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Bruno VeSota

Bruno VeSota

Actor, also director, writer and producer · Died September 24, 1976, aged 54 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Tubby 5' 10 1/2" character actor Bruno VeSota had a remarkably long, varied and impressive career acting and directing in the mediums of stage, radio, movies and television. He was born Bruno William VeSota on March 25th, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the second of three sons born to Lithuanian immigrants Kasmir and Eleanora VeSota. Bruno first began acting in the 7th grade while attending the Catholic parochial school St. George's. He made his stage debut as the villain in the children's play "Christopher's Orphans." At age 19 VeSota went to the Hobart Theatre in Chicago where he learned the basics on acting, make-up and direction. He made his stage directorial debut with a production of "Richard III" and went on to direct everything from the classics to light comedies. After briefly working in Lithuanian radio in the 40s Vesota did a longer stint on English-language radio. He even provided the voice of Winston Churchill for a radio production. Moreover, Bruno joined the Actors Company of Chicago and continued to perform on stage. VeSota then worked in live television in Chicago in 1945. He directed over 2,000 live TV programs and acted in some 200 more. VeSota moved to Hollywood, California in 1952. Bruno began acting in films in 1953. He achieved his greatest cult feature popularity with his frequent and delightful appearances in a bunch of hugely enjoyable low-budget Roger Corman exploitation pictures. Bruno was especially excellent as Yvette Vickers' angry cuckolded husband in the Grade B monster classic "Attack of the Giant Leeches." Other notable movie roles include a disgusting slob junkyard owner who sells stolen automobile parts on the side in "The Choppers," a bartender in "The Haunted Palace," a hapless night watchman who becomes a victim of "The Wasp Woman," a snobby coffeehouse regular in the hilarious black comedy gem "A Bucket of Blood," a perverse oddball named Mr. Donald Duck from Duluth in "Single Room Unfurnished," a nervous innkeeper in "The Undead," a Russian spy in "War of the Satellites," a minister in "Hell's Angels on Wheels," a cultured gangster in "Daddy-O," and a brutish loan enforcer in "Carnival Rock." Bruno narrated the atrocious cheapie clunker "Curse of the Stoned Hand" for notorious schlockmeister Jerry Warren. He also worked on the make-up and has a bit part in Curtis Harrington's nicely spooky "Night Tide." VeSota does a cameo in Steven Spielberg's made-for-TV fright feature "Something Evil." Bruno directed three movies: the entertainingly lurid crime potboiler "The Female Jungle," the fun alien invasion entry "The Brain Eaters," and the silly spoof "Invasion of the Star Creatures." VeSota had a recurring role as a bartender in a handful of episodes of the hit Western TV show "Bonanza." Among the TV shows VeSota had guest spots on are "Kojak," "McMillan and Wife," "Hogan's Heroes," "Mission: Impossible," "It Takes A Thief," "Hondo," "Branded," "My Mother the Car," "The Wild, Wild West," "The Untouchables," and "Leave It to Beaver." VeSota had six children with his wife Genevieve. Bruno VeSota died of a heart attack at age 54 on September 24th, 1976.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 25, 1922
Died
September 24, 1976 (aged 54)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor, also director, writer and producer
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 51 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 17% in 30 days

What are Bruno VeSota's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
30%
Morality
23%
Self
21%
Bonds
8%
Ideas
7%
Power
6%
Society
5%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 5 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Dread
5
Melancholic
5
Absurd
3
Thrilling
3
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Bruno VeSota's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bruno VeSota's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

51 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page.

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Revelson

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Something Evil(1972)

    as Neighbor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Bunny O'Hare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Lab Technician

  • The Million Dollar Duck(1971)

    as Russian (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Wild Rovers(1971)

    as Cantina Bartender

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Single Room Furnished (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Mr. Quack Quack

  • Hondo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Biddle

  • The Perils of Pauline(1967)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Hells Angels on Wheels(1967)

    as Episcopal Priest

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Last of the American Hoboes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Original Hobo King Jeff Davis (uncredited)

  • The Wild World of Batwoman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Seltzer

  • Creature of the Walking Dead(1965)

    as 19th Century Police Inspector

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Girls on the Beach(1965)

    as Pops

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Curse of the Stone Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Narrator (uncredited)

  • Your Cheatin' Heart(1964)

    as Joe (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Attack of the Mayan Mummy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as The Newspaper Editor

  • The Haunted Palace(1963)

    as Bruno, the Bartender

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Invasion of the Star Creatures(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Case of Patty Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Colbert

  • The Violent and the Damned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Office Manager

  • The Choppers(1961)

    as Moose

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Lindell's Sponsor

  • Night Tide(1961)

    Makeup Artist · as Man on the stairs

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Cat Burglar(1961)

    as Muskie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • 20,000 Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Museum Watchman

  • Code of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Valley of the Redwoods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Joe Wolcheck

  • The Wasp Woman(1959)

    as Night Watchman

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • A Bucket of Blood(1959)

    as Art Collector

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Attack of the Giant Leeches(1959)

    as Dave Walker

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • I Mobster(1959)

    as Bruno - Nightclub Manager (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Brain Eaters(1958)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Hot Car Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Joe Doobie

  • The Cry Baby Killer(1958)

    as Man in Crowd (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • War of the Satellites(1958)

    as Mr. LeMoine

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Daddy-O(1958)

    as Sidney Chillas

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Teenage Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Fat Witness

  • Carnival Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Mr. Kirsch

  • Rock All Night(1957)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Undead(1957)

    as Innkeeper Scroop

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Female Jungle(1955)

    Director · Screenplay · as Frank

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Oklahoma Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Stacy

  • Gunslinger(1956)

    as Zebelon Tabb

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Dementia(1955)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Rich Man

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Kismet(1955)

    as Wholesaler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Fast and the Furious(1954)

    as Bob Nielson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Long Wait(1954)

    as Eddie Packman

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Bait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Webb

  • The Wild One(1953)

    as Simmonds (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The System (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Angelo Bruno

  • Tell-Tale Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles from 1947 to 1973; peak year 1962.

Biggest box office

Gunslinger (1956)

$798 worldwide

Highest rated

Dementia (1955)

Midcredits 71st

Most popular right now

Hells Angels on Wheels (1967)

Film career

19471973

Peak 1962 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1954Screen debut· The Fast and the Furious

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 51: 46 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score28thDirecting3 of 51: 2 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting2 of 51: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 51: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

51 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s23 · 22 acting · 3 crew1960s22 · 21 acting · 2 crew1970s5 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
5459

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Bruno VeSota's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 23rd percentile, the median of all 30; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 20th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

9thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th15

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 31 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

The Perils of Pauline (1967)

71st percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Haunted Palace (1963)

Midcredits 72nd · 62% liked

Reviewers score the acting 49/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 61, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Bruno VeSota work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bruno VeSota's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roger Corman shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles