ape Man, Che!, Chamber of Horrors, Mean Streets, Scorchy, The Man Who Understood Women, Valley of the Dragons and an impressive list of Spanish and Italian films.

Garrison’s Gorillas was the only show in which he was a regular cast member but his list of guest starring credits is monumental. Among the shows he appeared in are: Bonanza, Chico and the Man, Honey West, Girl from Uncle, Man from Uncle, Green Hornet, Fantasy Island, Mannix, Cannon, Airwolf, Barnaby Jones, Charlie’s Angels, Magnum PI, Lucy Show, Hardy Boys Mysteries, , Police Story, McCloud, Rifleman, Medical Center, Murder She Wrote, Mod Squad, Simon & Simon, Mission Impossible, Ryan’s Hope, Trapper John, MD, Stoney Burke, and McMillian and Wife. There were many others.

He has been called a gentleman by those who knew him and he was truly an actor extrodinaire. His talent is sadly missed.

Reprinted from the Garrison's Gorillas 30th Anniversary Tribute

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