Italian movie actors born in the year 1906
Here are 12 famous actors from Italy were born in 1906:
Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera (October 26, 1906 Sequals-June 29, 1967 Sequals) a.k.a. Satchel Feet, The Ambling Alp, Man Mountain or De Prim was an Italian professional boxer and actor. His children are called Umberto Carnera and Joan Carnera.
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing up to 275 pounds, Primo Carnera was known for his immense size and strength. He was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1933-1934, and also competed in other combat sports such as wrestling and mixed martial arts. Carnera's boxing career was controversial due to allegations of mob involvement and fixed fights, which ultimately led to his retirement from the ring.
In addition to his athletic career, Carnera also acted in films such as "The Prizefighter and the Lady" and "Mighty Joe Young." His larger-than-life persona and physical presence made him a popular figure in popular culture. Despite his fame, Carnera faced personal struggles including financial difficulties and health issues later in life.
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Mario Soldati
Mario Soldati (November 17, 1906 Turin-June 19, 1999 Tellaro) also known as M. Soldati was an Italian journalist, film director, writer, actor, screenwriter and television director. He had six children, Frank Soldati, Ralph Soldati, Barbara Soldati, Giovanni Soldati, Wolfango Soldati and Michele Soldati.
Soldati started his career as a journalist and later began to write novels and short stories. He gained popularity after the publication of his novel “America primo amore” (America First Love), which became a bestseller in Italy. In addition to his writing, Soldati also worked as a film director, making several movies including “Piccolo Mondo Antico” (Small Old-Fashioned World), which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 1941. He also acted in a few films himself.
In the 1950s, Soldati began working in television, directing a number of successful TV series and specials. He continued to write during this time and published several additional novels, including “Fuga in Italia” (Escape to Italy) and “La Provinciale” (The Provincial Woman), which was later adapted into a film.
Over the course of his career, Soldati received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Legion of Honour from the French government and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He is remembered as a versatile and influential figure in Italian culture.
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Paolo Stoppa
Paolo Stoppa (June 6, 1906 Rome-May 1, 1988 Rome) was an Italian actor and voice actor.
He started his acting career in the early 1930s, performing in both theater and cinema. He starred in several films, including "Romeo and Juliet" (1936), "The Iron Crown" (1941), and "L'uomo di paglia" (1958), among others. Stoppa is also known for his voice acting work, particularly in the Italian dubbed versions of international films. One of his most famous performances was as the voice of Geppetto in the Italian version of Disney's "Pinocchio." In addition to his acting career, Stoppa was also a writer, director, and producer. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival in 1983.
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Riccardo Billi
Riccardo Billi (April 22, 1906 Siena-April 15, 1982 Rome) also known as R. Billi or Billi was an Italian actor and comedian.
He started his career in the theater and later moved on to film, where he became known for his roles in comedies. Billi appeared in over 100 films throughout his career, working with some of the most well-known directors in Italian cinema. He was a versatile performer, equally at home in both dramatic and comedic roles. Some of his most memorable performances include his roles in "Totò, Peppino e la Malafemmina," "La Dolce Vita," and "L'Armata Brancaleone." Billi was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to many animated films and television shows. In addition to his acting work, he was also a successful playwright and screenwriter. Billi's contributions to Italian cinema have made him one of the most beloved and enduring figures in Italian entertainment.
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Carlo Campanini
Carlo Campanini (October 5, 1906 Turin-November 20, 1984 Rome) was an Italian actor.
He began his career on stage in 1929 and made his film debut in 1935. Campanini appeared in over 100 films and became a beloved figure in Italian cinema, known for his comedic roles. He is best remembered for his collaboration with well-known director Mario Monicelli, which resulted in some of the most successful and popular Italian comedies of the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to his acting work, Campanini was also a successful television presenter and host. In recognition of his contributions to Italian culture, he received several honors and awards, including the prestigious Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1976.
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Alberto Rabagliati
Alberto Rabagliati (June 26, 1906 Milan-March 7, 1974 Rome) was an Italian actor and singer.
He started his career in the 1930s as a singer, recording popular songs like "Ma l'amore no" and "Eternamente tua." During the fascist period in Italy, Rabagliati was a supporter of the regime and performed for the soldiers during the war.
In the post-war period, Rabagliati continued to work as a singer and expanded his career into acting. He appeared in a number of Italian films, including "La corona di ferro" and "Totò, Peppino e... la malafemmina." Rabagliati was also a regular performer on Italian radio programs in the 1950s and 60s.
Despite his earlier support of the fascist regime, Rabagliati became a vocal opponent of the neo-fascist movement in Italy and was an advocate for democracy and human rights. He died in 1974 at the age of 67.
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Renato Chiantoni
Renato Chiantoni (April 19, 1906 Brescia-December 24, 1979 Rome) a.k.a. Renato Chantori, Gay Gallwey or Guy Galway was an Italian actor, film producer and film director.
