Sal Mineo: His Life, Murder, and Mystery

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Career and Murder Info; Lighter on the Person
Review: "Sal Mineo: His Life, Murder, and Mystery" by H. Paul Jeffers is a good overview of the life and career of its subject. Bookends to most of the material are two encounters between the author and Mineo; all this is followed by murder-related information and a discussion of sources. There are many fine photographs and ad reproductions.

Jeffers does a nice job of describing Mineo's childhood, movie career, and stage career. Mineo's gratitude to Yul Brynner, James Dean, and Paul Newman for acting tips is shown. Mineo's less memorable television career gets relatively short shrift. Jeffers takes care to list the times Mineo goes shirtless etc. Jeffers gives an apparently complete list of Mineo's credits in an appendix. (There was no real appraisal of Mineo's acting range or skills, although his Oscar nominations may speak for themselves.) The murder-related materials are well done too.

Moving from documented and family-originated information to oral history leads to gaps, inconsistencies, and the more elusive sense of the full range of the subject that multiple views give.

For example, Mineo went from working class origins to a person who made millions, managed unprofessionally. Mineo is shown to be a big spender, wanting a glamorous image. Unsurprisingly, the money left. In part, "Money supposed to be in a trust fund wasn't there." (p. 122) The outcome was merely hiring a new business manager and getting an agent for the first time. Mineo continued to spend what he could, despite the new arrangements, but the new team was not critiqued.

One notices that after his death, "The family that could not accept the Sal Mineo represented by Mason, Mintz, and Burr gave a warm welcome to Jill Haworth." (p. 180) A Mineo family rejection of the gay side of Mineo's life is bound to have affected his ability to sustain gay romantic relationships. How Mineo came out to his family and the consequences are little explored. Mineo did not return to New York when the chips are down, and Jeffers does not seem able to go into it much.

Jeffers offers a general view of Mineo's gay cruising practices and lists a wide variety of conquests, with occasional commentary. Jeffers suggests that Mineo was sexually restrained but does not speak to favored roles or look at the path that led to Mineo taking testosterone injections at the end. It would have been interesting to have had statements from all the presumed partners and close friends, including Jill Haworth (whose value to Mineo may have been underrepresented), on what Mineo wanted from a relationship and why he was not sustaining intimate ones better.

It would also be interesting to know more about why Mineo was so eager for gangster-type roles and why his new management team had so little effect improving his financial behavior and professional prospects. Mineo's diagnoses were not confirmed by those who might know.

Jeffers states that Mineo collected art and had books in his apartment at the end. Details on this could have given a broader view of Mineo's interests.

A good Catholic in New York, did he go to church in California? No word.

Mineo was so successful as a drummer in "The Gene Krupa Story" that "Krupa was so impressed by Sal as a drummer that when the film was completed, he gave Sal a set of Krupa's own drums." (p. 75) When Mineo got into financial trouble, did he ever consider becoming a drummer? No word.

Jeffers gives a short, adequate analysis of the rumors that Mineo took drugs.

Jeffers states in several places that Mineo and certain others would spend hours being very open on Mineo, yet there are relatively few personal stories told about him and virtually none by the folks who could have hired him. He gets consistently friendly testamony. Most detailed stories relate to specific productions, not to personal characteristics noticed over a longer period of time (other than lavish spending). Jeffers's own encounters make good reading and give a flavor of what a conversation with Mineo might have been like but don't tell all that much new about Sal Mineo as a person or even just sexually.

Oral histories can be hard to generate, the subject matter here is extra sensitive, and so there are limits on what we shall know. There are lots of clues about, but different readers will connect the dots differently and will provide their own spins. Jeffers book is smoothly written and is probably about as good as we will get.

Rating:
Summary: A bio worth waiting for
Review: A biography of the late Sal Mineo has been a long time coming, but respected biographer H. Paul Jeffers presents a comprehensive picture of the talented young actor that was well worth waiting for. Jeffers' account of Mineo's life reflects the careful research and attention to detail that one has come to expect of this author's writings. Some may feel that repeated references to the actor's homosexual lifestyle have been overdone. But by all accounts of the time, this was a well known aspect of the man and could hardly be ignored. Jeffers' reference to his own acquaintance with Mineo can be taken as the reader wishes, but in my opinion serves only to authenticate his friendship with and personal knowledge of the actor.If you liked Sal Mineo, you'll love this book. It provides an insight one hopes for but so seldom finds in a biography.

Rating:
Summary: Sal Mineo: finally remembered
Review: A remarkable book by H. Paul Jeffers. "Sal Mineo: His Life,Murder and Mystery" is accurate. Not only has Mr. Jeffers known Sal intimatly for seven years, he has done extensive research to tell Mineo's life the way it actually was. As you read this book, you can feel what Sal was going through. The book is fresh and is a treasure. An absolute keepsake for all Sal Mineo fans and those that will be.

