Teresa Mara Levis (June 6, 1923 – October 30, 1999), better known as Teresa Celli, was an American lyric soprano who apprenticed at La Scala before achieving recognition in films such as The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Black Hand (1950).Corby, Jane. "Screenings." Brooklyn, New York: Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1950, p. 10 (subscription required).Rosado, Luis. "On the Sets." Martinez, California: Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950, p. 4 (subscription required).
Formative years and family Celli was born on June 6, 1923 as Teresa Levis in Dysart, Pennsylvania."Celli, Teresa" (obituary). Tampa, Florida: Tampa Bay Times, November 2, 1999, p. 7 (subscription required).International Motion Picture Almanac, 1951, pg. 37"Here's a Tale of Success in Reverse." Louisville, Kentucky: The Courier-Journal, March 10, 1950, p. 6 (subscription required). One of ten children born to an Italian family, she relocated with her family to Milan, Italy when she was just five years old because her father had inherited an estate there.Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950. Her grandmother, Maria Scagnet, and her great-grandmother, Mme. Duval Celli, both sang opera, and it was from the latter that Teresa Levis took her professional last name, "Celli." Corby, "Screenings," Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1950.Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
While she lived in Italy, Celli was a student of soprano Ersilde Cervi Caroli. Under his mentorship, she became active in both opera and dramatic productions. Corby, "Screenings," Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1950.Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
Sometime during World War II, she returned to the United States, but then returned to Italy when the war ended.Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
She later became the first wife of actor Barry Nelson, and was married to him from 1951 to 1965.
Music and film career During the early years of her performance career, Celli was under contract with Italy's renowned opera house, La Scala.Schallert, Edwin. "Teresa Celli Gets Leave for Opera Study." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1950, p. 11.Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950. Her American radio debut occurred on March 5, 1949, on the NBC program Star Theater with Frank Sinatra. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
Celli's film debut came in Border Incident (1949).
In 1950, she appeared in The Asphalt Jungle, which was later nominated for four Academy Awards, with Gene Kelly in Black Hand and in Right Cross with Ricardo Montalbán."On Screens Downtown." Buffalo, New York: Buffalo Evening News, March 18, 1950, p. 7 (subscription required).Schallert, Edwin. "Singer Celli Still on Dramatic Course," in "Pirate Picture Shapes for Fairbanks; Wyman May Do Lawrence Story." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, January 20, 1950, p. 23 (subscription required). Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, she was subsequently given a leave of absence to return to Italy for three months of additional operatic training that same year.Schallert, "Teresa Celli Gets Leave for Opera Study," The Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1950.Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950. That trip was postponed, however, when Celli was cast by Peter Herman Adler in The Great Caruso in August 1950; the film was released in 1951.Schallert, Edwin. "'Caesar' Put on Spring Schedule; Marine Spy Subject May Star Cobb." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1950, p. 7 (subscription required).
Later years During her mid-sixties, Celli relocated to Clearwater, Florida, where she spent her remaining years and became a member of that community's Church of Christ."Celli, Teresa" (obituary), Tampa Bay Times, November 2, 1999. She died at her home in Clearwater, Florida on October 30, 1999 at the age of 76."Celli, Teresa" (obituary), Tampa Bay Times, November 2, 1999.Ancestry: Teresa Mara Levis in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007Ancestry LifeStory: Teresa Mara Levis
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