Editing Rudolph Valentino (section)

===Before fame===
[[File:Rudolph Valentino in Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual, 1918.jpg|thumb|left|Valentino in an advertisement for ''[[The Married Virgin]]'' (1918) in which he portrays a villain]]
In 1917, Valentino joined an [[operetta]] company that traveled to [[Utah]], where it disbanded. He then joined an [[Al Jolson]] production of ''Robinson Crusoe, Jr.'', which was travelling to Los Angeles. By fall, he was in San Francisco with a bit part in a theatrical production of ''Nobody Home''. While in town, Valentino met actor [[Norman Kerry]], who convinced him to try a career in cinema, which was still in the [[silent film]] era.<ref name="leider81">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 81–83</ref>

Valentino and Kerry moved back to Los Angeles and became roommates at the [[Hotel Alexandria|Alexandria Hotel]]. He continued dancing, teaching dance, and building up a following that included older female clientele who would let him borrow their luxury cars.<ref name="leider85">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 85–86</ref> At one point after the United States entered [[World War I]], both Kerry and Valentino tried to get into the Canadian Air Force to fly and fight in France.<ref>''The Legend of Rudolph Valentino'' (1962) CBS produced by David Wolper</ref>

With his dancing success, Valentino found a room of his own on [[Sunset Boulevard]] and began actively seeking screen roles. His first part was as an extra in the film ''Alimony'', moving on to small parts in several films. Despite his best efforts, he was typically cast as a "heavy" (villain) or gangster.<ref name="leider61"/> At the time, the archetypal major male star was [[Wallace Reid]], with a fair complexion, light eyes, and an [[All-American]] look, with Valentino the opposite;<ref name="leider86">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 86–88</ref> he eventually supplanted [[Sessue Hayakawa]] as Hollywood's most popular "exotic" male lead.<ref>Dave Kehr, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/movies/homevideo/25dvds.html New DVDs Review]," ''New York Times,'' March 25, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008.</ref><ref>[[Daisuke Miyao|Miyao, Daisuke]], ''[[Sessue Hayakawa: Silent Cinema and Transnational Stardom]].'' Duke University Press. 2007.</ref>

By 1919, he had carved out a career in bit parts. It was a bit part as a "cabaret parasite" in the drama ''[[Eyes of Youth]]'', starring [[Clara Kimball Young]], that caught the attention of screenwriter [[June Mathis]], who thought he would be perfect for her next movie.<ref name="botham">{{cite book |last=Botham |first=Noel |author-link=Noel Botham |title=Valentino: The First Superstar |publisher=Metro Publishing Ltd. |year=2002 |isbn=1-84358-013-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/valentino00noel }}</ref> Young would later say it was she and [[Lewis J. Selznick]] who discovered him, and that they were disappointed when Valentino accepted a lucrative offer at [[Metro Pictures|Metro]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1fs4sp3lnQC&q=clara+kimball+young+florence&pg=PA18|title=Maryjane's Notebook: Memoirs of a Hollywood Dress Designer|isbn=9781453555149|last1=Venola|first1=Penelope|last2=Taylor|first2=Guy C.|date=August 31, 2010|publisher=Xlibris Corporation }}</ref>

He appeared as second lead in ''[[The Delicious Little Devil]]'' (1919) with star [[Mae Murray]]. In 1919, Valentino impulsively married actress [[Jean Acker]]. Their marriage was purportedly {{says who|date=April 2024}} never consummated.