Rating:
Summary: The Newest Book About Sal Mineo: Accurate and Emotional!
Review: A remarkable book by H. Paul Jeffers. "Sal Mineo: His Life,Murder and Mystery" is accurate. Not only has Mr. Jeffers known Sal intimatly for seven years, he has done extensive research to tell Mineo's life the way it actually was. As you read this book, you can feel what Sal was going through. The book is fresh and is a treasure. An absolute keepsake for all Sal Mineo fans and those that will be.

Rating:
Summary: Plato Lives!
Review: As a great of fan since I first saw him on the screen in "Rebel Without A Cause," I can say I am so elated that there is finally a biography on this great, yet underrated actor. Sal Mineo was not just the usual movie star. He was a person who could relate to the common moviegoer due to his upbringing in the Bronx by hardworking and caring Italian immigrants. From 217th Street to Hollywood, Sal never forgot who he was, and truly was known to be a nice guy.

In his book "Sal Mineo: His Life, Murder, and Mystery," author H. Paul Jeffers explores Sal's early days as the son of a coffin maker to his tragic end in the garage of the West Hollywood apartment complex he lived. As a close friend of Mineo's, Jeffers gives us an intimate portrait of this great actor. The only previous biographical information available on Mineo was in biographies of James Dean and magazine articles, and therefore I really can't compare this book to another Mineo biography on the market. While there is rumor that Jason Gould (Barbra Streisand's son) is writing a biography on Mineo (one of his favorite actors), we will have to wait to see if the book will paint a more complete portrait of Sal.

While Jeffers book succeeds in telling Mineo's rise and then fall, he focuses too much on Mineo's sexual orientation, and at times it can get boring. Just hearing that Sal's apartment was full of gay pornography and leather S&M gear made me feel a bit disturbed that someone's sexual life still can hurt him after death. While Sal was one of Hollywood's first actors to come out of the closet virtually by choosing roles that reflected his sexuality, too much detail can often sour a book.

I was also disappointed that the author did not take more time to discuss more about Sal's family, such as his mother Josephine, brothers Victor and Michael, and sister Carina. I would have liked to see more of the family discussing Sal's importance to them and the film world, but instead we hear about their financial problems. To even make this point more evident, Carina's name is not even listed in the index, even though she is mentioned several times in the biography.

The book's photographs were great, and it was interesting to see an actual police photograph of the Sal's body covered in a blanket after an unknown assailant stabbed him to death. While the book claims that the suspect in Mineo's murder was never found responsible in his death, he is serving a sentence for it in a California prison.

Sal's roles as Plato in "Rebel Without A Cause," Dov in "Exodus", and Dino in "Dino" made him a star, but I would like to have know more about his roles in films that explored his sexuality to the fullest extent such as "Who Killed Teddy Bear?". While his final film role was that playing an ape in "Escape from the Planet of the Apes," Sal's career was hurt by his decision to choose film and stage roles that explored homosexuality. It was taboo then and Sal was a pioneer and rebel in the entertainment world. Sal also helped a budding new actor by the name of Don Johnson break into the big time when he starred with Mineo in the men's' prison drama "Fortune and Men's Eyes" in Los Angeles. This should be known, although the onstage rape scene featuring a naked Mineo and Johnson was very controversial.

In conclusion, this is a must have for any Mineo fan, or anyone who is fascinated by the so-called curse that afflicted the cast of "Rebel Without a Cause." I could not put this book down, and you won't either. A good biography for a true Hollywood legend.

Rating:
Summary: Spectacular in-depth bio. A treat for Mineo fans
Review: Fans of Sal Mineo have been waiting a long time for anin-depth, full-blown biography of the talented two-time Oscar nomineewho was murdered in 1976. The wait was worth it. Jeffers, a personalfriend of Mineo during the last 7 years of his life, offers acompelling, fact-filled biography that grabs you and pulls you alonglike a great piece of fiction. The fact that Mineo was an out gayactor in the 1970s makes him one of our earliest heros (moving frommovies to theatre work helped him worry less about about losing rolesdue to the fcat that he chose not to hide his relationships with bothmen and women)--he was the Rupert Everett of his day (and check outthe 24 pages of photos in the book--he went from adorable puppy-boy tosexy 37 year old with eyes that can still make you melt). The factthat he was murdered at a time when he was just asserting his talentsas a stage director as well as actor, is not only tragic due to theloss of his life but the loss of such potential. Jeffers offersexcellent behind-the-scenes looks at the productions of GIANT, REBELWITHOUT A CAUSE, DINO and the cult classic WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR(which I have yet to find on video!) and his listing of Mineo'stelevision credits is the most complete I've ever seen--it offers fansnew hope for catching great Mineo performances on TV-LAND in showsranging from COLUMBO to MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. This excellent filmographyof also unearths six TV movies that are constantly omitted from hislist of films. This is a treasure-trove of a book: one that will beloved by fans and will help create new ones...

