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IMDbPro

Ronnie James Dio(1942-2010)

  • Actor
  • Composer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ronnie James Dio
Theatrical Trailer from New Line Cinema
Play trailer1:45
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006)
11 Videos
4 Photos
How many rock stars can brag about recording and touring consistently in six different decades? That's just one of the many claims to fame enjoyed by Ronnie James Dio. Born on July 10, 1942, this Cortland, New York native began his recording career back in 1958. Even back then, the seeds of Ronnie James Dio's future musical excesses had already been sown. After more than 40 years in the rock business, Ronnie James Dio has shown he still has what it takes to get the job done. The mystery surrounding Ronnie's age is still going. He himself says the age is not important, the only thing that matters is the music. He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but was raised in Cortland, near Syracuse in New York State in the USA, in a quiet, Italian, middle class community. Ronnie changed his name sometime (the exact date is unknown) from Padovana to Dio - Which means "God" in Italian.
BornJuly 10, 1942
DiedMay 16, 2010(67)
BornJuly 10, 1942
DiedMay 16, 2010(67)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos

Ronnie James Dio in Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)
Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio

Known for:

Jack Black, Kyle Gass, and Tenacious D in Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006)
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny
6.8
  • Dio
  • 2006
Heavy Metal (1981)
Heavy Metal
6.6
  • Soundtrack("E5150" (uncredited), "The Mob Rules")
  • 1981
Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher (2011)
Bad Teacher
5.6
  • Soundtrack("Rainbow in the Dark")
  • 2011
Tina Fey in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
6.6
  • Soundtrack("Catch the Rainbow")
  • 2016

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Jack Black, Kyle Gass, and Tenacious D in Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006)
    Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny
    • Dio
    • 2006
  • Dio: Push (2003)
    Dio: Push
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 2003
  • Black Sabbath: I
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1992
  • Black Sabbath: Computer God
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1992
  • Black Sabbath: TV Crimes (1992)
    Black Sabbath: TV Crimes
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1992
  • Moon Lee in Meng xing xue wei ting (1991)
    Meng xing xue wei ting
    • (as Ronnie Dio)
    • 1991
  • Dio: Wild One (1990)
    Dio: Wild One
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1990
  • Dio: Hey Angel (1990)
    Dio: Hey Angel
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1990
  • Dio: Stand Up and Shout, Live (1987)
    Dio: Stand Up and Shout, Live
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Dio: All the Fools Sailed Away (1987)
    Dio: All the Fools Sailed Away
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Dio: I Could Have Been a Dreamer (1987)
    Dio: I Could Have Been a Dreamer
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Dio: Hungry for Heaven (1986)
    Dio: Hungry for Heaven
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Hear 'n Aid: The Sessions (1986)
    Hear 'n Aid: The Sessions
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Hear 'n Aid: Stars
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Dio: Like the Beat of a Heart, Live (1985)
    Dio: Like the Beat of a Heart, Live
    • Ronnie James Dio
    • Music Video
    • 1985

Composer

  • Robb Flynn: Die Young
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 2010
  • Dio: Push (2003)
    Dio: Push
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 2003
  • Black Sabbath: TV Crimes (1992)
    Black Sabbath: TV Crimes
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1992
  • Dio: Wild One (1990)
    Dio: Wild One
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1990
  • Dio: Hey Angel (1990)
    Dio: Hey Angel
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1990
  • Dio: Stand Up and Shout, Live (1987)
    Dio: Stand Up and Shout, Live
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Dio: All the Fools Sailed Away (1987)
    Dio: All the Fools Sailed Away
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Dio: I Could Have Been a Dreamer (1987)
    Dio: I Could Have Been a Dreamer
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1987
  • Dio: Hungry for Heaven (1986)
    Dio: Hungry for Heaven
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Hear 'n Aid: The Sessions (1986)
    Hear 'n Aid: The Sessions
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Hear 'n Aid: Stars
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1986
  • Dio: Like the Beat of a Heart, Live (1985)
    Dio: Like the Beat of a Heart, Live
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1985
  • Dio: King of Rock and Roll (1985)
    Dio: King of Rock and Roll
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1985
  • Dio: Rock 'N' Roll Children (1985)
    Dio: Rock 'N' Roll Children
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1985
  • Dio: Mystery (1984)
    Dio: Mystery
    • Composer
    • Music Video
    • 1984

Writer

  • Liliac: Holy Diver
    • writer
    • Music Video
    • 2019
  • Holy Diver by Steve'n'Seagulls
    • Writer
    • Music Video
    • 2014
  • Killswitch Engage: Holy Diver (2007)
    Killswitch Engage: Holy Diver
    • writer
    • Music Video
    • 2007
  • Matt Spease and Violet Flame in Evil on Queen Street (2002)
    Evil on Queen Street
    • based on work by
    • Video
    • 2002
  • Mark Anthony Jenkins in Evil on Queen Street (1996)
    Evil on Queen Street
    • based on work by
    • Short
    • 1996
  • Dio: Rainbow in the Dark (1983)
    Dio: Rainbow in the Dark
    • writer
    • Music Video
    • 1983
  • Dio: Holy Diver (1983)
    Dio: Holy Diver
    • writer
    • Music Video
    • 1983

Videos11

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Clip 0:52
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Clip 0:44
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Clip 0:51
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Interview 0:42
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Interview 0:29
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Interview 0:26
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Interview 0:31
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Trailer 1:45
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Trailer 1:45
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Featurette 0:31
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Sarah Silverman Quizzed on Other Famous Things From New Hampshire
Video 2:34
Sarah Silverman Quizzed on Other Famous Things From New Hampshire

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Official Site
  • Alternative names
    • Ronnie Dio
  • Height
    • 5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
  • Born
    • July 10, 1942
    • Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
  • Died
    • May 16, 2010
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(complications from stomach cancer)
  • Spouses
      Wendy Dio1974 - May 16, 2010 (his death)
  • Relatives
    • Dave Feinstein(Cousin)
  • Other works
    (1980s) PSA TV spot for RAD (Rock Against Drugs)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 2 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Introduced the "horns" gesture (created by extending the index and pinky finger, with the middle and ring fingers held under the thumb) to the world of rock music. Audiences would start repeating the gesture and its popularity soon spread. To this day, it's still widely seen at virtually all hard rock concerts, and is used by audience members to reflect their enthusiasm for the music.
  • Quotes
    I was in [Black] Sabbath at the time. The gesture was a symbol that I thought was reflective of what that band was supposed to be all about. It's NOT the devil's sign like we're here with the devil. It's an Italian thing I got from my Grandmother. It's to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye, depending on which way you do it. It's just a symbol but it had magical incantations and attitudes to it and I felt it worked very well with Sabbath. So I became very noted for it and then everybody else started to pick up on it and away it went. But I would never say I take credit for being the first to do it.
  • Trademarks
      Popularlized the "horns" hand guesture as a symbol of heavy metal music
  • Nickname
    • Dio

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