After WWII Chaliapin moved to Italy, where he continued his film acting career. It was not until late in life, though, that he really made his mark, when an ill John Huston had to back out of playing the blind, murderous monk Jorge of Burgos in "The Name of the Rose" (1986). His career enjoyed a brief resurgence after that, and in "Stanley and Iris" he enjoyed a fine part as Robert De Niro's father. Chaliapin's best known role was his delightful turn as the dog-walking grandfather in "Moonstruck" (1987), forever greeting the moon with cries of "La luna! La luna!".