The Sheik - A History of the Movies

Rudolph Valentino was an Italian-American actor who rose to fame in the 1920s as a leading man in silent films. He was born on 6 May 1895 in Castellaneta, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1913. Valentino began his career as a dancer and later moved into acting, starring in films such as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) and The Sheik (1921), which made him a sex symbol and heartthrob of the era. He was known for his dark, exotic looks and dramatic acting style. Valentino died at the age of 31 on 23 August 1926 from complications of appendicitis and peritonitis. His death sent his fans into a frenzy and he became a cultural icon of the 1920s.