Anita Durante (28 September 1897 – 2 May 1994) was an Italian actress. Born Anita Bianchi in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

into a humble family, after attending a dramatic society for several years Durante made her official debut on stage in 1919, in

Ettore Petrolini Ettore Petrolini (13 January 1884 – 29 June 1936) was an Italian stage and film actor, playwright, screenwriter and novelist. He is considered one of the most important figures of avanspettacolo, vaudeville and revue. He was noted for his numerou ...

's ''Romani de Roma''. Married with the actor

Checco Durante Francesco "Checco" Durante (19 November 1893 – 5 January 1976) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 59 films between 1931 and 1973. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * '' The Doctor in Spite of Himself'' (193 ...

, she stayed with the Petrolini's stage company nine years, then she formed a company with her husband. Also active in films, where she is best remembered as the

Alberto Sordi Alberto Sordi (15 June 1920 – 24 February 2003) was an Italian actor, voice actor, singer, comedian, director and screenwriter. Early life Born in Rome to a schoolteacher and a musician and the last of five children, Sordi was named in hon ...

's mother in ''

Un americano a Roma ''An American in Rome'' (originally ''Un americano a Roma'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. The film consists in a satire of Americanization, and it was referred as "a milestone in the evolution of Italian self-identification". I ...

'', Durante was active on stage until 1992. She died in 1994, aged 96, following an accidental fall from the balcony of her home, while cleaning the windows.

Partial filmography

* ''

Scampolo ''Scampolo'' is a 1958 German film directed by Alfred Weidenmann and starring Romy Schneider, Paul Hubschmid, and Georg Thomalla. Schneider plays the title role. Plot Scampolo is a young, poor girl who lives on the island of Ischia. She falls ...

'' (1941) - La proprietaria della stireria * '' The Last Wagon'' (1943) - Adele Urbani * ''

Peddlin' in Society ''Peddlin' in Society'' or ''Down With Riches!'' ( it, Abbasso la ricchezza!) is a 1946 Italian romance-drama film directed by Gennaro Righelli. it was a loose sequel to the 1945 film ''Down with Misery'' by the same director and also starring Ma ...

'' (1946) - Caterina (uncredited) * ''Fatalità'' (1947) - Adele * ''

Cavalcade of Heroes ''Cavalcade of Heroes'' ( it, Cavalcata d'eroi) is a 1950 Italian historical melodrama film directed by Mario Costa and starring Cesare Danova, Carla Del Poggio and Vittorio Sanipoli. It depicts the events around the founding of the short-lived ...

'' (1950) * '' The Two Sisters'' (1950) - Agatina * ''

The Ungrateful Heart ''The Ungrateful Heart'' ( nap, Core 'ngrato) is a 1951 Italian melodrama film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Carla Del Poggio, Frank Latimore and Gabriele Ferzetti.Forgacs & Gundle p.29 It takes its name from the Neapolitan song "Core ' ...

'' (1951) - Anna, padrona della pensione * ''Core 'ngrato'' (1951) * ''

Viva il cinema! ''Viva il cinema!'' is a 1952 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Baldaccini and Enzo Trapani. Cast * Delia Scala as Palmina * Fiorenzo Fiorentini as Tonino * Virgilio Riento as Gambalesta * Corrado Alba as Ugo * Marilyn Buferd as ...

'' (1952) - Gambalesta's Maid * ''

Vortice ''Vortice'' (i.e. "Vortex") is a 1953 Italian melodrama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo and starring Massimo Girotti and Silvana Pampanini. Plot Cast *Massimo Girotti as Guido Aureli *Silvana Pampanini as Elena Fanti *Franco Fabrizi ...

'' (1953) - La portinaia * '' If You Won a Hundred Million'' (1953) - Pasqua (segment "Il promesso... sposato") * ''

Angels of Darkness ''Angels of Darkness'' (Italian: ''Donne proibite'') is a 1954 Italian melodrama film directed by Giuseppe Amato and starring Linda Darnell, Anthony Quinn and Valentina Cortese. The film's sets were designed by the art director Virgilio Marchi. ...

'' (1954) * ''

Of Life and Love ''Of Life and Love'' ( it, Questa è la vita) is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Aldo Fabrizi, Giorgio Pastina, Mario Soldati and Luigi Zampa. Plot The film tells four episodes from stories written by Luigi Pirandello (from the work: '' ...

'' (1954) - (segment "La Patente") * ''

Papà Pacifico ''Papà Pacifico'' is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Antonella Lualdi and Frank Latimore.Alberto Albertazzi. "Papà Pacifico" (review). ''Intermezzo''. 31 March 1954. It grossed 88 million lire at the Italian box ...

'' (1954) - The Porter * ''

Orient Express The ''Orient Express'' was a long-distance passenger train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company ''Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits'' (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe and int ...

'' (1954) * ''

Guai ai vinti ''Guai ai vinti'' (''Woe to the Vanquished Ones'') is a 1954 Italian melodrama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. It is based on the novel ''Vae Victis'' by Annie Vivanti. Plot During the First World War the Italian front at Caporetto is ...

