Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-50 of 590
- Actress
- Producer
- Executive
Amy Lou Adams was born in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy, to American parents, Kathryn (Hicken) and Richard Kent Adams, a U.S. serviceman who was stationed at Caserma Ederle in Italy at the time. She was raised in a Mormon family of seven children in Castle Rock, Colorado, and has English, as well as smaller amounts of Danish, Swiss-German, and Norwegian, ancestry.
Adams sang in the school choir at Douglas County High School and was an apprentice dancer at a local dance company, with the ambition of becoming a ballerina. However, she worked as a greeter at The Gap and as a Hooters hostess to support herself before finding work as a dancer at Boulder's Dinner Theatre and Country Dinner Playhouse in such productions as "Brigadoon" and "A Chorus Line". It was there that she was spotted by a Minneapolis dinner-theater director who asked her to move to Chanhassen, Minnesota for more regional dinner theatre work.
Nursing a pulled muscle that kept her from dancing, she was free to audition for a part in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), which was filming nearby in Minnesota. During the filming, Kirstie Alley encouraged her to move to Los Angeles, where she soon won a part in the Fox television version of the film, Cruel Intentions (1999), in the part played in the film by Sarah Michelle Gellar, "Kathryn Merteuil". Although three episodes were filmed, the troubled series never aired. Instead, parts of the episodes were cobbled together and released as the direct-to-video Cruel Intentions 2 (2000). After more failed television spots, she landed a major role in Catch Me If You Can (2002), playing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. But this did not provide the break-through she might have hoped for, with no work being offered for about a year. She eventually returned to television, and joined the short-lived series, Dr. Vegas (2004).
Her role in the low-budget independent film Junebug (2005) (which was shot in 21 days) got her real attention, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well as other awards. The following year, her ability to look like a wide-eyed Disney animated heroine helped her to be chosen from about 300 actresses auditioning for the role of "Giselle" in the animated/live-action feature film, Enchanted (2007), which would prove to be her major break-through role. Her vivacious yet innocent portrayal allowed her to use her singing and dancing talents. Her performance garnered a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Adams next appeared in the major production, Charlie Wilson's War (2007), and went on to act in the independent film, Sunshine Cleaning (2008), which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Her role as "Sister James" in Doubt (2008) brought her a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a British Academy Film award. She appeared as Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and as a post-9/11 hot line counselor, aspiring writer, amateur cook and blogger in Julie & Julia (2009). In the early 2010s, she starred with Jason Segel in The Muppets (2011), with Philip Seymour Hoffman in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master (2012), and alongside Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake in Trouble with the Curve (2012). She played reporter Lois Lane in Man of Steel (2013) and con artist Sydney Prosser in American Hustle (2013), before portraying real-life artist Margaret Keane in Tim Burton's biopic Big Eyes (2014).
In 2016, she reprised her role as Lane in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and headlined Denis Villeneuve's science fiction drama Arrival (2016) and Tom Ford's dark thriller Nocturnal Animals (2016). In 2018, she received another Oscar nomination, her sixth, for starring as Lynne Cheney in the biographical drama Vice (2018), opposite Christian Bale as Dick Cheney.- Eugenio Franceschini was born on 19 September 1991 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. He is an actor, known for Sapore di te (2014), Maldamore (2014) and Medici (2016).
