Prolific Character Actor Who Starred In ‘Ocean’s 11’ And ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ Dies At 95

Henry SilvaWikipedia

The last surviving actor from the original 1960’s film “Ocean’s Eleven” has died. Henry Silva played Roger Corneal in the film, and his last acting role was in the 2001 remake of the film by the same name.

“Ocean’s Eleven” also starred Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., among others. Upon learning of his death, Martin’s daughter, Deana Martin, tweeted, “Our hearts are broken at the loss of our dear friend Henry Silva, one of the nicest, kindest and most talented men I’ve had the pleasure of calling my friend. He was the last surviving star of the original Oceans 11 Movie.”

Silva’s son, Scott Silva, confirmed the news of Silva’s death to Variety. He died of natural causes at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, on Wednesday September 14, 2022, just one day shy of his 96th birthday. He was 95 years old at the time of his death. 

Silva was born in Brooklynn, New York, in 1926. He dropped out of public school when he was just 13 years old and started attending drama classes instead. In 1955, he auditioned for the Actors Studio. Out of 2500 applicants, he was one of five that was accepted. The Actors Studio staged the play “A Hatful of Rain” as a class project, but it was such a success that it made it to Broadway, and Silva was one of the key actors.

Silva successfully made the leap from stage to screen. He was best known for his Hollywood roles where he played the tough guy. Examples include his roles in the films “The Bravados,” “Green Mansions,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” and “Johnny Cool.”

Writer-producer Jonathan Sothcott tweeted a tribute to Silva upon learning about his death. 

Many others have tweeted tributes to the late actor as well.