Here are 11 famous actors from Italy were born in 1919:
Gillo Pontecorvo (November 19, 1919 Pisa-October 12, 2006 Rome) also known as G. Pontecorvo or Gilberto Pontecorvo was an Italian film director, screenwriter, actor and composer. His children are called Marco Pontecorvo, Ludovico Pontecorvo and Simone Pontecorvo.
Pontecorvo was a prominent figure of the Italian neorealism movement and is best known for his films such as "The Battle of Algiers" and "Kapò". He began his career in the film industry as a screenwriter in the early 1940s before transitioning to directing in the 1950s.
During his career, Pontecorvo received numerous accolades including several international film awards for his work. In addition to film, he was also involved in politics, having served as a member of the Italian Communist Party.
Pontecorvo was also a composer and had provided music for some of his films. He passed away in 2006 in Rome at the age of 86.
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Lino Ventura (July 14, 1919 Parma-October 22, 1987 Saint-Cloud) a.k.a. Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura, Lino or Angiolino Giuseppe Pascal Ventura was an Italian actor and wrestler. His children are called Clelia Ventura, Laurent Ventura, Mylène Ventura and Linda Ventura.
Ventura moved with his family to France when he was just two years old. He made his professional debut as a wrestler in 1938 and served in the French army during World War II. After the war, Ventura turned to acting and quickly gained popularity for his performances in crime-thriller movies, often playing tough cops or gangsters. He went on to star in numerous French films, including "Le Deuxième souffle" (The Second Wind) and "Les Tontons flingueurs" (Crooks in Clover).
Ventura was highly respected for his work in French cinema, and his performance in "Garçon!" earned him a Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1983. He was also nominated for a BAFTA award for his role in "Le Clan des Siciliens" (The Sicilian Clan).
In addition to his successful acting career, Ventura was also a devoted father and husband. He married Odette Lecomte in 1946, and the couple remained together until Ventura's death. Ventura passed away in 1987 from a heart attack at the age of 68. He is remembered as one of the most talented actors of his time and a beloved figure in French cinema.
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Rocky Graziano (January 1, 1919 Brooklyn-May 22, 1990 New York City) also known as Thomas Rocco Barbella, The Rock, Rocky, Rocky Bob, Thomas Rocky Graziano, Roco or Painter Rock was an Italian professional boxer and actor. He had two children, Roxie Graziano and Audrey Graziano.
Graziano is best known for his boxing career, which spanned from 1942 to 1955. He was the World Middleweight Champion from 1947 to 1948 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. Despite his success in the ring, Graziano had a tumultuous personal life, which included stints in prison for robbery and attempted theft.
After retiring from boxing, Graziano found success as an actor, appearing in films such as "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "Tony Rome". He also appeared on television shows such as "The Phil Silvers Show" and "Batman".
Graziano passed away in 1990 at the age of 71 due to complications from cardiopulmonary disease. He remains a memorable figure in both the boxing and entertainment world.
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Dino De Laurentiis (August 8, 1919 Torre Annunziata-November 10, 2010 Beverly Hills) also known as Agostino De Laurentiis, Dino de Laurentiis, Dino DeLaurentiis, Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis or A Dino De Laurentiis Film also was an Italian film producer, actor and television producer. He had six children, Raffaella De Laurentiis, Federico De Laurentiis, Francesca DeLaurentiis, Veronica De Laurentiis, Carolyna De Laurentiis and Dina De Laurentiis.
De Laurentiis began producing films in Italy in the 1940s and eventually moved to Hollywood, where he produced films such as "La Strada", "Serpico", and "King Kong". In 1957, he founded his own film studio, the Dino De Laurentiis Company. He was known for being a risk-taker and producing big-budget films, sometimes to mixed critical reviews. However, he was also responsible for launching the careers of many actors and directors, including Federico Fellini, who directed several of De Laurentiis' early films. In addition to film, De Laurentiis also produced several popular television shows, including "Hannibal" and "La vita di Leonardo da Vinci". He received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2001.
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Agenore Incrocci (July 4, 1919 Brescia-November 15, 2005 Rome) also known as Age was an Italian screenwriter, film director, actor and writer. He had two children, Alberto Incrocci and Alessandro Incrocci.
Agenore Incrocci was widely known for his contributions to the Italian cinema, especially during its "golden era" of the 1950s and 1960s. He was part of a trio of screenwriters known as "Age & Scarpelli" who collaborated to write more than 120 films over four decades. Some of their most popular works include "Big Deal on Madonna Street" (1958), "Mafioso" (1962), and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1966).
Aside from his screenwriting career, Incrocci also acted in several films and television shows throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He also wrote several books, including a memoir titled "Incroc-AGE: Storia di un Maestro di Risate" (Incroc-AGE: The Story of a Master of Laughter) that was published posthumously in 2006.