- Actor
- Director
- Additional Crew
Terence Hill was born as Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939 in Venice, Italy to a chemist. His mother was German, and as a child the family lived near Dresden, Saxony, Germany where they survived the Allied bombings of World War II. Italian film-maker Dino Risi discovered him at a swimming meet and he made his first film at the age of 12, Vacanze col gangster (1952) (Holiday for Gangsters). He continued acting to finance his studies and motorcycle hobby. After studying classical literature at the University of Rome for three years, he decided to devote full time to acting. In 1962 he appeared in Luchino Visconti's The Leopard (1963), He then signed a contract for a series of adventure and western films in Germany. In 1967 he returned to Italy to play the lead in God Forgives... I Don't! (1967). While on location in Almeria, Spain, he married an American girl of Bavarian descent, Lori Zwicklbauer, who was the dialogue coach for the picture. The producers of this movie wanted him to change his name. He then got a list with 20 names on it and 24 hours time to choose one of these names. He decided to take Terence Hill cause he liked it the most and it has the same initials as his mother's name (Hildegard Thieme). They only told the public that "Hill" was his wife's name out of publicity reasons. At this time of upcoming feminism a man who took his wife's name was something special. In 1976 Hollywood called and he appeared in March or Die (1977) with Gene Hackman and starred in Mr. Billion (1977) with Valerie Perrine. Since then he has concentrated on action/adventure films starring himself and often working with long time partner Bud Spencer. Terence lives in Massachusetts and is a film producer, as well as talented and respected actor.- Debora Caprioglio was born on 3 May 1968 in Mestre, Venice, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress, known for Paprika (1991), Albergo Roma (1996) and Paganini (1989). She was previously married to Angelo Maresca.
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Massimiliano Furlan, also known as Massi, was born in Treviso, Italy, near Venice.
His journey in the entertainment industry began in Italy as a stand-up comedian.
In 1998, he relocated to Miami Beach, USA, where he and his brother Christian ventured into the restaurant business for several years.
In 2007, he made the move to Hollywood, CA, where his acting talents quickly caught attention. He secured roles in prominent productions like the HBO pilot 1%, Terminator: Sarah Connors Chronicles, and Criminal Minds.
His breakthrough came with a role in the highly anticipated 2012 film, The Dark Knight Rises.
In a recent interview, Massi, once dubbed "The New Villain in Town," expressed his aspiration to collaborate with Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Summer of 2014 marked a significant period with recurring roles on NCIS Los Angeles and a notable part in the film Blood of Redemption alongside Dolph Lundgren, Billy Zane, and Vinnie Jones.
Following this, he portrayed a Persian vampire in the final season of HBO's True Blood and appeared in The Last Ship, a TNT series by Michael Bay.
The year 2015 commenced with a role in a 20th Century Fox comedy, Keeping up with the Joneses, featuring Zach Galifianakis, Gal Gadot, Isla Fisher, and Jon Hamm.
Ending the year on a high note, he starred in two major projects: Trafficked, a movie addressing human trafficking with Ashley Judd, and Live by Night, a period film set in Boston during the late 1920s, directed by Ben Affleck and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.
Recent notable appearances include guest spots on Supernatural as an Italian priest and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, portraying Gianni Versace's designer.
His filmography expanded with roles in blockbuster hits like Jumanji: The Next Level, opposite Dwayne Johnson, and Bad Boys For Life.
Upcoming projects include Day Shift, a vampire film for Netflix starring Jamie Foxx, and Wrong Place, alongside the late Bruce Willis.
Scheduled for release soon are Golden with Brian Austin Green, Blunt with Amy Smart and Billy Zane, and the Apple TV series Sugar, featuring Colin Farrell and James Cromwell (premiering April 5, 2024).
In addition to his acting career, Massi is an avid participant in competitive pickleball tournaments across the country, amassing numerous medals.- Valentina Bellè was born on 16 April 1992 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress, known for Ferrari (2023), Love Gets a Room (2021) and The Good Mothers (2023).
