Vito Giusto Scotti was an American veteran actor, who played many roles primarily from the late-1940s to the mid-1990s. His Disney roles included Chaco in the Walt Disney Presents episodes "Zorro: El Bandido" and "Zorro: Adios El Cuchillo", Mr. Bob in the two-part Wonderful World of Disney episode "Bayou Boy", Count Sergio Luchesi Di Gonzini in the two-part Disney's Wonderful World episode "The Ghosts of Buxley Hall", Armando Moccia in Herbie Goes Bananas, a taxi driver in Herbie Rides Again, a game spectator in The World's Greatest Athlete, Dimitri the Clown in Napoleon and Samantha, Peppo the Italian cat in The Aristocats, and Pepe Galindo in The Boatniks.
Scotti was born in 1918 in San Francisco, California; but his family spent the early 1920s in Naples, Italy, where Scotti developed his gift for farce. In 1925, after the Scozzari family had returned to the United States, his mother became a diva in New York City theatre circles. Scotti worked the night club circuit as a stand-up magician and mime. He made his debut on Broadway in Pinocchio, where he played a small role.
Scotti entered movies and television by the late 1940s. He made his film debut, where he played an uncredited role as a Mexican youth in Illegal Entry. His other known film credits included Von Ryan's Express, The Godfather, Chu Chu and the Philly Flash, How Sweet It Is!, The Secret War of Harry Frigg, Cactus Flower, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Captain Newman, M.D., and Get Shorty.
On television, Scotti appeared very often in various shows, such as Andy's Gang, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, Wagon Train, The Real McCoys, Bonanza, Rawhide, The Twilight Zone, Lassie, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Rifleman, My Favorite Martian, Dr. Kildare, The Jack Benny Program, Bewitched, The Addams Family, The Farmer's Daughter, The Lucy Show, The Munsters, Gilligan's Island, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Flying Nun, Ironside, Get Smart, Gunsmoke, To Rome with Love, Happy Days, Charlie's Angels, Hawaii Five-O (1968), Vega$, Fantasy Island, CHiPs, The Golden Girls, and Columbo.
Scotti died of lung cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, on June 5, 1996. He was interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with his first wife, Irene, in the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum.
Filmography[]
| Year | Film | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Zorro | Chaco |
| 1970 | The Boatniks | Pepe Galindo |
| 1970 | The Aristocats | Peppo |
| 1971 | "The Boy from Dead Man's Bayou" | Mr. Bob |
| 1972 | Napoleon and Samantha | Dimitri the Clown |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Games Spectator |
| 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | Taxi Driver |
| 1980 | Herbie Goes Bananas | Armando Moccia |
| 1980 | "The Ghosts of Buxley Hall" | Count Sergio Luchesi Di Gonzini |
Roles[]
(Zorro)
(The Boatniks)
(Napoleon and Samantha)
(Herbie Goes Bananas)
