Isa Barzizza (22 November 1929 – 28 May 2023) was an Italian actress whose career spanned over 60 years.

Isa Barzizza
Barzizza in the movie Era lui... sì! sì! (1951)
Born(1929-11-22)22 November 1929
Sanremo, Kingdom of Italy
Died28 May 2023(2023-05-28) (aged 93)
OccupationActress

Life and career

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Early life

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Born in Sanremo, Barzizza was the daughter of the conductor and composer Pippo Barzizza.[1] She started working in amateur dramatics at very young age, and she made her professional debut while still being a high school student, notably working with the stage companies led by Ruggero Ruggeri, Elsa Merlini and by the brothers Eduardo, Peppino and Titina De Filippo.[1]

Breakout and success

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Barzizza had her breakout in 1946, when during a visit to her father she was noted by Erminio Macario who chose her for the revue Follie d'Amleto.[1] In a few years she established herself as a star in the revue genre, working several times with Macario, Totò and Wanda Osiris.[1] Following her stage success, Barzizza also started a busy film career in the comedic genre, often teaming with Totò.[1] In 1955, she starred in Valentina, which is considered the first genuine stage musical comedy produced in Italy.[1]

Marriage and semi-retirement

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In 1953 Barzizza married the screenwriter and director Carlo Alberto Chiesa, and following the birth of their daughter Carlotta she retired from showbusiness.[1] In 1960 the couple were involved in a car accident and Chiesa died shortly after under the knife.[1][2] Widowed, Barzizza ran a company of dubbing and production of television series.[1] Starting from the mid-1970s she made sporadic appearances in films and on television.[3]

Death

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Barzizza died on 28 May 2023, at the age of 93.[4]

Selected filmography

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Barzizza and Totò in Bluebeard's Six Wives (1948)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gianfranco Baldazzi. "Isa Barzizza". Gino Castaldo (edited by). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore, 1990.
  2. ^ a. n. (4 June 1960). "Il regista C. A. Chiesa marito di Isa Barzizza muore per l'incidente d'auto mentre viene operato". La Stampa. No. 134.
  3. ^ Adele Gallotti (13 February 1989). "Isa è sempre Barzizza e dice: «Mai dire mai»". La Stampa. No. 42.
  4. ^ "Morta Isa Barzizza, affascinante e ironica musa e spalla di Totò". La Repubblica. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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