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Gigi Proietti

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Gigi Proietti
Proietti in La Tosca (1973)
Born
Luigi Proietti

(1940-11-02)2 November 1940
Rome, Kingdom of Italy
Died2 November 2020(2020-11-02) (aged 80)
Rome, Italy
Occupations
  • Actor
  • voice actor
  • comedian
  • singer
  • director
  • transformist
  • television presenter
Years active1955–2020
PartnerSagitta Alter (1962–2020)
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • accordion
  • double bass
Labels
Websitewww.gigiproietti.it

Luigi "Gigi" Proietti (2 November 1940 – 2 November 2020) was an Italian actor, voice actor, comedian, singer and television presenter.[1]

Early life[edit]

He was born in Rome to Romano Proietti, originally from Umbria, and Giovanna Ceci, a housewife.[2] During his youth he was keen on singing and on playing guitar, piano, accordion and double bass in several Roman nightclubs.[3] He enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the La Sapienza University, where he attended the mimicry courses of the University Theatre Centre held by Giancarlo Cobelli, who immediately noticed his talent as a musician and booked him for an avantgarde play.[3]

Career[edit]

Acting[edit]

After several stage works, in 1966 Proietti debuted both in cinema, in Pleasant Nights, and on television, in the TV series I grandi camaleonti.[3] His first personal success came in 1971, when he replaced Domenico Modugno in the stage musical Alleluja brava gente by Garinei & Giovannini, starring alongside Renato Rascel.[3] In 1974, after playing the role of Neri Chiaramantesi in the drama La cena delle beffe, alongside Carmelo Bene and Vittorio Gassman, in 1976 started a fruitful collaboration with playwright Roberto Lerici, with whom he wrote and directed his stage plays, starting with the one-man show A me gli occhi, please (Give me your eyes, please, 1976, reported on the scene in 1993, 1996 and 2000, in a memorable performance at the Olympic Stadium in his hometown).[3] Initially planned to be performed 6 times, the show exceeded 300 performances, with an average audience of 2,000 per performance.[3]

He took part in several international movies, including The Appointment (1969), directed by Sidney Lumet, A Wedding (1978), directed by Robert Altman, and Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978), directed by Ted Kotcheff.

Proietti was also a voice dubber of films and television shows into the Italian language. He has dubbed the voices of actors such as Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Newman, Charlton Heston and Marlon Brando.[3] His credits also include the role of the Genie in the Italian version of the Aladdin film series and Draco in Dragonheart.[3][4] He also provided the Italian voice of Gandalf in The Hobbit film series, replacing the late Gianni Musy, who dubbed Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, as well as Sylvester from Looney Tunes during the 1960s.

Music[edit]

Proietti was interested in music from a young age.[5] During his time singing in nightclubs and outdoor bars, he was initially not interested in pursuing an acting career. Proietti starred in and performed the opening and closing theme song for Il Circolo Pickwick which aired on Rai 1 in 1968 and at that time, he met Lucio Battisti, who was signed with the record label Dischi Ricordi.

In the mid-1990s, Proietti was a member of Trio Melody alongside Peppino di Capri and Stefano Palatresi. The group was only active from the Sanremo Music Festival 1995 until 1996 and they released only one album. Proietti also enjoyed a successful solo career and he released more than 11 albums and 15 singles.

Personal life[edit]

Proietti in 2020

Proietti had been in a relationship since 1962 with Swedish former tour guide Sagitta Alter, with whom he had two daughters, Susanna and Carlotta.[6] His nephew Raffaele has followed him into a voice dubbing career.[7]

Death[edit]

On 1 November 2020, Proietti suffered a heart attack whilst in the hospital, having been admitted fifteen days prior for heart-related problems. He was transferred to intensive care where his condition was described as critical.[8] Proietti died the following morning, in the early hours of 2 November 2020, the day of his 80th birthday.[9][10]

After his death, the mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, arranged for the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre to be renamed after Proietti.[11] Proietti's funeral took place on 5 November at the Church of the Artists. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no more than 60 people were in attendance.[12] Proietti was cremated at the Cimitero Flaminio and his ashes were placed at Campo Verano.[13]

Filmography[edit]

