Italian movie actors died in the year 1997
Here are 10 famous actors from Italy died in 1997:
Giuseppe De Santis
Giuseppe De Santis (February 11, 1917 Fondi-May 16, 1997 Rome) also known as Giuseppe De Sanctis, Gino de Sanctis or Joe de Santis was an Italian film director, screenwriter, actor and writer. He had one child, Luisa De Santis.
De Santis was born in Fondi, a town in the Italian region of Lazio. He studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, where he later became a professor. He began his career as a screenwriter in the 1940s, working on films such as Caccia tragica (1947) and Bitter Rice (1949), which he co-wrote with writer and director Luchino Visconti.
In the 1950s, De Santis shifted his focus to directing and made a name for himself in the Italian Neorealist movement with films such as Tragic Hunt (Caccia tragica, 1947) and Bitter Rice (Riso amaro, 1949). His work reflected the social and political issues of post-World War II Italy, depicting the struggles of working-class people and the poverty and inequality they faced.
De Santis received critical acclaim for his 1952 film Roma ore 11, which won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. He continued to direct films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with notable titles including Non c'è pace tra gli ulivi (1950) and La strada lunga un anno (1958).
In addition to his work as a director, De Santis was also an accomplished actor, appearing in films such as Senza pietà (1948) and I vitelloni (1953). He also wrote several books, including a memoir titled A Rose for De Santis.
De Santis died on May 16, 1997, in Rome, at the age of 80. Despite his significant contributions to Italian cinema, his work remains relatively unknown outside of Italy.
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Marco Ferreri
Marco Ferreri (May 11, 1928 Milan-May 9, 1997 Paris) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor.
Ferreri is best known for his works in the 1960s and 1970s, where he gained recognition in the international film festival circuit for his style of fearless and controversial narratives. He often experimented with black comedy, satire, and surrealist elements in his films, which were marked by their eccentricity and unconventional subject matters.
Throughout his career, Ferreri collaborated with prominent actors such as Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi, and Catherine Deneuve, among others. He won the Grand Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991 for his film "La Casa del Sorriso" (The House of Smiles).
Aside from his work in film, Ferreri also directed plays and operas, and wrote several books on cinema. His legacy continues to inspire filmmakers and cinephiles around the world.
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Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace (December 2, 1946 Reggio Calabria-July 15, 1997 Miami Beach) otherwise known as Giovanni Maria Versace was an Italian fashion designer, designer, costume designer, actor and production designer.
He is best known for founding the international fashion house Versace in 1978. Versace's designs were famously bold and extravagant, featuring bright colors, flashy prints, and a mix of textures and materials. He became a favorite designer of many high-profile celebrities, including Princess Diana, Elton John, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. In addition to his work in fashion, Versace also designed costumes for several films, including "Showgirls" and "The Phantom of the Opera." Tragically, Versace was killed in 1997 outside his Miami Beach mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. His death sparked an outpouring of grief and shock from the fashion industry and beyond.
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Nello Pazzafini
Nello Pazzafini (May 15, 1934 Rome-November 24, 1997 Ostia) also known as Giovanni Pazzofin, Nat Williams, Giovanni Pazzofini, Red Carter, Giovanni Pazzafini, Ned Steinberg, John Carey, Ted Carter, Peter Surtess, John Pazzafini, John Pazzofin, John Pazzofini or In Pazzafini was an Italian actor and stunt performer.
He began his career in 1957 with the film "Il Canto dell'emigrante." He went on to appear in over 200 Italian films, including spaghetti westerns, action, adventure and horror films. He was known for his tough-guy roles and his expertise in performing stunts. He often worked as a stunt coordinator as well, and trained many other actors in the art of stunts. He was frequently cast as a villain and was recognized for his memorable performances in films such as "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "Django." Despite his prolific career, he remained relatively unknown outside of Italy.
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Paolo Panelli
Paolo Panelli (July 15, 1925 Rome-May 19, 1997 Rome) was an Italian actor. He had one child, Alessandra Panelli.
Panelli began his acting career in the 1940s and appeared in over 100 films and television shows throughout his career. He was known for his comedic roles, particularly in the Italian "commedia all'italiana" genre. Some of his notable films include "The Great War" (1959), "Il Sorpasso" (1962), and "The Birds, the Bees and the Italians" (1966).