For his contributions to Italian cinema, Incrocci received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival in 1997.
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Pietro Garinei (February 1, 1919 Trieste-May 9, 2006 Rome) also known as Garinei was an Italian screenwriter, writer, film director, playwright, songwriter, actor and theatre director.
Together with collaborator Sandro Giovannini, Garinei was part of a very successful duo of Italian playwrights during the postwar period. They wrote over 100 plays together, including "Gran Baraonda" and "Rugantino" which became some of the most successful and long-lasting shows in the history of Italian theatre. Garinei and Giovannini also directed plays, often featuring popular actors and singers of the time.
Aside from his work in theatre, Garinei also wrote and directed films, including "Buonanotte... avvocato!" which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1955. Together with Giovannini, he also wrote many popular Italian songs, including "Guarda che luna" and "Arrivederci Roma".
Garinei was widely recognized for his contributions to Italian culture and was awarded several prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
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Mario Scaccia (December 26, 1919 Rome-January 26, 2011 Rome) was an Italian actor, author and poet.
He began his acting career in post-World War II Italy and became known for his prolific presence in films, TV series and on stage. He worked with some of Italy's most renowned directors including Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Michelangelo Antonioni. In addition to his acting career, Scaccia was also a well-respected author and poet. He published several collections of poetry and wrote numerous screenplays and stage plays. In 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award at the Venice Film Festival. Despite his success, Scaccia remained humble and devoted to his craft throughout his life. He passed away in Rome at the age of 91.
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Giuseppe Rinaldi (September 14, 1919 Rome-December 15, 2007 Rome) was an Italian actor and voice actor. He had three children, Antonella Rinaldi, Massimo Rinaldi and Francesca Rinaldi.
Giuseppe Rinaldi began his acting career in the early 1950s, making his film debut in the neorealist drama "Gli uomini, che mascalzoni!" (1953). He went on to appear in a number of popular Italian films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including "Bicycle Thieves" (1948), "The Rats" (1956), and "The Battle of Austerlitz" (1960).
In addition to his film work, Rinaldi was also known for his work as a voice actor. He provided the Italian dubbing for a number of famous actors, including Fred Astaire, Charlie Chaplin, and Marlon Brando, among others.
Later in his career, Rinaldi became a prominent figure in Italian theater, performing in a number of stage productions over several decades. He was also an accomplished writer, penning several plays and novels throughout his life.
Giuseppe Rinaldi passed away in Rome in 2007, leaving behind a rich legacy in Italian cinema, theater, and literature.
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Sesto Bruscantini (December 10, 1919 Macerata-May 4, 2003 Civitanova Marche) was an Italian actor.
He was widely known for his roles in both opera and film, and was highly regarded for his baritone voice. Bruscantini made his operatic debut in 1947 in Giuseppe Verdi's "Falstaff," and went on to perform in many iconic productions throughout his career.
In addition to his work in opera, Bruscantini also acted in several films, often portraying characters with a comedic edge. He appeared in over 30 movies, including "Il barbiere di Siviglia" and "Le Quattro Giornate di Napoli."
Throughout his career, Bruscantini received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the arts, including the prestigious Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He remained active in his profession until his death in 2003 at the age of 83.
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Ciccio Barbi (January 19, 1919 Trofarello-) also known as Francesco Barbi is an Italian actor.
He began his acting career in the 1940s and became a popular actor in Italian cinema during the post-war years. Barbi was best known for his roles in comedies and westerns, and was often cast as a "man of the people" or a "rascal with a heart of gold" character. He appeared in over 70 films throughout his career, working with notable Italian directors such as Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, and Michelangelo Antonioni. In addition to his acting career, Barbi was also a writer and director, and in the 1970s he began to work in television. Despite his success in the industry, Barbi remained humble and dedicated to his craft, and was admired by his colleagues for his professionalism and talent.
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Andrea Bosic (August 15, 1919 Maribor-January 8, 2012 Bologna) also known as Andrea J. Bosic, Andrey Bosic, Andrea Bosich or Ignazio Andrej Božič was an Italian actor.
Bosic was born in Maribor, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now in Slovenia. He grew up in a multi-ethnic environment and developed a love for acting at a young age. Bosic moved to Italy in the 1930s and began his career in theater, eventually moving on to film and television. He appeared in over 90 films throughout his career, often playing supporting and character roles. Some of his notable film credits include "The Organizer," "The 10th Victim," and "Escape from the Bronx." Bosic was also a prolific voice actor, dubbing films and cartoons into Italian. In addition to his acting work, Bosic was a respected acting coach and taught many young actors in Italy. He passed away in Bologna in 2012 at the age of 92.
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