When Hollywood was in the wave of having foreigners, especially Italian lovers to their screen movies in the 40s and 50s, one of their imports was the dashing Rosanno Brazzi (18th September 1916 - 24th December 1994). He was the son of a shoemaker Adelmo Brazzi, who later owned a leather factory and Maria Ghedini Brazzi. His baptismal name stems from the fact that his father, was in the military service
and was stationed in Rossano Veneto when Rossano was conceived. Rossano as well as his siblings, Oscar and Franca, often worked for their father. He lost both parents to the Facist Italian government.
and was stationed in Rossano Veneto when Rossano was conceived. Rossano as well as his siblings, Oscar and Franca, often worked for their father. He lost both parents to the Facist Italian government.Rossano was quite atheletic as a young man and attended the San Marco University in Florence, Italy, a city in which he lived since the age of four. He was good in soccer (he assumed the role of a goalkeeper for the Florentine college team), tennis, fencing, swim
ming, golf and boxing. He was also an amateur boxer during his years in the university, but quit when he seriously hurt an opponent unintentionally. In 1937, in his twenties, he earned his law degree, and was sent by his father to practice law in Rome with an established lawyer who was a friend of the family. While there he was approached by a theatrical company.
ming, golf and boxing. He was also an amateur boxer during his years in the university, but quit when he seriously hurt an opponent unintentionally. In 1937, in his twenties, he earned his law degree, and was sent by his father to practice law in Rome with an established lawyer who was a friend of the family. While there he was approached by a theatrical company.
He worked on the stage before he made his movie debut in his native country in 1939. He came to Hollywood in 1949, playing Proffesor Bhaer opposite sweet June Allyson in "Little Women". After his one Hollywood movie, he went back to native Italy to do more movies but returned to USA in 1954 in the travelog romance "Three Coins In the Fountain", romancing the lovely Jean Peters. He married Ava Gardner in the talky "The Barefoot Contessa" (1954). He was Katharine Hepburn's Italian lover in "Summer
time" (1955). In "The Story of Esther Costello", he was Joan Crawford's ex. Brazzi was in the tear-jerker, "Interlude" (1957) as a married symphony conductor in a fling with June Allyson.In 1957, he played a supporting role in a John Wayne's adventure movie, "Legend Of The Lost" (which also featured a new Italian sex-kitten - Sophia Loren). He was then given the lead in the musical "South Pacific" in 1958, playing the older French planter in the
Pacific. His singing was dubbed by Giorgio Tozzi, therefore he get to mouth standards like "Some Enchanted Evening" and "This Nearly Was Mine". Other romantic leading man roles, "A Certain Smile" (1958) opposite Joan Fontaine; "Count Your Blessings (1959) with Deborah Kerr and "Light At The
Piazza" (1962) with Olivia De Havilland. He lost a younger Suzanne Pleshette to Troy Donahue in "Rome Adventure" (1962).He appeared in Peter Sellers's 1967 comedy, "The Bobo"; the wrongly titled "Krakatao: East Of Java" (Krakatao is actually in the west of Java), playing the balloonist dad of Sal Mineo and the Eng
lish action-crime-drama, "The Italian Job" (1969). After that, he appeared in many telenovas and TV series. He even directed a few Italian movies in the 60s. Rosanno played a monk, trying to stop anti-Christ in 1983 "The Final Conflict" (The Omen III) from destructing the world.
lish action-crime-drama, "The Italian Job" (1969). After that, he appeared in many telenovas and TV series. He even directed a few Italian movies in the 60s. Rosanno played a monk, trying to stop anti-Christ in 1983 "The Final Conflict" (The Omen III) from destructing the world.Rosanno Brazzi died on Christmas Eve of 1994 of neural virus. Arriverdecci!!!
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