Background
As Agatina Carmen Maria Scolgio, she was born in Mili San Marco, Sicily, but became to be known as Tina.
As Agatina Carmen Maria Scolgio, she was born in Mili San Marco, Sicily, but became to be known as Tina.
Tina studied acting at the Actors Studio, dancing at Luigi School of Dance with Eugene Louis Faccuito and voice with Gian Carlo Menotti.
Tina"s early life was one of privilege. At 17, she settled in Toronto, Canada. In 1962, Tina began modeling fur coats in Toronto.
When she heard that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was holding auditions, she applied, was accepted and began working in daytime television
She made appearances on some radio shows and television shows. In 1961, she made her film debut in The Children’s Hour.
On December 27, 1966, while dressed in a mini-skirt, a photographer from the New York Daily News by chance snapped her picture as she was stepping over a snow bank when making her way through the snows in Central Park. That photo was published in The Saratogian and seen by many United States. soldiers stationed in Viet Nam.
The newspaper received requests as to the identity of the miniskirted young lady.
When Tina discovered that the boys overseas liked her photograph, she posed in a two piece bikini and became a pin-up. When her mother—a life-time smoker—became ill from lung cancer, Tina moved to Los Angeles to be near her family. In an interview, she was asked: "Who was the first star you met?" She answered "Audie Murphy.. his dressing room was next to Gia"s & we could hear him talking to some girls & the girls were laughing loudly.
When I met him he was very polite & personable." Tina continued to work in film—a role most remembered is a woman in the Laundromat in Midnight Cowboy 1969.
In 1976, Frank Cavestani interviewed Tina for his documentary—Making lieutenant In Hollywood-- she was dressed as Cinderella from the wedding scene and he asked her "Which is easier working in film or theater?" She replied, "Film. Because in theater there are no second takes.
You have to get it right the first time." Tina continues working in film and theater.