Cinema[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1964 Let's Talk About Women Omero Feature film debut
1966 Pleasant Nights Mario Di Colli
1967 La ragazza del bersagliere Cesare Bottazzi
Catch as Catch Can Make up artist Cameo appearance
1968 The Libertine Sandro Maldini
1969 A Complicated Girl Pietro
The Appointment Fabre
1970 Brancaleone at the Crusades Pattume / Colombino
The Howl Coso
Dropout Cieco
1971 Bubù Giulio "the Thief"
Lady Liberty Michele Bruni
1972 Gli ordini sono ordini Mario Pasini
Meo Patacca Meo Patacca
1973 La Tosca Mario
Property Is No Longer a Theft Paco
1974 Le farò da padre Saverio Mazzaccolli
1975 Conviene far bene l'amore Enrico Nobili
1976 House of Pleasure for Women Ivanhoe Zuccoli
Chi dice donna dice donna Filippo / Sonia Segment: "Papà e maman"
The Inheritance Pippo Ferramonti
Febbre da cavallo Bruno "Mandrake" Fioretti
Languid Kisses, Wet Caresses Orfeo
1977 Beach House Gigi
1978 A Wedding Dino Corelli
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? Ravello
1979 Happy Hobos Albergatore
1980 I Don't Understand You Anymore Alberto Spinelli
1982 Di padre in figlio Himself Cameo appearance
1983 "FF.SS." – Cioè: "...che mi hai portato a fare sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più bene?" Curtatone
1985 Mi faccia causa Luigi Marchetti
1994 Revenge of the Musketeers Giulio Mazarino
1999 Dirty Linen Rodolfo Melchiorri
2002 Febbre da cavallo – La mandrakata Bruno "Mandrake" Fioretti
2004 The Jokes Various roles
2008 Un'estate al mare Giulio Bonetti
2009 Un'estate ai Caraibi Alberto
2010 La vita è una cosa meravigliosa Claudio
2011 All at Sea Nino
Box Office 3D: The Filmest of Films Mr. Silenzio
2013 Indovina chi viene a Natale? Leonardo Sereni
2014 Ma tu di che segno 6? Giuliano De Marchis
2017 The Prize Giovanni
2019 Pinocchio Mangiafuoco
2021 Io sono Babbo Natale Ettore Magni / Santa Claus Posthumous release

Television[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Network Notes
1964 I grandi camaleonti Moureau Rai 1 Episode: "Episodio 8"
1965 La maschera e il volto Luciano Spina TV film
1967 Missione Wiesenthal Dieter Von Wisliczeny TV film
1968 Il circolo Pickwick Jingle 4 episodes
Piccoli borghesi Nil TV film
Il mondo di Pirandello Ciro Colli Episode: "Camere d'affitto"
1970 La fantastica storia del Don Chisciotte della Mancia Don Quixote TV miniseries
1974 Sabato sera dalle nove alle dieci Himself / Host Variety show
1975 Fatti e fattacci Himself / co-host Variety/musical show
1981 Fregoli Leopoldo Fregoli Lead role
1982 Attore amore mio Himself / Host Variety show
1983–1984 Fantastico Himself / Host Variety show (season 4)
1985 Sogni e bisogni Pompeo Rai 2 Episode: "Micio micio"
1986 Io a modo mio Himself / Host Rai 1 Variety show
1987 American Playhouse Unknown PBS Episode: "The Innocents Aboard"
1989 I 7 re di Roma Romulus / Numa Pompilius / Tullus Hostilius / Ancus Marcius / Tarquinius Priscus / Servius Tullius / Tarquinius Superbus Rai 1 TV film
1990 Villa Arzilla The Gardener Rai 2 Main role (also creator and director)
1990–1991 Club 92 Himself / co-host Variety show
1992 Un figlio a metà Sandro Giacomelli TV film
1993–1994 Passioni Fra' João Canale 5 Lead role
1994 Italian Restaurant Giulio Broccoli Rai 1 Lead role (also creator and producer)
1996–2008 Il maresciallo Rocca Marshal Giovanni Rocca Lead role
1997 Un nero per casa Lorenzo Paradisi Canale 5 TV film
1997–2000 L'avvocato Porta Lawyer Antonio Porta Lead role
1998 Carramba! Che sorpresa Himself / Guest Rai 1 Also performer
1999 2000 Today Himself / co-host Special
2004 Mai storie d'amore in cucina Marcello TV film
2005 Il veterinario Gigi Carulli TV film
2010 Saint Philip Neri: I Prefer Heaven Philip Neri TV miniseries
2013 L'ultimo Papa Re Romeo Colombo da Priverno TV film
2014–2018 Una pallottola nel cuore Bruno Palmieri Lead role
2015 Tale e quale show Himself / Judge Talent show (season 5)

Voice work[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Mille bolle blu Narrator
2000 Chi ha paura...? Yorick Animated film
2012 Stelle Narrator Short film

Dubbing[edit]

