Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926) became one of the great romantic idols of Hollywood's silent movie era. He helped to define what a star should be, and represented the screen's first "Latin lover." His early death, at the age of 31, only increased his legendary status, especially among his large female following.

Valentino was born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaelo Pierre Filibert di Valentina d'Antonguolla Guglielmi on May 6, 1895, in Castellaneta, Italy. He was one of three sons born to Giovanni Guglielmi and his wife, Beatrice Gabriella Barbin. Valentino's father served as a cavalry officer in the Royal Italian Army, and also worked as a veterinarian and mason. Though the family had an aristocratic background, Valentino grew up in a middle-class setting. He received much of his early education at the Venice Military Academy, in Venice, Italy, but flunked out of school at the age of 13. He later received a diploma in agriculture from...