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Joseph La Cava

Joseph La Cava

Actor, Stunts

Born September 16, 1908 in Paterson, New Jersey, USA

Died February 4, 1992

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Biography

Like many actors of his day, Joseph La Cava's contribution to films will never be fully measured or documented. He started appearing in films in the 1930s and through a friendship with Bud Abbott, became Abbott's stand-in when Abbott was filming the Abbott and Costello series. This lead to a few notable roles during those productions because Abbott was usually very kind to La Cava and tried to see that he'd get dialog or at least upgraded to a silent bit where he'd interact with the actors but he wouldn't speak.

Like most actor's, his work with the person he stood in constantly kept La Cava busy but it also lead to him establishing connections with various casting directors who would put him to work when Abbott was filming a movie. The trouble was that since Abbott and Costello were insanely popular during the 1940s and early 1950s, La Cava didn't work in too many other films.

By the early 1950s, La Cava took over his usual duties as Abbott's stand-in on the Abbott and Costello show but during this time, the comedy duo wasn't working as often and were frequently touring so La Cava was frequently gaining employment elsewhere. He played various roles but was frequently cast in shows that were filmed at Universal or Des-Lu studios produced.

In 1960, La Cava caught another break. He was able to establish his role as a character in Howard Duff's Dante series. He would frequently be seen bringing Duff's character drinks or severing customers. Like most good things in Hollywood, La Cava's run on the show didn't last too long be the show was abruptly canceled. This show however helped establish La Cava in the mind of casting directors as a waiter or a croupier.

By the mid-1960s through 1973 he used the character that he developed to maintain steady employment in dramas that were usually filmed at Desi-Lu. He retired in 1973 at the age of 65 but to supplement his income, he would be given a few roles by his friends doing the types of roles he always did. He eventually retired completely and left a body of work that spanned through virtually every phase of Hollywood's golden era of movies and television shows.

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Filmography

Actor

200

Type

Year

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Poster

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries TV Series1977Sam

Mame Feature Film1974Restaurant Patron

The Six Million Dollar Man Poster

The Six Million Dollar Man TV Series1974Croupier

Barnaby Jones Poster

Barnaby Jones TV Series1973Bartender

Shaft TV Series1973Croupier

The All-American Boy Poster

The All-American Boy Feature Film1973Boxing Match Spectator

The Letters Poster

The Letters TV Movie1973Waiter

The Magician Poster

The Magician TV Series1973Croupier

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping Poster

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping TV Movie1973Dealer

Banacek TV Series1972Bartender

Black Gunn Poster

Black Gunn Feature Film1972Waiter

Evil Roy Slade Poster

Evil Roy Slade TV Movie1972Bank Customer

Search TV Series1972Waiter

Alias Smith and Jones Poster

Alias Smith and Jones TV Series1971Dealer

Columbo TV Series1971Medical Examiner

Escape from the Planet of the Apes Poster

Escape from the Planet of the Apes Feature Film1971Waiter

McMillan & Wife Poster

McMillan & Wife TV Series1971Waiter

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Poster

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury TV Series1971Dealer

The Smith Family Poster

The Smith Family TV Series1971Bartender

McCloud TV Series1970Party Guest

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came Poster

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came Feature Film1970Party Guest

The Cheyenne Social Club Poster

The Cheyenne Social Club Feature Film1970Saloon Dealer

The Great White Hope Poster

The Great White Hope Feature Film1970Trial Spectator

The Odd Couple Poster

The Odd Couple TV Series1970Caterer

Tora! Tora! Tora! Poster

Tora! Tora! Tora! Feature Film1970Official

Death of a Gunfighter Poster

Death of a Gunfighter Feature Film1969Roulette Dealer

Night Gallery Poster

Night Gallery TV Series1969Waiter

The Comic Poster

The Comic Feature Film1969Restaurant Patron

The Love God? Poster

The Love God? Feature Film1969Photographer

Adam-12 TV Series1968Courtroom Spectator

Hawaii Five-O Poster

Hawaii Five-O TV Series1968Juror

Here's Lucy Poster

Here's Lucy TV Series1968Registrar

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! Poster

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! Feature Film1968Wedding Guest