Rating:
Summary: "A Gay Icon Lives On"
Review: Finally! Finally! Someone has written a biography of Sal Mineo's career and his personal life. This is a long over-due book. I think Paul Jeffers has done a wonderful job in giving us Sal Mineo's career every step of the way, and also in writing about his personal life. Yes, this book may be one-sided by only talking about Sal's gay relationships, and not mentioning his heterosexual affairs with women. However, the last years of his life he admitted he was gay, and that's all I expected from this author.

I will always remember my introduction to Sal Mineo. I happened to catch a movie on late night TV called "Who Killed Teddy Bear" and couldn't believe how erotic this young actor was who was stalking this woman name Norah Dain. There Sal was lying on the bed, very muscular, in white briefs (a first for TV in 1965) making a sexy phone call to an unsuspecting Norah. I couldn't believe my eyes, who is this actor? Well, ever since then I followed his career like a true devoted fan. I don't think anyone could ever forget "Rebel Without a Cause"after seeing it. Sal & James Dean & Natalie Wood's acting performance made history with this movie & will always be remembered. Finally, young people and their trouble lives were being recognized.

It's just so sad that Sal's life had to end at such an early age, when his career was looking up again. Hollywood was not kind at all to Sal. However, he will always be with us through his movies that we certainly will never forget. I enjoyed this biography of Sal's career and life, and thank Paul Jeffers for this well-researched book. Sal was a talented & very original type of actor who will never be forgotten by his fans, and especially by me. Highly Recommended!!!

Rating:
Summary: "A Gay Icon Lives On"
Review: Finally! Finally! Someone has written a biography of Sal Mineo's career and his personal life. This is a long over-due book. I think Paul Jeffers has done a wonderful job in giving us Sal Mineo's career every step of the way, and also in writing about his personal life. Yes, this book may be one-sided by only talking about Sal's gay relationships, and not mentioning his heterosexual affairs with women. However, the last years of his life he admitted he was gay, and that's all I expected from this author.

I will always remember my introduction to Sal Mineo. I happened to catch a movie on late night TV called "Who Killed Teddy Bear" and couldn't believe how erotic this young actor was who was stalking this woman name Norah Dain. There Sal was lying on the bed, very muscular, in white briefs (a first for TV in 1965) making a sexy phone call to an unsuspecting Norah. I couldn't believe my eyes, who is this actor? Well, ever since then I followed his career like a true devoted fan. I don't think anyone could ever forget "Rebel Without a Cause"after seeing it. Sal & James Dean & Natalie Wood's acting performance made history with this movie & will always be remembered. Finally, young people and their trouble lives were being recognized.

It's just so sad that Sal's life had to end at such an early age, when his career was looking up again. Hollywood was not kind at all to Sal. However, he will always be with us through his movies that we certainly will never forget. I enjoyed this biography of Sal's career and life, and thank Paul Jeffers for this well-researched book. Sal was a talented & very original type of actor who will never be forgotten by his fans, and especially by me. Highly Recommended!!!

Rating:
Summary: The Illuminating, Candid Biography that Sal Mineo Deserves
Review: For people who know Sal Mineo from his most famous film, "Rebel Without a Cause," and for those who have only a vague idea of who Sal Mineo was, H. Paul Jeffers provides the only biography of a star who deserves to be remembered not only for the characters he created in movies, on TV and on the stage, and that he was considered a has-been at age 30, and murdered at 37 as he was about to make a comeback, but as a young man who believed that in life "you go where your heart takes you." This frank recounting of Sal Mineo's life, career and untimely death is an unflinching portrait of a kid from the Bronx who became a movie star at the age of sixteen, earned two Academy Award nominations by the age of 20, made fine films, and ultimately recognized his homosexuality and refused to deny it, even at the cost of his film career. While providing a fascinating look at the Holywood of the 1950s and '60s and an analysis of Sal Mineo's career and controversial personal life with unflinching honesty, this compelling biography by an author who knew his subject during the last seven years of that life also provides a critical look at the strange circumstances of Sal Mineo's murder, the police investigation, and the case presented at trial against the man who was convicted of the murder. H. Paul Jeffers has written the biography that Sal Mineo deserves and that his fans have spent 25 years waiting for.

Rating:
Summary: SAL MINEO: PIONEER, LEGEND, ICON!!!!
Review: H. Paul Jeffers's first ever bio of late actor, Sal Mineo is great! It is honest, tender, and at times startling. But we not only get a gripping account of what Sal Mineo was like, we also get a very well researched listings of his acting work, both on stage and the screen!Also, the book celebrates the fact the Sal Mineo was perhaps one of the first major actors to come out of the closet and definatly paved the way for the gay community.Sal never gave it a second thought, and was true to himself as he was to his career. And Sal was lucky to have had a wonderful friend like . Paul. Jeffers, as the author has made a steller biography about the life of his friend! Loaded with great pictures, this book is class "A" all the way!!!