In addition to his acting career, Panelli was also a popular television host and presenter in Italy. He hosted several popular game shows and variety shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Panelli passed away in Rome in 1997 at the age of 71. He was remembered for his contributions to Italian cinema and television, and his legacy still lives on today.
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Silvano Tranquilli
Silvano Tranquilli (August 23, 1925 Rome-May 10, 1997 Rome) also known as Montgomery Glenn was an Italian actor and voice actor.
He began his career on stage before transitioning to film and television. Tranquilli acted in over 100 films throughout his career, most notably in the 1965 classic "For a Few Dollars More," alongside Clint Eastwood. He often played supporting roles in both Italian and international productions, becoming a familiar face to audiences. He also lent his voice to dubbing foreign films and TV shows into Italian, including "Star Trek" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." In addition to his acting work, Tranquilli was also a voice coach and taught diction and elocution to fellow actors. He passed away in Rome in 1997 at the age of 71.
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Alan Furlan
Alan Furlan (April 13, 1920 Friuli-May 14, 1997 Winchester) otherwise known as Aleardo Furlan was an Italian actor. His child is called Nicola Lea.
Furlan began his acting career in the 1940s and appeared in over 50 films throughout his career. He was known for his versatile acting skills, effortlessly transitioning from dramatic to comedic roles. Furlan also had a passion for theater and performed in numerous stage productions throughout Italy.
In addition to his acting career, Furlan was an active member of the Italian Resistance during World War II. He fought against the fascists and Nazis and was captured and sent to a concentration camp, where he spent several months before being liberated.
Furlan's legacy continues to live on in Italian cinema and he remains a beloved figure in Italian pop culture.
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Renzo Montagnani
Renzo Montagnani (September 11, 1930 Alessandria-May 22, 1997 Rome) was an Italian actor and voice actor. He had one child, Daniele Montagnani.
Montagnani began his career as a stage actor and later moved on to television and film. He appeared in over 50 films in his career, including several collaborations with director Sergio Martino. Some of his notable film roles include "Il lumacone" (1974), "Febbre da cavallo" (1976), and "Il conte Tacchia" (1982).
In addition to his acting work, Montagnani was also a prolific voice actor. He lent his voice to many Italian dubs of foreign films and television shows, including "The Simpsons" and "Gone with the Wind."
Montagnani was widely regarded as a character actor and was known for his ability to portray a wide range of roles. He was often cast as comedic characters, but also played dramatic roles throughout his career.
Montagnani died in Rome in 1997 at the age of 66. He was posthumously awarded the Honorary Citizenship of Rome in recognition of his contributions to Italian culture.
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Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli (January 26, 1908 Paris-December 1, 1997 Paris) also known as Stephanie Grappelli, Stephane Grapelli, Stepane Grappelli, Stephane Grappelli, Stephanie Grapelli, Stéphane Grappelly or Stéfano Grappelli was an Italian jazz musician, jazz violinist, film score composer and actor.
He began playing the violin at a young age and started his career busking on the streets of Paris. Grappelli eventually joined Django Reinhardt's Quintet of the Hot Club of France in the 1930s, and the duo quickly became one of the most famous and highly respected partnerships in jazz history.
Grappelli's innovative style of playing combined both jazz and classical music, creating a unique sound that has influenced generations of musicians. He performed with many other famous artists throughout his career, including Duke Ellington, George Shearing, and Yehudi Menuhin.
In addition to his music career, Grappelli also dabbled in acting and composed film scores. He continued to perform and record music until his death in Paris at the age of 89. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest jazz violinists of all time.
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Silvio Ceccato
Silvio Ceccato (November 27, 2014 Montecchio Maggiore-December 2, 1997) was an Italian philosopher, actor and linguist.
Ceccato was born in the Veneto region of Italy and studied linguistics and philosophy at the University of Padua. He was a prominent figure in the development of the field of computational linguistics, and his work on formalizing natural language had a significant impact on the development of computer science. Ceccato was also an accomplished actor, appearing in several films in the 1950s and 60s, and was a prolific writer, publishing numerous books on philosophy, linguistics, and psychology throughout his career. He was a controversial figure and often criticized the established academic community for its narrow-mindedness and lack of creativity. Despite this, he remains a respected and influential figure in his fields of study.
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