What Was Sal Mineo’s Net Worth At the Time Of His Death?
Sal Mineo was a famous teen actor who had a net worth of $1 million (adjusted to inflation) at the time of his death. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award – “Rebel Without A Cause,” as John “Plato” Crawford and “Exodus” as Dov Landau. Sal holds the record as the youngest person to receive two Oscar nominations.
Mineo earned most of his wealth from performing in 70 movies and TV series.
Besides Exodus and Rebel Without a Cause, Mineo played in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Giant, The Immortal, Hawaii Five-O, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Mission: Impossible, and more.
“Rebel was the most fun,” Mineo said in an interview on December 22, 1975.
circa 1955 – @Getty
“I mean, it was the epitome of a kid’s fantasy of what it would be like to make a movie. I couldn’t wait to get to the studio working with Jimmy and working with Madeline, and I mean, it was like one big party. It was fun. It wasn’t at all like a job.”
Real Estate
In the 50’s, Sal bought his family a house in Mamaroneck for $200K. He also had a property in West Hollywood.
Biography
He was born on January 10, 1939, in The Bronx, as Salvatore Mineo Jr..
His parents were Josephine and Salvatore Mineo Sr. They had emigrated from Sicily.
By age 8, Mieno was a member of a street gang in the Bronx. One year later, he made his first stage debut at his local parochial school.
@Getty
At age 10, Sal was arrested for robbery. The judge gave Mineo one option — enrollment in a professional acting school or juvenile confinement. Sal chose the first option.
At 11, he won a part in The Rose Tattoo.
Rebel Without a Cause
At 16, he was cast in “Rebel Without a Cause” as a teenager John “Plato” Crawford opposite to James Dean. He earned his first Academy Award nomination for “Rebel.”
James Dean as Jim Stark and Sal Mineo playing Plato in a scene from ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ – @Getty
In his teens, Mineo was photographed nude in a shower.
“I was a very abnormal teenager,” Sal said in the same interview from 1975.
“I think because I didn’t go through any of the things that most teenagers go through. I started shaving at a very early age. I started smoking at a very early age. I did all the things very young because a lot of my friends were older.”
circa 1956 – @Getty
In 1957, he released several singles. His song, Start Movin’ (In My Direction), peaked at #9 on the US pop chart.
In 1969, Mineo directed the West Coast and Broadway productions of Men’s Eyes and Fortune.
Mineo’s last roles were brief appearances in the TV series Joe Forrester and Ellery Queen.
Wife/Gay
Sal Mineo was never married. However, he was in a relationship (even engaged) with actress Jill Haworth.
She broke off the engagement after she found out that Mineo had an affair with Bobby Sherman — an American singer and actor who later married two times — Patti Carnel and Brigitte Sherman.
Jill Haworth and Sal Mineo attend the 35th Academy Awards September 4th 1963 – @Getty
According to his biographer, after his Academy Award nomination Mineo “dated the most beautiful women in Hollywood and New York City.”
The dark‐haired actor was one of the first actors to be openly gay.
Height
Sal Mineo was 1.68 m tall.
@Getty
Death
On February 12, 1976, Mineo was stabbed to death outside his West Hollywood apartment as he returned home from rehearsing for a new role. He was 37.
Mineo “died of a massive hemorrhage due to stab wounds of the chest penetrating the heart” — the coroner’s office reported.
About 250 people attend his funeral.
Fifteen months later, Lionel Ray Williams, a pizza deliveryman, while incarcerated, was heard by the guard that he had murdered Sal. In 1979, Lionel was convicted of the crime. He served 12 years and was was paroled in 1990.
Bizzare Facts
In 1955, Sal played in “Rebel Without a Cause” with Nick Adams, Natalie Wood, and James Dean.
James Dean and Sal Mineo – @Getty
All actors had violent or unusual deaths:
- James Dean was killed in a car crash while driving his Porsche 550 Spyder;
- Natalie Wood drowned in the Pacific Ocean near Santa Catalina Island;
- Nick Adams died due to a prescription drug overdose.
Biopic
circa 1950 – @Getty
In 2010, Michael Gregg Michaud published his biography on Mineo. “I interviewed over 100 people for this book,” he told Fox News.
“He was a remarkable actor,” Michaud said in another interview with CNN. “He was a new kind of actor.”
The author’s book was adapted into a film directed by James Franco. Val Lauren portrays Mineo. “The movie’s very unconventional as a biopic,” said Val.
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I am Bulgarea Candin Stefan, and I founded FamousPeopleToday.com in 2018. I’m using my bachelor’s degree in economics and 9 years of experience in blogging to guide millions of people through the incredibly complex world of celebrity net worths.