Rossano Brazzi, born on 18th September 1916 in Bologna, was one of Italy’s most successful actors in Hollywood. With his effortless charm and dashing good looks, he became a favourite romantic lead, particularly in the 1950s. However, his career blossomed during a critical time for American cinema.
Brazzi’s career spanned over five decades, with more than 100 films to his credit, both in Italy and abroad.
Before becoming an actor, Brazzi studied law at the University of San Marco in Florence. However, his passion for acting ultimately won out. He started his career on stage before transitioning to film in the early 1940s.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, television began to steal audiences from US cinemas. As viewers stayed home, Hollywood sought foreign stars to revive interest in their films, hoping to attract international audiences.
Brazzi, adept at playing sophisticated, romantic characters, became one of the Italian actors recruited by the American film industry. His first Hollywood role came in Little Women (1949), alongside June Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor. But it was his portrayal of an Italian count in The Barefoot Contessa (1954), starring Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart, that supercharged his career.
Brazzi’s big Hollywood moment came with the 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain, where he played the romantic lead. This role, alongside his part in David Lean’s Summertime (1955), where he starred opposite Katharine Hepburn, introduced him to American audiences.
He gained further fame for his role in the musical South Pacific (1958), in which he played the dashing French plantation owner, Emile de Becque.
More than just a romantic lead
Although known for his romantic leads, Brazzi displayed versatility, taking on roles in both dramatic and comedic films. His ability to embody European sophistication made him a popular choice for films portraying continental charm and elegance. He worked with several renowned directors, including Roberto Rossellini and Mario Camerini.
In later years, Brazzi expanded into directing and producing films, though he never reached the same level of fame behind the camera.
During the 1960s, Brazzi’s career continued with notable roles in The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965) and Woman Times Seven (1967). He also appeared in Krakatoa, East of Java and The Italian Job (1969), starring Michael Caine.
Rossano Brazzi was married twice. His first wife, Lidia, passed away in 1981 after 41 years of marriage. In 1984, he married their former housekeeper, Isle Fischer, with whom he lived in Rome until his death in 1994 at the age of 78.
Recommended Reading
In this fascinating biography, Lynn Florkiewicz brings Rossano Brazzi back to life, accompanying him through the streets of Italy as he reflects on his life. Beneath the serious Latin Lover image crafted by Hollywood, she discovers a mischievous and fun man, a scholar and classically trained actor.
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