ACTOR ALBERTO SORDI DEAD AT 82

One of Italy's most popular actors, Alberto Sordi, is dead at the age of 82. Sordi had been suffering from illness for some months.

He began his acting career at the age of 15. Following a series of popular and successful radio programs in the '50s, Sordi began acting in films, becoming the "King of Italian Comedy".

In the course of his career he perfected his comic talents interpreting a variety of character types, and became famous for his mastery in portraying the average Italian male: conformist, cynical and a "mommy's boy" at heart.

The city of Rome nominated him honorary major for a day to celebrate his 80th birthday. [June 1999]

Italy-News. Net
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Alberto Sordi
Actor, Screenwriter
Birth Jun 15, 1919 - Rome, Italy
Death Feb 24, 2003 - Rome, Italy (heart attack)

Occupation Actor, Screenwriter, Director
Years Active 40's through the 90's
Countries Italy
Genres Comedy, Drama, Romance

Already rotund at age 13, Italian-born Alberto Sordi won an Oliver Hardy look-alike contest sponsored by Hollywood's MGM. Sordi subsequently became a professional comedian in his own right, appearing in music halls, on the "legit" stage, and films from 1940.

He maintained his connection with Hardy by dubbing the comedian's voice into Italian during the '40s (Laurel & Hardy comedies were among the few Hollywood efforts not banned by Mussolini).

Sordi graduated to film stardom with his portrayal of an overaged adolescent in Federico Fellini's Il Vitelloni (1953). Some of his more memorable screen assignments include his portrayal of a peace-loving fascist officer in The Best of Enemies (1962), his performance as an Italian laborer stranded in Sweden in To Bed...or Not to Bed (1963), a count in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), his enjoyable appearance as "himself" in Fellini's Roma (1972), and his award-winning turn in Why (1972). Having previously co-scripted many of his films, Sordi turned to directing with 1966's Fumo di Londra. He continued to act and direct throughout the '80s and '90s, doing both for his 1998 romantic comedy Incontri Proibiti. — Hal Erickson
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Alberto Sordi was born on June 15, 1919 in Rome. At the age of twelve he had already acted in volunteer theaters. He studied acting at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome and he first achieved success at the Fabrizi-Foguez revue theater. In 1938, when he was fifteen, he made his debut as a film actor in the film Tarakanova.

Now he has acted in 188 movies cooperating with many distinguished directors. For thirty-one years he has been making and writing the scripts for his own films as well. He is mostly known for playing tragicomic characters.

"I believe I owe my success to my ´specialization´. I have been no virtuoso but I have known how to talk in a natural way as ordinary people do. I built on that. Besides, I think without neorealism I would have never become an actor. I began offering my own stories based on what I saw around me: I noted all the vices close to the audience. My specialization was to use irony to mirror the society. Audiences appreciated that. In a funny way I pointed at the vices both our own and those of institutions.

My first stories were about husbands, bachelors, seducers and they were a kind of ironic neorealism. Later they called it comedia all Italiana. It was not easy for me to establish it, producers showed little understanding. Finally they got caught and I only needed to look around and the number of ideas swelled up: the post-war period, economic boom, then terrorism. I never waited to be offered a film, it was always I who offered. I could not direct them because I had not so much time. So I helped to shape the way of comedia all Italiana. I made one hundred films in ten years. Sometimes I was working on five films simultaneously. At one time it was eleven films."

I only worked with directors who know about the way I express myself... I am not the type of an actor who can be given orders how to move and what to wear. For instance I wanted to wear a barrette and when they asked me why, I said I could feel into the role when I wore a barrette. It was just details of this kind to help me feel relaxed and impersonate the character I saw and made my own.

I have never been an actor who is given a script to read and then told what to do. A typical actor puts himself at the disposal of others. Not I, never; not because I am conceited or spoiled but because I would not be able to play a character...