- Gian Luca Pasi De Preposulo was born on 10 November 1982 in Montebelluna, Veneto, Italy. Gian Luca Pasi De has been married to Jessica Chastain since 10 June 2017. They have two children.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Gastone Moschin was born on 8 June 1929 in San Giovanni Lupatoto, Veneto, Italy. He was an actor, known for The Godfather Part II (1974), The Birds, the Bees and the Italians (1966) and The Conformist (1970). He was married to Marzia Ubaldi. He died on 4 September 2017 in Terni, Umbria, Italy.- Actor
- Stunts
From 1955, Fabio Testi's home town Peschiera del Garda was also home to Bertolazzi Film, a motion picture studio which specialised in the production of colourful pirate movies. Lake Garda was merrily used as the ersatz Caribbean. At Bertolazzi, young Fabio began his career first as an extra, then as a stunt man and body double. As a stunt man, he appeared in the classic westerns The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and (as one of Henry Fonda's minions in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). He started getting small film roles from 1967 and this helped to finance his architectural studies at the Antòn Maria Lorgna Institute in Verona. After graduating, Testa did not became a surveyor as originally planned, but made commercials for Coca Cola and proceeded to further studies at Verona's Academy of Fine Arts to improve his acting. For several years, he appeared in genre films, often lesser spaghetti westerns like One Damned Day at Dawn... Django Meets Sartana! (1970). As a bona fide action hero, his athletic prowess and imposing physique became a definite asset. Nonetheless, still dissatisfied with the roles he was getting, Testi attended diction classes in Cambridge to improve his English and went to London for acting lessons.
Upon his return to Italy, he finally made his breakthrough after being picked by Vittorio De Sica for the role of the ill-fated Giampiero in the Oscar-winning historical drama The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1970). In the wake of the picture's success, Testi has alternated between performing in art films by directors like Claude Chabrol and Denys de La Patellière, and genre films of the giallo (What Have You Done to Solange? (1972)) or poliziotteschi/crime variety (Camorra (1972), Revolver (1973), I guappi (1974)). Over the years he has acted alongside international stars like Oliver Reed, Anthony Quinn, Robert Mitchum (in The Ambassador (1984)), Eli Wallach and David Hemmings. By the mid-1980's, Testi was seen more often in television productions. In the 90's, he also turned his attention towards the theatre with a role in a stage adaptation of Federico Fellini's La strada (1954).
Though still very active on the screen, Testi has had the time to sideline as a kiwi farmer, an enterprise which grew from a hobby into a lucrative business (Italy, as a result, becoming Europe's first producer of kiwi fruit). In 2006, Testi ran for political office as Mayor of Verona, representing the conservative Cattolici Liberali Cristiani.
As an unapologetically self-confessed Latin lover type, Testi has made headlines in the press (particularly the Italian gossip press) not only for the work in his chosen profession, but also for a series of well publicized romantic entanglements with actresses Ursula Andress, Edwige Fenech, Jean Seberg and Charlotte Rampling. He was married to the Spanish fashion designer and make-up artist Lola Navarro from 1984 to 1996. His second wife has been art gallery curator Antonella Liguori.- Actress
- Talent Agent
- Manager
Federica Rosellini was born on 23 December 1989 in Treviso, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress and talent agent, known for Trust (2024), The Binding (2020) and Dove cadono le ombre (2017).- Malisa Longo was introduced to the world of art in her native city of Venice very young, where she took her first steps as a poet and painter. It's 1968 and the city enjoyed one of its most experimental cultural upheaval that focused in the development of the Academy and in the Biennale.
In this highly creative atmosphere, inspired by the magic of the lagoon, Musa and protagonist of its own works, the artist expresses her art in a whirlwind of colors, full of lights and shadows, but also eruptions of brightness. Looking for new ideas, Malisa arrives in Rome where she is captured by the world of movies. Here she begins a long journey as an actress, playing in more than 70 films, alongside actors like Ben Gazzara, Arthur Kennedy, Bruce Lee and Christopher Mitchum. Some of these movies, true cult of international cinema, were directed by Federico Fellini, Terence Young and Tinto Brass.
