Victor Spinetti

Victor Spinetti (born 2 September 1933) is a Welsh comic actor. Spinetti was born in Cwm, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who is said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner. His parents, Giuseppe and Lily (née Watson), owned the chip shop in Cwm, over which premises the family lived and Spinetti was born. He was educated at Monmouth School and the Cardiff College of Music and Drama, of which he is now a ... more

Victor Spinetti (born 2 September 1933) is a Welsh comic actor. Spinetti was born in Cwm, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who is said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner. His parents, Giuseppe and Lily (née Watson), owned the chip shop in Cwm, over which premises the family lived and Spinetti was born. He was educated at Monmouth School and the Cardiff College of Music and Drama, of which he is now a fellow. Early on he was a waiter and a factory worker. Spinetti sprang to international prominence in three Beatles' films in the 1960s, A Hard Day's Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour. He also appeared on one of The Beatles' Christmas recordings. The best explanation for this long-running collaboration and friendship might have been provided by George Harrison, who said, "You've got to be in all our films ... if you're not in them me Mum won't come and see them—because she fancies you." But Harrison would also say, "You've got a lovely... less