Francesca Zuitco
| Francesca Zuitco | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Francesca Louise Maggio July 13, 1927 Greenwich Village, NY |
| Died |
May 19, 1969 Greenwich Village, N |
| Cause of death | Murdered by James Anderton |
| Occupation | Grocer |
| Spouse(s) | Anthony Zuitco, Sr. |
| Children | Anthony Zuitco, Jr. |
Francsca Zuitco was the mother of famed hitman/bodyguard Anthony Zuitco, Jr.
Bio
Early Days
Francesca was born in Greenwich Village to a first-generation Italian unwed woman. Her mother, having been born 17 years prior, arrived in New York as a 6-year-old after her family had been hunted down and murdered by a crime organization in Sicily. Little is known about Francesca's mother, as she kept her past quiet in fear of bringing the fate to her parents and siblings onto her own.
Acting and Anthony Zuitco
Francesca grew up loving the theater, having been able to sneak into multiple stage shows in the city and watch from the back of the theater. She found herself memorizing the shows despite never seeing the script.
One night in 1941, while watching a show, she was caught by the owner of the theater as she was quietly reciting every line being performed. Instead of kicking her out, the owner asked if she'd like a part in an upcoming show. He said he could only pay her $10 a week (a drastic cut from the typical average wage of $20 a week pre-WWII Era) and she immediately accepted.
Over the next five years, Francesca acted in every show she could get into, eventually making a name for herself among the off-Broadway theaters. In 1946, she was told by a stagehand that a man was looking for her in the lobby. Going out front, she was greeted by a representative of the Paramutual Pictures studio, saying they were casting women for an upcoming film being shot in New York. Word of mouth regarding acting skills had reached certain talent agencies, and her abilities and looks matched what they needed. Agreeing to a week of shooting for a staggering $75, Francesca appeared in her first film, as a dancer and background extra in the musical Here's Hoping You're There, Kid (1947).
Her dancing helped her land roles in 14 other movies over the course of the next 4 years.
Francesca and her husband Anthony Zuitco, Sr were both killed by a lone gunman while their son, Anthony, Jr., was inside the store looking at candy. Their assassin was hired by an unknown businessman who had attempted to make a deal with the Zuitco's, but had been denied.