With a rewarding careers that expresses itself with a literary vein, Malisa stands out as a writer, screenwriter and journalist. Amongst her most acclaimed works, to be mentioned, is the novel "Just as I am" (prelude by Tinto Brass), the book of poems "Il cantico del corpo" and the book and interviews collection, "Aggiungi un seggio al tavola. Politica e curiosità culinarie" (Graus), a finalist for the award "Minori on the Amalfi Coast, the novel "Vita di Elisa" (Mondadori), and the book of poems "Appunti dell'anima" (Lietocolle), that in September 2014 won the literary prize "Spoleto Art Festival Expo".
Despite her busy artistic commitments, Malisa Longo never abandoned her first love for painting. A love that continued to grow with a continued passion, and took centre stage in several painting exhibitions, winning several awards. Malisa Longo actually lives and works in Rome, Ital - Actress
- Producer
Eva Grimaldi was born on 7 September 1961 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress and producer, known for Intimacy (1988), A mia immagine (2023) and Forever (1991). She has been married to Immacolata Battaglia since 19 May 2019. She was previously married to Fabrizio Ambroso.- Alvise Rigo was born on 12 December 1992 in Venice, Veneto, Italy. He is an actor, known for Nuovo Olimpo (2023), The Room Next Door (2024) and The Dadchelor (2024).
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Lorenzo Renzi was born on 1 December 1977 in Feltre, Veneto, Italy. He is an actor and director, known for Maremmamara (2016), Romanzo criminale - La serie (2008) and Hellis (2018).- Leonora Fani was born on 18 February 1954 in Crocetta del Montello, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress, known for Dog Lay Afternoon (1976), Sweet Adolescents (1977) and Giallo in Venice (1979).
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Born in Burano (Venice) in 1941, Pino Donaggio studied violin at the Conservatory of Venice and Milan.
After a period of adolescent performer of classical music with the Solisti Veneti and the Soloists of Milan, in 1959 he began to devote himself to the pop music that soon led to international success.
He has participated in ten editions of the Sanremo Festival getting a 3rd place in 1963 with the song "Giovane giovane" and a 4th place in 1966 with the song "Una casa in cima al mondo". His best-known song and performed is 1965 "Io che non vivo (senza te)" starring, among others, also by Elvis Presley.
Since 1973, Donaggio began gradually to abandon pop music to devote himself to composing music for films. In over forty years of activity it has put together more than two hundred soundtracks for the big and small screen, both in Italy and abroad.
He lives and works in Venice.- Actress
- Producer
- Executive
Francesca Rettondini was born on 7 March 1971 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress and producer, known for Ghost Ship (2002), Dolcemente Complicate (2021) and Endless Dark (2013).- Actress
- Additional Crew
Luisa Mattioli was born on 23 March 1936 in San Stino di Livenza, Veneto, Italy. She was an actress, known for The Night of the Great Attack (1959), La bella Lola (1962) and Romulus and the Sabines (1961). She was married to Roger Moore. She died on 5 October 2021 in Zurich, Switzerland.- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Salvatore Samperi was born on 26 July 1943 in Padua, Veneto, Italy. He was a director and writer, known for Malicious (1973), Ernesto (1979) and Smell of Flesh (1974). He was married to Francesca Bardella. He died on 5 March 2009 in Trevignano Romano, Lazio, Italy.- Béatrice Macola was born on 2 December 1965 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. She was an actress, known for Schindler's List (1993), La piovra (1984) and Sindrome veneziana (1989). She died on 13 December 2001 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
- One of the many massive men of peplum who dominated popular Italian sword-and-sandal epics of the early 1960s, Italian Kirk Morris (né Adriano Bellini) was born in Venice on August 26, 1942. A gondolier and winner of the 1961 "Mr. Italia" bodybuilding contest at the time he was discovered by an Italian movie producer, Kirk was immediately plucked from the canals and greased-up runway for a go at campy muscleman stardom.