It Takes a Thief Poster

It Takes a Thief TV Series1968Croupier

Mayberry R.F.D. Poster

Mayberry R.F.D. TV Series1968Waiter

The Doris Day Show Poster

The Doris Day Show TV Series1968Waiter

The Power Poster

The Power Feature Film1968Party Guest

The Shakiest Gun in the West Poster

The Shakiest Gun in the West Feature Film1968Cowboy

Yours, Mine and Ours Poster

Yours, Mine and Ours Feature Film1968Wedding Guest

Banning Feature Film1967Waiter

Captain Nice Poster

Captain Nice TV Series1967Exhibit Patron

Dragnet 1967 Poster

Dragnet 1967 TV Series1967Bartender

Hotel Feature Film1967Elevator operator

Ironside Poster

Ironside TV Movie1967Official in Newsreel

Ironside Poster

Ironside TV Series1967Waiter

Mannix TV Series1967Bartender

Point Blank Poster

Point Blank Feature Film1967Conventioneer

The Ballad of Josie Poster

The Ballad of Josie Feature Film1967Territorial Delegate

The High Chaparral Poster

The High Chaparral TV Series1967Townsman

The Invaders Poster

The Invaders TV Series1967Summit Attendee

Thoroughly Modern Millie Poster

Thoroughly Modern Millie Feature Film1967Waiter

Batman TV Series1966Baseball Game Spectator

Frankie and Johnny Poster

Frankie and Johnny Feature Film1966Croupier

Madame X Poster

Madame X Feature Film1966Waiter

Mission: Impossible Poster

Mission: Impossible TV Series1966Waiter

The Oscar Poster

The Oscar Feature Film1966Academy Awards Guest

The Singing Nun Poster

The Singing Nun Feature Film1966Party Guest

The Time Tunnel Poster

The Time Tunnel TV Series1966Ship Passenger

A Rage to Live Poster

A Rage to Live Feature Film1965Waiter

Fluffy Feature Film1965Bartender

Harlow Feature Film1965Dealer

Honey West Poster

Honey West TV Series1965Board Member

I Dream of Jeannie Poster

I Dream of Jeannie TV Series1965Waiter

O.K. Crackerby! Poster

O.K. Crackerby! TV Series1965Board Member

Strange Bedfellows Poster

Strange Bedfellows Feature Film1965Reporter

The Wild Wild West Poster

The Wild Wild West TV Series1965Henchman

Dear Heart Poster

Dear Heart Feature Film1964Cashier

Gomer Pyle: USMC Poster

Gomer Pyle: USMC TV Series1964Dealer

Looking for Love Poster

Looking for Love Feature Film1964Party Guest

McHale's Navy Poster

McHale's Navy Feature Film1964Race Spectator

Robin and the 7 Hoods Poster

Robin and the 7 Hoods Feature Film1964Juror

Send Me No Flowers Poster

Send Me No Flowers Feature Film1964Commuter

Seven Days in May Poster

Seven Days in May Feature Film1964Party Guest

The Best Man Poster

The Best Man Feature Film1964Delegate

The Incredible Mr. Limpet Poster

The Incredible Mr. Limpet Feature Film1964Officer at Fleet Admiral's Briefing

The Rogues Poster

The Rogues TV Series1964Bartender

The Unsinkable Molly Brown Poster

The Unsinkable Molly Brown Feature Film1964Waiter

Viva Las Vegas Poster

Viva Las Vegas Feature Film1964Waiter

Youngblood Hawke Poster

Youngblood Hawke Feature Film1964Theatregoer

Your Cheatin' Heart Poster

Your Cheatin' Heart Feature Film1964Theatre Patron

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Poster

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre TV Series19632nd man

Burke's Law Poster

Burke's Law TV Series1963Waiter

Critic's Choice Poster

Critic's Choice Feature Film1963Bellhop

Johnny Cool Poster

Johnny Cool Feature Film1963Commuter

Kraft Suspense Theatre Poster

Kraft Suspense Theatre TV Series1963Party Guest

My Favorite Martian Poster

My Favorite Martian TV Series1963Elevator operator

Petticoat Junction Poster

Petticoat Junction TV Series1963Townsman

Take Her, She's Mine Poster

Take Her, She's Mine Feature Film1963Restaurant Patron

The Ugly American Poster

The Ugly American Feature Film1963Reporter

The Wheeler Dealers Poster

The Wheeler Dealers Feature Film1963Waiter

Twilight of Honor Poster

Twilight of Honor Feature Film1963Townsman at Airport

Advise & Consent Poster

Advise & Consent Feature Film1962Senator

Cape Fear Poster

Cape Fear Feature Film1962Bartender

Gypsy Feature Film1962Audience Member

Sam Benedict Poster

Sam Benedict TV Series1962Juror

Tender Is the Night Poster

Tender Is the Night Feature Film1962Bartender

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Poster

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour TV Series1962Audience Member