'' (1954) - Popolana sulla scala (uncredited) * ''

An American in Rome ''An American in Rome'' (originally ''Un americano a Roma'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. The film consists in a satire of Americanization, and it was referred as "a milestone in the evolution of Italian self-identification". I ...

'' (1954) - Madre di Nando * ''Il porto della speranza'' (1954) * ''Il vetturale del Moncenisio'' (1954) * ''

The Sign of Venus ''The Sign of Venus'' ( it, Il segno di Venere) is a 1955 Italian comedy film directed by Dino Risi and starring Sophia Loren. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. Plot The story revolves around an attractive woman named Agnese ( ...

'' (1955) - Madre di Agnese * ''Bella non piangere'' (1955) - Zia di Nina * ''

A Hero of Our Times ''A Hero of Our Times'' ( it, Un eroe dei nostri tempi) is a 1955 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and starring Alberto Sordi. Plot Alberto is an employee who is the Italian average of society of the Fifties. Alberto is a go-g ...

'' (1955) * '' Roman Tales'' (1955) - La madre di Alvaro * ''Cortile'' (1955) - Geltrude * ''Processo all'amore'' (1955) - Nona Mariani * '' The Bigamist'' (1956) - Amalia * '' The Courier of Moncenisio'' (1956) - Carmela * ''

Il prezzo della gloria ''Il prezzo della gloria'' is a 1955 Italian war film. It stars actor Gabriele Ferzetti. Plot The story takes place on the torpedo boat Sparviero and focuses on the disagreement between the unit commander, Alberto Bruni, and his first officer, ...

'' (1956) - Aunt Bettina * ''I calunniatori'' (1956) * ''Saranno uomini'' (1957) * ''

Ladro lui, ladra lei ''Ladro lui, ladra lei'' is a 1958 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Zampa. Starring Alberto Sordi and Sylva Koscina, it tells the story of a young woman in Rome who is first sucked into a life of crime by a released convict and then has an ...

'' (1958) - Madre di Cencio * ''

Adorabili e bugiarde ''Adorabili e bugiarde'' (also known as ''Adorable and a Liar'') is a 1958 Italian comedy film directed by Nunzio Malasomma. Plot Three beautiful girls, a model, a journalist and a painter, eager for celebrity at all costs, decide to stage a fak ...

'' (1958) - The concierge's wife * ''

Nella città l'inferno ''Nella città l'inferno'' (''Behind Closed Shutters'') is a 1959 Italian film directed by Renato Castellani. Plot When the wide-eyed Lina ( Giulietta Masina) lands in a women's prison, she meets a world-weary prostitute named Egle (Anna Magnani) ...

'' (1959) - Assunta * '' Policarpo'' (1959) - Mario Marchetti's Mother * ''Genitori in blue-jeans'' (1960) - The Old Nun (uncredited) * ''

Carmen di Trastevere ''Carmen di Trastevere'' is a 1962 Italian drama film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Giovanna Ralli. It is a loosely based on the novella ''Carmen'' by Prosper Mérimée and on the relevant opera by Georges Bizet. Cast * Giovan ...

'' (1962) - Landlady of the Bording House (uncredited) * ''Adultero lui, adultera lei'' (1963) - La portinaia * '' Mare matto'' (1963) - Rosario Lo Russo - la madre * ''Siamo tutti pomicioni'' (1963) - Mario's Mother (segment "Le gioie della vita") * '' White Voices'' (1964) - Agnese - Meo's mother * ''

Made in Italy Made in Italy is a merchandise mark indicating that a product is all planned, manufactured and packed in Italy, especially concerning the design, fashion, food, manufacturing, craftsmanship, and engineering industries. History Made in Italy ...

'' (1965) * '' Why Did I Ever Say Yes Twice?'' (1969) - (uncredited) * ''

Er Più – storia d'amore e di coltello ''Er Più – storia d'amore e di coltello'' is a 1971 Italian black comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci. The film is inspired by the true story of roman Romeo Ottaviani bully called ''er Tinèa''. Plot summary The story is set in Rome in ...

'' (1971) - Mother of Nino * ''Colpo grosso... grossissimo... anzi probabile'' (1972) - Monsignore's mother * ''Storia di fifa e di coltello - Er seguito d'er più'' (1972) - Caterina * ''Granada, addio!'' (1977) - Peppa * ''

I Hate Blondes ''I Hate Blondes'' (Italian: ''Odio le bionde'') is a 1980 Italian crime comedy film directed by Giorgio Capitani. Plot Cast * Enrico Montesano as Emilio Serrantoni * Jean Rochefort as Donald * Corinne Cléry as Angelica * Marina Lang ...

'' (1980) * '' Count Tacchia'' (1982) - Fernanda's Grandmother * ''Giovanni Senzapensieri'' (1986) - Zia Teresa (final film role)

References

External links

* 1897 births 1994 deaths Actresses from Rome Italian film actresses Italian stage actresses 20th-century Italian actresses Accidental deaths from falls {{Italy-actor-stub