Director Tanio Boccia chose Kirk for the title role in Il trionfo di Maciste (1961) (The Triumph of Maciste) and the slightly boyish-looking, pearly-toothed neophyte making a fine impression on camera. Deemed thereafter a perfect speciMAN to showcase their low-budget spectacles, Kirk proved a fitting beefcake hero to help offset the silly special effects and poorly dubbed dialogue. If one was to try and distinguish Kirk from the other absurdly-muscled actor/bodybuilders around at the time (Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, Dan Vadis, Ed Fury, Gordon Mitchell, Reg Park, Alan Steel, Brad Harris, Mark Forest, Richard Harrison, Sergio Ciani, et al.), he frequently dyed his pompadour-styled hair from dark to blond and possessed a somewhat sulky resemblance to Elvis Presley. Other than that, his stoic posturings as Hercules, Samson and Maciste were no better or worse than the other bronzed and brawny "biceptuals.
Kirk portrayed Maciste, one of the sons of Hercules, in several other movies -- Hercules in the Valley of Woe (1961), The Witch's Curse (1962) (aka Maciste in Hell), Colossus and the Headhunters (1963), Atlas Against the Czar (1964) and Hercules of the Desert (1964). The mythological plots, usually set in ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome, were notoriously formulaic -- saving damsels in distress, freeing slaves, restoring thrones to their rightful rulers, battling evil queens and kings, and defeating life-threatening serpents, beasts, witches and demons.
While his hero's name often changed, Kirk's mission was almost always the same -- flex and save. He portrayed Samson in Clash of Steel (1962); Sansone in Sansone contro i pirati (1963) (Samson Against the Pirates); Hercules himself in Hercules, Samson & Ulysses (1963); Sandar Khan in Terror of the Steppes (1964); Anthar, son of Hercules in Anthar l'invincibile (1964); Nadir in Desert Raiders (1964); Ercole in Maciste il vendicatore dei Maya (1965) (Maciste, Avenger of the Mayans); and Kadir in The Falcon of the Desert (1965);
By 1966, Italian spectacles fell out of favor and lost its core audience. While Kirk would continue to find filming throughout the rest of the decade, most were in featured roles. He played a scientist who gets romantically involved with a voluptuous female alien in the silly-plotted sci-fi adventure Star Pilot (1966), and then played ill-fated bad guy and gunslinger named Ringo in the Terence Hill "spaghetti western" Crazy Westerners (1967).
Kirk went back to playing one last top-billed hero as Jeff Smart, who seeks revenge against a Mexican gang in the "spaghetti western" Sapevano solo uccidere (1968) (I'll Die for Vengeance). The film also featured his bodybuilding comrades Alan Steele and Gordon Mitchell. Kirk ended his movie career with the Italian/German action drama The Seven Red Berets (1969) and as a Scottish soldier in the Italian combat story I 7 di Marsa Matruh (1970).
Kirk eventually migrated to the United States and went into the advertising field. Years later, however, he returned to Italy and the movies -- but this time as a producer. - Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Being the son of a violinist Vivaldi started playing the violin himself early in his life. In 1703 he became priest and in 1716 the director of a conservatory of the church in Venice. Being a famous violinist he gave concerts all over Europe also composing a lot of violin concerts and other string works. There is not much information about his life only that he died in poverty in Vienna.- Rik Battaglia was born on 18 February 1927 in Corbola, Veneto, Italy. He was an actor, known for Esther and the King (1960), Orlando e i Paladini di Francia (1956) and Duck, You Sucker! (1971). He died on 27 March 2015 in Corbola, Veneto, Italy.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Pierpaolo Spollon was born on 10 February 1989 in Padua, Veneto, Italy. He is an actor and director, known for Master Ceccato (2018), DOC - Nelle tue mani (2020) and The Red Door (2017).- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Lory Del Santo was born on 28 September 1958 in Povegliano Veronese, Veneto, Italy. She is an actress and director, known for The Lady 2: L'odio passionale (2015), The Lady 3 - La Perfidia Patinata (2017) and The Lady (2014).