On April 21, 1915, in Chihuahua, Mexico, Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca was born.
His parents were Manuela (Oaxaca) and Francisco Quinn, who worked as an assistant cameraman at a Los Angeles (CA) film studio.
While the rest of his family was Hispanic, his paternal grandfather was Irish.
His family moved to Los Angeles after he was born into relatively humble circumstances in Mexico, and he grew up in the Boyle Heights and Echo Park areas of the city.
As a young man and assistant preacher, he was a member of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s band.
Did Anthony Quinn serve in WWII?
No, Anthony Quinn did not serve in WWII. He was excused from the draft since he was a Mexican national (he did not become an American citizen until 1947).
Anthony Quinn was able to advance into better-supporting roles since so many other actors were serving in the military during World War II.