Gigi Proietti

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

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
  • musician
  • singer
  • 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

Early life

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

Acting

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

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

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
Proietti in 2020

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
Proietti in La Tosca (1973)
Proietti in the TV show Fatti e fattacci (1975)
Proietti in Lady Liberty (1971)

Films
Title Year Role(s) Director Notes
Let's Talk About Women 1964 Omero Ettore Scola Feature film debut
Pleasant Nights 1966 Mario Di Colli Armando Crispino, Luciano Lucignani
La ragazza del bersagliere 1967 Cesare Bottazzi Alessandro Blasetti
Catch as Catch Can Make up artist Franco Indovina Cameo appearance
The Libertine 1968 Sandro Maldini Pasquale Campanile
The Howl Coso Tinto Brass
A Complicated Girl 1969 Pietro Damiano Damiani
The Appointment Fabre Sidney Lumet
Brancaleone at the Crusades 1970 Pattume / Colombino Mario Monicelli
Dropout Cieco Tinto Brass
Bubù 1971 Giulio "the Thief" Mauro Bolognini
Lady Liberty Michele Bruni Mario Monicelli
Gli ordini sono ordini 1972 Mario Pasini Franco Giraldi
Meo Patacca Meo Patacca Marcello Ciorciolini
La Tosca 1973 Mario Luigi Magni
Property Is No Longer a Theft Paco Elio Petri
Le farò da padre 1974 Saverio Mazzaccolli Alberto Lattuada
Conviene far bene l'amore 1975 Enrico Nobili Pasquale Campanile
House of Pleasure for Women 1976 Ivanhoe Zuccoli Pupi Avati
Chi dice donna dice donna Filippo / Sonia Tonino Cervi Segment: "Papà e maman"
The Inheritance Pippo Ferramonti Mauro Bolognini
Febbre da cavallo Bruno "Mandrake" Fioretti Steno
Languid Kisses, Wet Caresses Orfeo Alfredo Angeli
Beach House 1977 Gigi Sergio Citti
A Wedding 1978 Dino Corelli Robert Altman
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? Ravello Ted Kotcheff
Happy Hobos 1979 Albergatore Sergio Citti
I Don't Understand You Anymore 1980 Alberto Spinelli Sergio Corbucci
Di padre in figlio 1982 Himself Vittorio Gassmann Cameo appearance
"FF.SS." – Cioè: "...che mi hai portato a fare sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più bene?" 1983 Curtatone Renzo Arbore
Mi faccia causa 1985 Luigi Marchetti Steno
Aladdin 1992 The Genie (voice) Ron Clements, John Musker Italian dub; voice role
Mille bolle blu 1993 Narrator (voice) Leone Pompucci Italian dub; voice role
Revenge of the Musketeers 1994 Giulio Mazarino Bertrand Tavernier
The Return of Jafar The Genie (voice) Toby Shelton, Alan Zaslove, Tad Stones Italian dub; voice role
Aladdin and the King of Thieves 1996 Tad Stones Italian dub; voice role
Quest for Camelot 1998 Devon / Cornelius (voice) Frederik Du Chau Italian dub; voice role
Dirty Linen 1999 Rodolfo Melchiorri Mario Monicelli
Chi ha paura! 2000 Yorick (voice) Guido Manuli Short film
Febbre da cavallo – La mandrakata 2002 Bruno "Mandrake" Fioretti Carlo Vanzina
The Jokes 2004 Various roles
Un'estate al mare 2008 Giulio Bonetti
Un'estate ai Caraibi 2009 Alberto
La vita è una cosa meravigliosa 2010 Claudio
Happy Feet Two 2011 Bryan (voice) George Miller Italian dub; voice role
All at Sea Nino Matteo Cerami
Box Office 3D: The Filmest of Films Mr. Silenzio Ezio Greggio
Stelle 2012 Narrator (voice) Yann Renzi Short film
Indovina chi viene a Natale? 2013 Leonardo Sereni Fausto Brizzi
Ma tu di che segno 6? 2014 Giuliano De Marchis Neri Parenti
The Prize 2017 Giovanni Alessandro Gassmann
The Art of Racing in the Rain 2019 Enzo (voice) Simon Curtis Italian dub; voice role
Pinocchio Mangiafuoco Matteo Garrone
Io sono Babbo Natale 2021 Ettore Magni / Santa Claus Edoardo Falcone Posthumous release

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

Live-action dubbing roles

Honors

Awards and nominations

References
  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. 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).
  15. "WGSBN Bulletin Archive". Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021. (Bulletin #1)
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