Films (animation, Italian dub)[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Ref
1992 Aladdin Genie
1994 The Return of Jafar
1996 Aladdin and the King of Thieves
1998 Quest for Camelot Devon and Cornwall
2011 Happy Feet Two Bryan

Films (Live action, Italian dub)[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Original actor Ref
1966 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George Richard Burton
Any Wednesday Cass Henderson Dean Jones
La Grande Vadrouille Augustin Bouvet Bourvil
1967 Action Man Jim Beckley Robert Stack
Lucky, the Inscrutable Lucky Ray Danton
Reflections in a Golden Eye Major Weldon Penderton Marlon Brando
Camelot King Arthur Richard Harris
The Producers Lorenzo St. DuBois Dick Shawn
Death Rides a Horse Walcott Luigi Pistilli
The Hellbenders Jeff Gino Pernice
1968 Firecreek Bob Larkin Henry Fonda
Danger: Diabolik Inspector Ginko Michel Piccoli
The Stalking Moon Sam Varner Gregory Peck
The Girl Who Couldn't Say No Franco George Segal
1969 The Undefeated Colonel James Langdon Rock Hudson
1970 Julius Caesar Mark Antony Charlton Heston
A Man Called Horse John Morgan / Shunkawakan Richard Harris
There Was a Crooked Man... Paris Pitman Jr. Kirk Douglas
1973 Mean Streets John "Johnny Boy" Civello Robert De Niro
1974 Lenny Lenny Bruce Dustin Hoffman
1976 Salon Kitty Helmut Wallenberg Helmut Berger
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson Buffalo Bill Paul Newman
The Last Tycoon Monroe Stahr Robert De Niro
Fellini's Casanova Giacomo Casanova Donald Sutherland
Rocky Rocky Balboa Sylvester Stallone
1978 F.I.S.T. Johnny Kovak
1993 The Visitors Godefroy de Montmirail Jean Reno
1995 Casino Sam "Ace" Rothstein Robert De Niro
1996 Dragonheart Draco Sean Connery
Hamlet Player King Charlton Heston
2012 Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock Anthony Hopkins
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Gandalf Ian McKellen
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2019 Aladdin The Sultan Navid Negahban
The Art of Racing in the Rain Enzo Kevin Costner

Television (animation, Italian dub)[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Notes Ref
1960–1970 Looney Tunes Sylvester Main cast; 1960s redubs
Merrie Melodies Main cast; 1960s redubs

Honors[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Gigi Proietti's dubbing contributions". Antoniogenna.net. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. ^ Gigi Proietti (13 November 2013). Tutto sommato: Qualcosa mi ricordo. Rizzoli. ISBN 978-8858662687.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Enrico Lancia, Roberto Poppi. Dizionario del cinema italiano: Gli artisti. Gli attori dal 1930 ai giorni nostri. Gremese Editore, 2003. ISBN 8884402697.
  4. ^ "Dopo la morte di Gigi Proietti, il Genio di Aladdin è rimasto senza voce" (in Italian). cinema.fanpage.it. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Gigi Proietti – Attore – Biografia e Filmographia – Ecodelcinema". ecodelcinema.com. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  6. ^ Renato Franco (2 November 2020). "Sagitta Alter, "moglie" mai sposata di Gigi Proietti. Con l'ex guida turistica svedese 58 anni insieme e due figlie" [Sagitta Alter, Gigi Proietti's de facto wife. 58 years together and two daughters with the former Swedish tour guide]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. ^ "La pagina di Raffaele Proietti". antoniogenna.net (in Italian).
  8. ^ "Gigi Proietti ricoverato: è gravissimo dopo attacco cardiaco. In clinica da 15 giorni". www.ilmessaggero.it (in Italian). November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Morto Gigi Proietti, addio al grande mattatore della scena italiana". La Repubblica. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Addio al grande attore e doppiatore Gigi Proietti" (in Italian). Il mondo dei doppiatori. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Gigi Proietti, il suo nome per il Globe Theatre di Roma" (in Italian). tg24.sky.it. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. ^ "I funerali di Proietti: Roma e Gigi, l'ultimo abbraccio (a distanza). Al Globe anche Veltroni e Brignano" (in Italian). roma.repubblica.it. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Le ceneri andranno al Cimitero del Verano" (in Italian). lastampa.it. 27 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Viterbo piange la morte di Gigi Proietti suo cittadino onorario". tusciaup.com (in Italian). 2 November 2020.
  15. ^ "WGSBN Bulletin Archive". Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021. (Bulletin #1)

External links[edit]

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