Art Film Festival - Hommage to the actor: Alberto Sordi
http://www.artfilm.sk/special96/sordi.html
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Filmography (188)

1998 Incontri Proibiti
     aka Forbidden Encounters Director / Actor / Screenwriter
1995 Romanzo di Un Giovane Povero
     aka The Story of a Poor Young Man Actor: Sig. Bartoloni
1994 Nestore l'ultima corsa
     aka Nestor's Last Trip Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Gaetano
1992 Assolto Per Aver Commesso Il Fatto
     aka Acquitted for Having Committed the Deed Director / Actor / Screenwriter
1991 Vacanze Di Natale '91
     aka Christmas Vacation '91 [1992] Screenwriter / Actor: Sabino
1990 L'Avaro
     aka The Miser Actor / Screenwriter
1990 In Nome Del Popolo Sovrano
     aka In the Name of the Sovereign People Actor: Marchese Arquati
1988 Una Botta Di Vita
     aka A Blast of Life Actor / Screenwriter
1988 Les Deux Fanfarons Actor
1987 Un Tassinaro a New York
     aka A Taxi Driver In New York Director / Actor / Screenwriter
1986 Troppo Forte
     aka Great!
     aka He's Too Much Actor / Screenwriter
1985 Sono Un Fenomeno Paranormale
     aka I'm a Paranormal Phenomenon Screenwriter / Actor
1984 Bertoldo, Bertoldino E...Cacasenno
     aka Bertoldo, Bertoldino And Cacasenno [1985] Actor: Friar Cipolla
1984 Tutti Dentro
     aka Put 'Em All In Jail Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Annibalo Savemini
1984 Il Tassinaro
     aka The Cabbie
1982 In Viaggio Con Papà
     aka Journey with Papa
     aka My Trip With Dad [1983] Screenwriter / Director / Actor: Armando
1982 Io So Che Tu Sai Che Io So
     aka I Know That You Know That I Know Actor / Director / Screenwriter
1982 Il Marchese Del Grillo
     aka The Marquis of Grillo Screenwriter / Actor: Marquis of Grillo
1981 Io E Caterina
     aka Catherine and I Director / Actor / Screenwriter
1980 Il Malato Immaginario
     aka The Hypochondriac Screenwriter / Actor: Argante
1979 L'Ingorgo
     aka Bottleneck Actor
1978 Il Testimone
     aka Le Temoin
     aka The Witness Actor: Antonio Berti
1978 I Nuovi Mostri
     aka Viva Italia! Actor
1978 Viva Italia Actor
1978 Dove Vai in Vacanza?
     aka Where Are You Going On Holiday? [1979] Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Remo
1977 Un Borghese Piccolo Piccolo
     aka An Average Man Actor: Giovanni Vivaldi
1976 Quelle Strane Occasioni
     aka Strange Events [1977] Actor: Monsignor
1975 Di Che Segno Sei? Actor
1974 Finche c'è Guerra c'è Speranza
     aka While There's War There's Hope [1975]Screenwriter / Director / Actor: Pietro Ciocca
1973 Polvere Di Stelle
     aka Star Dust [1974] Director / Actor / Screenwriter
1973 Mio Fratello Anastasia
     aka Anastasia Mio Fratello
     aka My Brother Anastasia Actor: Father Salvatore Anastasia
1972 La Piu Bella Serata Della Mia Vita
     aka The Most Wonderful Evening Of My Life Actor: Alfredo Rossi
1972 Lo Scopone Scientifico
     aka The Scientific Cardplayer Actor: Peppino
1972 Fellini's Roma
     aka Roma (U.S. TV title) Actor: Himself
1971 Detenuto in Attesa Di Giudizio
     aka In Prison Awaiting Trial Actor: Giuseppe Di Noi
1971 Bello Onesto Emigrato Australia Sposerebbe Compaesan...
     aka The Girl in Australia Actor: Amedeo
1970 Le Coppie
     aka The Couples Actor /Giacinto Colonna / Director
1970 Contestazione Generale
