His full name was Joseph Alexander Caesar Herstall Vincent Calleja - but he was better known as Joseph or Joe Calleia, one of Hollywood's most recognized bad guys. But Calleia's roots and talents ran much deeper than character actor. He was Maltese, born on that barren but historically important island of Malta between Italy and Africa in the Mediterranean. The Maltese culture was a crossroads of peoples to honor him. A bust was erected before the house in which he was born as a further memorial to this Maltese VIP who had made good.
Orson Welles was extremely impressed by a stage performance of Calleias in the mid-1930s and vowed to work with him. They finally worked together over 20 years later in Touch of Evil .
During his retirement time in Malta he received a telegram from Francis Ford Coppola , who offered him the part of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather . As much as Coppola wanted Calleia for the part, Calleia had to refuse because of health reasons.
Before becoming an actor he was a professional opera singer.
