Calleia, Joseph (1897-1975)

  Maltese by birth and originally an opera singer, Joseph Calleia became typecast by his swarthy com?plexion and heavy-lidded eyes in character roles as either Mexican bandit or Italianate hood. An actor of considerable range and subtlety, at his best as the monstrous Cap?tain  Quinlan's  haplessly   loyal sidekick  in Touch of Evil, he usually managed to imbue his villains with a sardonic sense of humour that hinted at a Machiavellian malevolence. He earned one co-screenplay credit,  with William Wellman, on The Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936).