     aka Let's Have a Riot Actor: Don Giuseppe
1969 Nell'Anno Del Signore
     aka In the Year of the Lord Actor: Padre
1969 Amore Mio Aiutami
     aka Help Me, My Love Screenwriter / Director / Actor: Giovanni Macchiavelli
1969 Riusciranno I Nostri Eroi A Ritrovare L'Amico Miseriosamente Scompars In Africa
     aka Will Our Friends Succeed In Finding Their Friend Who Mysteriously Disappeared In Africa? Actor: Fausto Di Salvio
1968 Il Medico Della Mutua
     aka Be Sick . . . . It's Free Screenwriter / Actor: Doctor Guido Tersilli
1967 Un Italiano in America
     aka An Italian In America [1968] Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Son
1967 Scusi, Lei E Favorevole O Contrario? Director / Actor / Screenwriter
1967 Made in Italy Actor: Errant Husband
1966 Le Fate
     aka La Fate [1968]
     aka Les Ogresses
     aka Sex Quartet
     aka The Queens Actor: Giovanni
1966 Fumo Di Londra
     aka Thank You Very Much Actor / Director
1966 Le Streghe
     aka Le Streghe [1969]
     aka Les Sorcieres
     aka The Witches (U.S. title) Actor: Truck Driver ["Civic Sense"]
1965 Thrilling Actor
1965 A Day in Court Screenwriter / Actor: Meniconi
1965 I Complessi
     aka Complexes
     aka Les Complexes Actor / Screenwriter
1965 Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines Actor: Count Ponticelli
1964 Il Disco Volante
     aka The Flying Saucer
     aka The Martians [1965]Actor: Brigadiere @ Marsicano @ Don Giuseppe @ The Count 1964 ... And Suddenly It's Murder!
     aka Crimen [1960] (Italian title)
     aka Criminals
     aka Killing in Monte Carlo [1960]
     aka Le Crime Rend La Monnaie [1960] (French title) Actor: The Commendatore
1964 Il Maestro Di Vigevano
     aka The Teacher from Vigevano Actor: Mombelli
1964 La Mia Signora
     aka My Wife Actor: Husband ["L'Uccellino"]
1964 I Tre Volti
     aka The Three Faces
     aka Three Faces of a Woman [1965] Screenwriter / Actor: Armando Tucci [Latin Lover] 1963 Il Boom
     aka The Boom Actor: Giovanni Alberti
1963 Il Diavolo
     aka The Devil
     aka To Bed... or Not to Bed (U.S. title) Actor: Amadeo Ferretti
1962 Mafioso Actor: Antonio Badalamenti
1962 Il Commissario
     aka The Police Commissioner Actor: Dante Lombardozzi
1962 The Best of Enemies Actor: Capt. Blasi
1962 Una Vita Difficile
     aka A Difficult Life Actor: Silvio Magnazzi
1961 II Giudizio Universale
     aka The Last Jugdement Actor
1960 Tutti a Casa
     aka Everybody Go Home!
     aka La Grande Pagaille Actor: Alberto Innocenzi
1959 Il Moralista
     aka The Moralist Actor: Agostino
1959 I Magliari
     aka The Magliari Actor: Totonno
1959 La Grande Guerra
     aka The Great War (U.S. title) Actor: Oreste Jacovacci
1959 Venezia, la Luna e Tu
     aka Venice, the Moon, and You [1958]
     aka Venise, la lune et toi [1958] Actor
1959 It Happened in Rome Actor: Sergio
1959 Costa Azzurra
     aka Cote D'Azur
     aka Le Miroir Aux Alouettes [1960] (French title)
     aka Wild Cats on the Beach Actor
1958 Nella Città l'Inferno
     aka ...and the Wild Wild Women
     aka Caged
     aka Hell in the City
     aka L'Enfer dans la Ville
     aka The Wild, Wild Women Actor: Adone
1958 Racconti d'Estate
     aka Femmes D'un Ete (French title)
     aka Girls for the Summer
     aka Love on the Riviera Screenwriter / Actor: Aristarco Bertolini
1958 Domenica E Sempre Domenica