The Beverly Hillbillies Poster

The Beverly Hillbillies TV Series1962Board Member

The Manchurian Candidate Poster

The Manchurian Candidate Feature Film1962Reporter

The New Loretta Young Show Poster

The New Loretta Young Show TV Series1962Waiter

The Virginian Poster

The Virginian TV Series1962Townsman

Ben Casey Poster

Ben Casey TV Series1961Restaurant Patron

Dr. Kildare Poster

Dr. Kildare TV Series1961Photographer

Hazel TV Series1961Townsman at Celebration

King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein Poster

King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein Feature Film1961Waiter

The Comancheros Poster

The Comancheros Feature Film1961Dealer

The Dick Powell Theatre Poster

The Dick Powell Theatre TV Series1961Waiter

Bells Are Ringing Poster

Bells Are Ringing Feature Film1960Pedestrian

Coronado 9 Poster

Coronado 9 TV Series1960Medic

Dante TV Series1960Waiter

Midnight Lace Poster

Midnight Lace Feature Film1960Commuter at Terminal

Pay or Die! Poster

Pay or Die! Feature Film1960Businessman

Seven Thieves Poster

Seven Thieves Feature Film1960Croupier

The Andy Griffith Show Poster

The Andy Griffith Show TV Series1960Waiter

The Barbara Stanwyck Show Poster

The Barbara Stanwyck Show TV Series1960Waiter

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond Poster

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond Feature Film1960Nightclub Patron

Thriller Poster

Thriller TV Series1960Diner Patron

Bonanza TV Series1959Trial Spectator

Compulsion Poster

Compulsion Feature Film1959Juror

Holiday for Lovers Poster

Holiday for Lovers Feature Film1959Spectator at Bullfight

Mr. Lucky Poster

Mr. Lucky TV Series1959Waiter

Some Like It Hot Poster

Some Like It Hot Feature Film1959Gangster at Convention

The DuPont Show with June Allyson Poster

The DuPont Show with June Allyson TV Series1959Waiter

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Poster

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis TV Series1959Adult Class Student

