Gigi Proietti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gigi Proietti
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Proietti in 2020
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Luigi Proietti
2 November 1940 |
| Died | 2 November 2020 (aged 80) Rome, Italy
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| Years active | 1955–2020 |
| Partner(s) | Sagitta Alter (since 1962) |
| Children | 2 |
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Luigi "Gigi" Proietti (born November 2, 1940 – died November 2, 2020) was a famous Italian actor, voice actor, comedian, musician, singer, and TV host. He was known for his amazing talent and versatility on stage, in movies, and on television.
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Early Life and Talents
Gigi Proietti was born in Rome, Italy. From a young age, he loved music. He enjoyed singing and playing many instruments like the guitar, piano, accordion, and double bass. He even performed in nightclubs around Rome.
He started studying law at La Sapienza University. There, he took acting classes where his talent was quickly noticed. This led him to his first acting role in an avant-garde play.
A Star is Born: Gigi's Career
Becoming an Actor
Gigi Proietti began his acting career in 1966. He first appeared in a movie called Pleasant Nights and a TV series. His big break came in 1971 when he starred in the musical Alleluja brava gente.
In 1976, he created his famous one-man show, A me gli occhi, please (which means Give me your eyes, please). This show was a huge success! It was only supposed to run for 6 performances but ended up being performed over 300 times. Thousands of people came to see him perform, including a memorable show at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
Gigi also acted in international films. He appeared in The Appointment (1969), directed by Sidney Lumet, and A Wedding (1978), directed by Robert Altman.
The Voice Behind the Characters
Gigi Proietti was also a very talented voice actor. He gave his voice to many famous characters and actors in Italian versions of movies and TV shows. He was the Italian voice of the Genie in the Aladdin movies. He also voiced Draco in Dragonheart.
He even became the Italian voice of Gandalf in The Hobbit film series. Plus, he was the voice of Sylvester from Looney Tunes in the 1960s! He also dubbed famous actors like Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, and Dustin Hoffman.
Music Career
Music was always important to Gigi. Early in his career, he even met famous Italian singer Lucio Battisti.
In the mid-1990s, Gigi was part of a music group called Trio Melody. He also had a successful solo music career, releasing many albums and singles.
Family Life
Gigi Proietti was with his partner, Sagitta Alter, since 1962. They had two daughters, Susanna and Carlotta. His nephew, Raffaele, also became a voice actor, following in Gigi's footsteps.
His Final Days
Sadly, Gigi Proietti passed away on November 2, 2020, which was also his 80th birthday. He had been in the hospital for heart problems.
After his death, the mayor of Rome decided to rename the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre after him. This was a special way to honor his memory. His funeral was held in Rome, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a small number of people could attend.
Film and TV Appearances
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Gigi Proietti appeared in many films and television shows throughout his long career. Here are some of his notable roles:
Films
| Title | Year | Role(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Let's Talk About Women | 1964 | Omero | Ettore Scola |
| Pleasant Nights | 1966 | Mario Di Colli | Armando Crispino, Luciano Lucignani |
| The Appointment | 1969 | Fabre | Sidney Lumet |
| Brancaleone at the Crusades | 1970 | Pattume / Colombino | Mario Monicelli |
| Lady Liberty | 1971 | Michele Bruni | Mario Monicelli |
| La Tosca | 1973 | Mario | Luigi Magni |
| Febbre da cavallo | 1976 | Bruno "Mandrake" Fioretti | Steno |
| A Wedding | 1978 | Dino Corelli | Robert Altman |
| Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? | 1978 | Ravello | Ted Kotcheff |
| Aladdin | 1992 | The Genie (voice) | Ron Clements, John Musker |
| Dragonheart | 1996 | Draco (voice) | Rob Cohen |
| Febbre da cavallo – La mandrakata | 2002 | Bruno "Mandrake" Fioretti | Carlo Vanzina |
| Pinocchio | 2019 | Mangiafuoco | Matteo Garrone |
| Io sono Babbo Natale | 2021 | Ettore Magni / Santa Claus | Edoardo Falcone |
Television
| Title | Year | Role(s) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| I grandi camaleonti | 1964 | Moureau | Rai 1 |
| La fantastica storia del Don Chisciotte della Mancia | 1970 | Don Quixote | Rai 1 |
| Fatti e fattacci | 1975 | Himself / Co-host | Rai 1 |
| Fantastico | 1983–1984 | Himself / Host | Rai 1 |
| Il maresciallo Rocca | 1996–2008 | Marshal Giovanni Rocca | Rai 1 |
| Saint Philip Neri: I Prefer Heaven | 2010 | Philip Neri | Rai 1 |
| Una pallottola nel cuore | 2014–2018 | Bruno Palmieri | Rai 1 |
Voice Acting Roles
Gigi Proietti lent his voice to many characters in Italian dubs of films:
- Gandalf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Lenny Bruce in Lenny
- John "Johnny Boy" Civello in Mean Streets
- Sam "Ace" Rothstein in Casino
- Rocky Balboa in Rocky
- George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- King Arthur in Camelot
- Draco in Dragonheart
- Alfred Hitchcock in Hitchcock
- The Sultan in Aladdin
- Mark Antony in Julius Caesar
- Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain
Awards and Recognitions
Gigi Proietti received several honors and awards for his work:
- In 2013, he was made an honorary citizen of Viterbo, a city in Italy.
- An asteroid, 7916 Gigiproietti, was named after him in 2021!
- Nastro d'Argento Awards (a major Italian film award)
- 1997: Won for Best Male Dubbing for voicing Robert De Niro in Casino
- 2003: Won for Best Actor for Febbre da cavallo - La mandrakata
- 2018: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award
See also
In Spanish: Gigi Proietti para niños
