Biographie

Provides an audio commentary for the DVD version of The Return of Mr. Moto (1965) (part of the special features in Peter Lorre's Mr. Moto DVD collection). While making minimal comments about that movie itself, he does address the issue of his heritage. Wryly noting he had been assumed to be everything, including Russian, he specifically denied being of Puerto Rican heritage, which is the most commonly reported. He states that his mother was from northern Spain and that his father was Italian. He was born in Brooklyn but left there when he was only five months old. His father left his mother when Silva was only three months old. Silva says that he was only eight years old when he decided to become an actor, although he didn't do anything about it until his teens. His inspiration was primarily his mother. Apparently, she was a storyteller and, upon returning from shopping, would fill their apartment with vivid characterizations of the grocer, baker etc. Silva concludes by noting that he thinks of his mother every day.

Of Sicilian and Spanish ancestry, Silva speaks Italian and Spanish fluently. He reportedly did not learn to speak English until he was eight years old.

Silva excelled at playing bad guys. He did play the titular hero in The Return of Mr. Moto (1965) but later reportedly regarded this role as his worst work ever.

After appearing in the remake Ocean's Eleven (2001), he retired from acting after 50 years in the motion picture industry. He passed away on September 14, 2022, only nine days away from what would have been his 96th birthday on September 23.

Had played the same character (Bane) on three different series: Batman (1992), Superman (1996) and Batman (1997).