Rafaela Ottiano
One of these great character actors . A face you would recognise in many films,severe looking,intense,sinister. That was the Hollywood character of Rafaela Ottiano who is probably best known as Garbo’s faithful maid in GRAND HOTEL
Rafaela was born in Italy and emigrated with her parents to America in 1910. They were processed at Ellis Island.
She died at the Boston home of her parents , of cancer, age 54.
She was in the stage play of GRAND HOTEL in 1930 and was also in Mae West’s DIAMOND LIL in 1928, reprising her roles in the film versions.(Diamond Lil becoming SHE DONE HIM WRONG.)
Her character in She Done Him Wrong was ‘Russian Rita’, maybe the only time Rafaela got to ‘dress up’!
Gilbert Roland,Mae West,Rafaela Ottiano
She was with Garbo in AS YOU DESIRE ME, Irene Dunne in ANN VICKERS, and Shirley Temple in CURLY TOP.
I recently saw Rafaela in ONE FRIGHTENED NIGHT, a good ‘old dark house’ film in which she is yet again, a maid.
One of her biggest roles was as Lionel Barrymore’s costar in DEVIL DOLL – which is a film I enjoyed a lot. In this, she may be demented but still sympathetic. Devil Doll showed casting directors missed out, not using Rafaela in bigger roles.
Rafaela Ottiano,Lionel Barrymore
One Frightened Night
One of her films I’d love to see is THE LAST GENTLEMAN, with Edna May Oliver.
Her last film was I MARRIED AN ANGEL in 1942.
One story I love about Rafaela happened in 1989 when the musical version of Grand Hotel opened on Broadway and her character of the maid was renamed Rafaela Ottiano in her honour .
Vienna's Classic Hollywood 
Wow. I didn’t know anything about her, but I love reading pieces like this about all the actors and actresses who tend to get overlooked too often. I do remember her as Garbo’s maid in Grand Hotel, which is a movie I love.
It’s interesting how Hollywood careers would sometimes be jump-started by a studio buying the rights to a play in New York and taking some of the stage cast to the West Coast, especially when the Talkies began.
Ahh Rafaella. Austere, cruelly beautiful. Didn’t know she died so young and so early in the 40’s. Nice that you spotlighted her. I’ve always liked her.
Everyone should see Rafaela in DEVIL DOLL.
Raphael was great in all of her films. She was actually my mother’s cousin once removed. She was a wonderful actress.
Thanks for telling us about your connection.
Gwen, I was shocked to see your name as I was reading about Aunt Rafaela. She was my grandfather’s (Augustine W. Ottiano) sister, but she died before I was born. I am Jacqueline’s daughter, your mother’s first cousin.
Rafaela , is my Mother’s, Grandmother’s Sister , my mom’s father was Vincent Destefano his mother’s sister ! My mother her name was Margret Francis (Peggy Destefano , maiden name D’Annunzio , my mom born in East Boston born 1933 died in 2018 ! Went to East Boston high school always told of her beautiful aunt !
I love the story of Grand Hotel the musical naming the maid after her.
I am one of those who recognizes her on screen but, I am ashamed to say, I never bothered to look her up. Thanks for this thoughtful tribute a talented woman.
I always liked her name – very Italian!
She was also a nasty, busybody neighbor in Night Court (1932). I always like seeing her! She’s so memorable, even though her roles are often small. Sad to read she died so young, though.
Rafaela , is my Mother’s, Grandmother’s Sister , my mom’s father was Vincent Destefano his mother’s sister ! My mother her name was Margret Francis (Peggy Destefano , maiden name D’Annunzio , my mom born in East Boston born 1933 died in 2018 ! Went to East Boston high school always told of her beautiful aunt !
Another title I should look out for. thanks.
She was my Mother’s Grandmother’s Sister, on her Father’s side of our family, My Mother maiden name is Margret (Peggy) Destefano from East Boston Mass.heard about her all my life and I am 63 now. !
Thanks for getting in touch.
Rafaela , is my Mother’s, Grandmother’s Sister , my mom’s father was Vincent Destefano his mother’s sister ! My mother her name was Margret Francis (Peggy Destefano , maiden name D’Annunzio , my mom born in East Boston born 1933 died in 2018 ! Went to East Boston high school always told of her beautiful aunt !