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Poster

The Monster of Piedras Blancas Feature Film1959Mike

The Untouchables Poster

The Untouchables TV Series1959Waiter

Cimarron City Poster

Cimarron City TV Series1958Train Passenger

Cry Terror! Poster

Cry Terror! Feature Film1958Plane Passenger

I Want to Live! Poster

I Want to Live! Feature Film1958Courtroom Spectator

Man with a Camera Poster

Man with a Camera TV Series1958Waiter

Mike Hammer Poster

Mike Hammer TV Series1958Bellboy

The Ann Sothern Show Poster

The Ann Sothern Show TV Series1958Porter

The Last Hurrah Poster

The Last Hurrah Feature Film1958Man at Campaign HQ

The Lineup Poster

The Lineup Feature Film1958Porter

Torpedo Run Poster

Torpedo Run Feature Film1958Waiter

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Poster

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse TV Series1958Waiter

Yancy Derringer Poster

Yancy Derringer TV Series1958Club Patron

Bachelor Father Poster

Bachelor Father TV Series1957Waiter

Code 3 TV Series1957Audience Member

Designing Woman Poster

Designing Woman Feature Film1957Reporter

Have Gun - Will Travel Poster

Have Gun - Will Travel TV Series1957Vineyard Worker

Monkey on My Back Poster

Monkey on My Back Feature Film1957Bartender

Perry Mason Poster

Perry Mason TV Series1957Courtroom Spectator

Sweet Smell of Success Poster

Sweet Smell of Success Feature Film1957Waiter at 21

The Californians Poster

The Californians TV Series1957Townsman

The Joker Is Wild Poster

The Joker Is Wild Feature Film1957Waiter

The O. Henry Playhouse Poster

The O. Henry Playhouse TV Series1957Waiter

Zorro TV Series1957Don

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Poster

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Feature Film1956Inmate

Meet Me in Las Vegas Poster

Meet Me in Las Vegas Feature Film1956Waiter

State Trooper Poster

State Trooper TV Series1956Robbery Suspect

The Birds and the Bees Poster

The Birds and the Bees Feature Film1956Waiter

The Harder They Fall Poster

The Harder They Fall Feature Film1956Manager

Gunsmoke Poster

Gunsmoke TV Series1955Monk

Highway Patrol Poster

Highway Patrol TV Series1955Croupier

I'll Cry Tomorrow Poster

I'll Cry Tomorrow Feature Film1955Waiter

Science Fiction Theatre Poster

Science Fiction Theatre TV Series1955FBI Man

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Poster

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp TV Series1955Bartender

The Lone Wolf Poster

The Lone Wolf TV Series1954Butler

The Magical World of Disney Poster

The Magical World of Disney TV Series1954Waiter

Forever Female Poster

Forever Female Feature Film1953Waiter

General Electric Theater Poster

General Electric Theater TV Series1953Circus Patron

Man in the Attic Poster

Man in the Attic Feature Film1953Theatre Patron

The Girl Next Door Poster

The Girl Next Door Feature Film1953Waiter

The I Don't Care Girl Poster

The I Don't Care Girl Feature Film1953Waiter

The Loretta Young Show Poster

The Loretta Young Show TV Series1953Waiter

Trouble Along the Way Poster

Trouble Along the Way Feature Film1953Bar Patron

Adventures of Superman Poster

Adventures of Superman TV Series1952Driver

April in Paris Poster

April in Paris Feature Film1952Waiter

Four Star Playhouse Poster

Four Star Playhouse TV Series1952Cameraman

Pat and Mike Poster

Pat and Mike Feature Film1952Waiter

The Abbott and Costello Show Poster

The Abbott and Costello Show TV Series1952Grocery Clerk

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Poster

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet TV Series1952Waiter

The Sniper Poster

The Sniper Feature Film1952Man at Darr Murder Scene

The Steel Trap Poster

The Steel Trap Feature Film1952Man Exiting Office

A Place in the Sun Poster

A Place in the Sun Feature Film1951Waiter

I Love Lucy Poster

I Love Lucy TV Series1951Bartender

Lightning Strikes Twice Poster

Lightning Strikes Twice Feature Film1951Guard

The People Against O'Hara Poster

The People Against O'Hara Feature Film1951Courtroom Spectator

A Life of Her Own Poster

A Life of Her Own Feature Film1950Bartender

Right Cross Poster

Right Cross Feature Film1950Photographer

The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady Poster

The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady Feature Film1950Audience Member

The Jack Benny Program Poster

The Jack Benny Program TV Series1950Waiter

Young Man with a Horn Poster

Young Man with a Horn Feature Film1950Nightclub Waiter

The Inspector General Poster

The Inspector General Feature Film1949Party Guest

The Set-Up Poster

The Set-Up Feature Film1949Fight Spectator

The Woman on Pier 13 Poster

The Woman on Pier 13 Feature Film1949Club Patron

So This Is New York Poster

So This Is New York Feature Film1948Race Track Spectator

The Snake Pit Poster

The Snake Pit Feature Film1948Inmate at Dance Social

Three Daring Daughters Poster

Three Daring Daughters Feature Film1948Bartender

Black Gold Poster

Black Gold Feature Film1947Racetrack Patron

Possessed Poster

Possessed Feature Film1947Concert spectator

Song of the Thin Man Poster

Song of the Thin Man Feature Film1947Roulette Dealer

Ride 'Em Cowboy Poster

Ride 'Em Cowboy Feature Film1942Poker Player

The Corpse Vanishes Poster

The Corpse Vanishes Feature Film1942Wedding Guest

Who Done It? Poster

Who Done It? Feature Film1942Station Employee

Buck Privates Poster

Buck Privates Feature Film1941Soldier

Hold That Ghost Poster

Hold That Ghost Feature Film1941Little Fink

City for Conquest Poster

City for Conquest Feature Film1940Dance Contestant

Knute Rockne All American Poster

Knute Rockne All American Feature Film1940Inquest Spectator

Stunts

1

In the Navy Poster

In the Navy Feature Film1941

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