Ronnie James Dio
Actor
Biography
Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona, July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), was an American rock and heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, among others. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser Hear 'n Aid. He was widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture.
Before his death, he was collaborating on a project with former Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice, under the moniker Heaven & Hell, whose only studio album, The Devil You Know, was released on April 28, 2009. He has sold over 47 million copies of albums with all of the bands he has worked with.
He died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, CA. One of the last songs he recorded was titled "Metal Will Never Die".
Filmography
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
as Self 2005
Iron Maiden: Flight 666
as Self 2009
Live Aid
as Self 1985
Dio: Dreamers Never Die
as Self 2022
Dio: Holy Diver Live
as Vocals 2006
Heaven & Hell: Live From Radio City Music Hall
as Vocals 2007
Deep Purple: In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra
as Himself 2000
Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life
as Self 2006
Black Sabbath: The Black Sabbath Story, Volume Two
as himself 1992
Dio | Finding the Sacred Heart
as Lead Vocals 2013
Dio | A Special from the Spectrum
as Self 1984
Black Sabbath & Blue Öyster Cult: Black and Blue
as Vocals 1981
Dio: Evil or Divine
as Himself - Vocals 2003
Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights
as Vocals 2010
Dio - Live in Holland
as Self / Vocalist 1983
Dio: Live in London - Hammersmith Apollo 1993
2014