Chiantoni started his career in the film industry in 1926 and went on to act in over 60 films. He is best known for his roles in films like "Sins of Pompeii" (1926), "The Iron Crown" (1941), and "Carlo Broschi" (1953). In addition to acting, Chiantoni also worked as a film producer and director, with his most notable work being the film "La granda ombra" (1957). Chiantoni was also actively involved in Italian politics and was a member of the Italian Communist Party. He died in Rome at the age of 73.
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Giovanni D'Anzi
Giovanni D'Anzi (January 1, 1906 Milan-April 15, 1974 Santa Margherita Ligure) also known as M° D'Anzi or Maestro D'Anzi was an Italian composer, songwriter, actor and film score composer.
He was a prolific writer of popular songs, including hits such as "La più bella del mondo" ("The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"), "Guaglione" and "Oho Aha". D'Anzi started his career as an actor in the 1930s, appearing in several films, including "Treno popolare" and "Oscar per due". He also co-wrote the scores for many films, including "La bella di Lodi" and "Canzone di primavera". D'Anzi played a significant role in shaping popular music in Italy during the 1940s and 1950s, and his songs are still widely performed and enjoyed today. He was awarded the title of Cavaliere di Gran Croce dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in 1973, shortly before his death.
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Pietro Tordi
Pietro Tordi (July 12, 1906 Florence-December 14, 1990 Florence) also known as Peter White, Dan Silver, Peter Barclay, Piero Tordi, P. Tordi or Peter Tordy was an Italian actor.
He began his acting career in the early 1930s, working in both theater and film. Tordi soon gained recognition for his naturalistic acting style and his ability to portray a range of characters, from romantic leads to villains.
One of his most notable roles came in 1948, when he starred in the neorealist film "Ladri di biciclette" ("Bicycle Thieves"). Tordi played the role of Baiocco, a pawnbroker who helps the film's protagonist in his search for a stolen bicycle. The film is considered a masterpiece of Italian cinema and is often cited as a defining work of the neorealist movement.
Throughout his career, Tordi appeared in more than 80 films, including "Romeo and Juliet" (1936), "Ulysses" (1954), and "The 300 Spartans" (1962). He also worked extensively in television, appearing in popular Italian programs such as "Le inchieste del commissario Maigret" ("The Investigations of Inspector Maigret").
Tordi was known for his versatility as an actor and his dedication to his craft. He continued to act well into his 80s, appearing in his final film, "La condanna" ("The Sentence"), in 1986. He passed away in Florence in 1990 at the age of 84.
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Salvo Randone
Salvo Randone (September 25, 1906 Syracuse-March 6, 1991 Rome) a.k.a. Salvatore "Salvo" Randone or Salvatore Randone was an Italian actor.
He began his acting career in the theater in the 1930s, and went on to perform on both stage and screen for over four decades. In the 1950s, he gained international recognition for his powerful performances in films such as "Il Ferroviere" (The Railroad Man), "Morte di un amico" (Death of a Friend), and "Rocco e i suoi fratelli" (Rocco and His Brothers). Randone often portrayed complex, morally ambiguous characters, and was particularly known for his work in the Italian Neorealist film movement. He was awarded the Nastro d'Argento for Best Actor in 1962 for his role in "Il Giudizio universale" (The Last Judgment). Randone continued to act until his death in 1991 at the age of 84.
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Mario Castellani
Mario Castellani (July 2, 1906 Rome-April 26, 1978 Rome) also known as Mario Castellano was an Italian actor and comedian.
He began his acting career on stage in the 1920s and later made his way to the big screen, appearing in more than 130 films throughout his career. Castellani was known for his comedic roles, particularly in the Commedia all'italiana genre, and was a popular figure in Italian cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. He worked with some of Italy's most renowned directors, including Federico Fellini and Vittorio De Sica. Castellani also had success as a screenwriter, penning scripts for several of his own films. He was awarded the Nastro d'Argento (Silver Ribbon) for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "Toto, Peppino, and the Hussy" in 1957. Castellani passed away in Rome in 1978 at the age of 71.
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Osvaldo Valenti
Osvaldo Valenti (February 17, 1906 Constantinople-April 30, 1945 Milan) was an Italian actor. He had one child, Kim Valenti.
Valenti began his career as a stage actor in the 1920s, and later transitioned to film in the 1930s. He appeared in over 30 films, including Luchino Visconti's "Ossessione" (1943), which is considered a landmark film in Italian neorealism.
However, Valenti's career was also marked by his association with the fascist regime in Italy. He was a member of the Fascist Party and acted in propaganda films during the 1930s. During World War II, Valenti worked as a spy for Mussolini's government and was involved in the torture and execution of anti-fascist resistance fighters.
After the war, Valenti was captured by Italian partisans and was executed without trial in a public square in Milan. His death remains controversial, with some arguing that he was a victim of political revenge, while others argue that he received due justice for his actions as a fascist sympathizer and spy.
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