     aka Sunday Is Always Sunday Actor
1957 Souvenir d'Italie Actor
1957 A Farewell to Arms Actor: Father Galli
1956 Mi Permette, Babbo!
     aka Allow me, Daddy! Actor
1956 Guardia, Guardia Scelta, Brigadiere E Maresciallo   Actor: Agent Randolfi
1956 Mio figlio Nerone
     aka Nero's Big Weekend
     aka Nero's Mistress Actor: Nero
1956 I Pappagalli Actor: Dr. Tanzi
1956 Lo Scapolo
     aka El Soltero
     aka The Bachelor Actor
1955 La Bella Di Roma
     aka La Belle De Rome [1956] (French title) Actor
1955 L'Arte Di Arrangiarsi
     aka The Art of Getting Along Actor: Rosario Scimoni
1955 Bravissimo Actor: Ubaldo Impalato
1955 Buonanotte...Avvocato! Screenwriter / Actor: Alberto Santi
1955 Gran Varieta Actor: Premoli
1955 Accadde Al Penitenziario Actor: Giulio Parmitoni
1955 Piccola Posta Actor: Rodolfo Vanzino
1955 Un Eroe Dei Nostri Tempi Actor
1954 Canzoni di Mezzo Secolo
     aka Canzoni, Canzoni, Canzoni [1953]
     aka Half a Century of Songs Actor
1954 Due Notti Con Cleopatra
     aka Two Nights with Cleopatra Actor: Cesarino
1954 Amori Di Mezzo Secolo Actor
1954 L'Allegro Squadrone
     aka Les Gaites de l'escadron Actor
1954 Accadde Al Commissariato Actor: Alberto Tadini
1954 Via Padova 46
     aka Lo Scocciatore
     aka Via Padova 46 - Lo scocciatore Actor
1954 Tripoli, Bel Suol d'amore Actor: Alberto
1954 Un Americano a Roma Screenwriter / Actor: Nando Moriconi
1954 Un Giorno in Pretura Screenwriter / Actor
1953 Il Segno di Venere
     aka The Sign of Venus Actor: Romolo Proietti
1953 Tempi Nostri
     aka Anatomy of Love
     aka Our Time Actor
1953 Ci Troviamo in Galleria Actor
1953 I Vitelloni
     aka Spivs
     aka The Wastrels
     aka The Young and the Passionate Actor: Alberto
1952 È Arrivato l'Accordatore
     aka The Tuner Has Arrived Actor
1952 The White Sheik
     aka Lo Sceicco Bianco (Original Foreign title) Actor: Fernando Rivoli
1951 Mamma Mia, Che Impressione! Screenwriter / Actor
1951 Cameriera Bella Presenza Offresi...
     aka Housemaid, Highly Presentable, Seeks Occupation Actor
1950 Il Delitto di Giovane Episcopo
     aka Flesh Will Surrender Actor: Doberti
1948 Che Tempi!
     aka What Queer Times
     aka What Times! Actor: Mario Aguirre
1946 Sotto il Sole di Roma
     aka Under the Sun of Rome [1949] (U.S. title) Actor
1945 L'Innocente Casimiro
     aka The Innocent Casimiro Actor
1945 Le Miserie Del Signor Travet
     aka His Young Wife [1949] (U.S. title)
     aka Monsu' Travet [1946] Actor: Barbarotti
1945 Chi L'ha Visto?
     aka Who's Seen Him? Actor
1944 Tre Ragazze Cercano Marito
     aka Three Girls Looking for Husbands Actor: Giulio
1943 Sant'elena Piccola Isola Actor
1943 Circo Equestre Za-Bum
     aka The Za-Bum Circus Actor
1942 Casanova Farebbe Cosi!
     aka Casanova Would Do It That Way! Actor
1942 Giarabub Actor
1942 Le Signorine Della Villa Accanto
     aka The Women Next Door Actor
1942 La Signorina Actor
1942 I Tre Aquilotti
     aka The Three Pilots Actor: Filippo
1941 Cuori Nella Tormenta
     aka Tormented Hearts Actor
1940 La Notte Delle Beffe
     aka The Night of Tricks Actor

Best Male Performance (win) Why 1972 Berlin International Film Festival
Golden Lion for outstanding career (win) 1995 Venice Film Festival

All Movie Guide: Alberto Sordi
http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=B112149~C