Giampiero Albertini (20 December 1927 – 14 May 1991) was an Italian film, television and voice actor.

Biography

Born in

Muggiò Muggiò (, ; Milanese: Mugg) is a city (municipality) in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on September 27, 1992 ...

, Albertini started his career as stage actor at the Piccolo Teatro in

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

, under the guidance of

Giorgio Strehler Giorgio Strehler (; ; 14 August 1921 – 25 December 1997) was an actor, Italian opera and theatre director. Biography Strehler was born in Barcola, Trieste; His father, Bruno Strehler, was a native of Trieste with family roots in Vienna and died ...

. In 1962, he made his film debut with Dino Risi's '' La marcia su Roma'', and later worked with, among others,

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter and one of the masters of the ''Commedia all'Italiana'' (Comedy Italian style). He was nominated six times for an Oscar, and was awa ...

Luigi Comencini Luigi Comencini (; 8 June 1916 – 6 April 2007)
''The Guardian'' was an Italian

Carlo Lizzani Carlo Lizzani (3 April 1922 – 5 October 2013) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and critic. Biography Born in Rome, before World War II Lizzani worked as a scenarist on such films as Roberto Rossellini's '' Germany Year Zero' ...

Francesco Rosi Francesco Rosi (; 15 November 1922 – 10 January 2015) was an Italian film director. His film ''The Mattei Affair'' won the Palme d'Or at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival. Rosi's films, especially those of the 1960s and 1970s, often appeared to ha ...

Gillo Pontecorvo Gilberto Pontecorvo (; 19 November 1919 – 12 October 2006) was an Italian filmmaker associated with the political cinema movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for directing the landmark war docudrama ''The Battle of Algiers'' (19 ...

Nanni Loy Nanni Loy (born Giovanni Loi; 23 October 1925 – 21 August 1995) was an Italian film, theatre and TV director. Specifically, Nanni Loy was Sardinian, and one of several notable Sardinian film makers, including Franco Solinas. Biography Lo ...

. Albertini also was active in

poliziotteschi Poliziotteschi (; singular ''poliziottesco'') constitute a subgenre of crime film, crime and action films that emerged in Italy in the late 1960s and reached the height of their popularity in the 1970s. They are also known as ''polizieschi all'i ...

and

giallo In Italian cinema, ''Giallo'' (; plural ''gialli'', from ''giallo'', Italian for yellow) is a genre of mystery fiction and thrillers that often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, sexploitation, and, ...

films, in which he was sometimes credited as Al Albert. During the 1970s, Albertini was featured in the Ignis commercials as a disgruntled customer struggling to find the items he is searching for. As a voice actor, Albertini was best known as the official Italian dubbing voice of

Peter Falk Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the long-running television series ''Columbo'' (1968–1978, 1989–2003), for which he ...

as the

title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...

in ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...

''. He has also occasionally dubbed other actors such as

Martin Balsam Martin Henry Balsam (November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996) was an American actor. He had a prolific career in character roles in film, in theatre, and on television. An early member of the Actors Studio, he began his career on the New ...

Donald Pleasence Donald Henry Pleasence (; 5 October 1919 – 2 February 1995) was an English actor. He began his career on stage in the West End before transitioning into a screen career, where he played numerous supporting and character roles including RAF ...

, Phil Brown,

Brian Keith Brian Keith (born Robert Alba Keith, November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997) was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his six-decade career gained recognition for his work in films such as the Disney family film '' The Parent T ...

Terry Jones Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh comedian, director, historian, actor, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy team. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones and ...

and

Vic Tayback Victor E. Tayback (January 6, 1930 – May 25, 1990) was an American actor. He is known for his role as Mel Sharples in the film '' Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' (1974) and the television series '' Alice'' (1976–1985). The latter earned him ...

. One of his final dubbing works was the voice of

Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein ( ; ar, صدام حسين, Ṣaddām Ḥusayn; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolution ...

in his interview with

Bruno Vespa Bruno Paolo Vespa (born 27 May 1944) is an Italian television and newspaper journalist. A former director of the Italian state-owned TV channel Rai Uno's news program TG1, Vespa is the founding host of the program ''Porta a Porta'' (English:"Door ...

Rai 1 Rai 1 () is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's flagship television channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream and general ...

Death

Albertini died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

, at his home in

Monte Mario Monte Mario (English: Mount Mario or Mount Marius) is the hill that rises in the north-west area of Rome (Italy), on the right bank of the Tiber, crossed by the Via Trionfale. It occupies part of Balduina, of the territory of Municipio Roma I ...

in Rome, on 14 May 1991 at the age of 63. The dubbing voice of

was passed on to

Antonio Guidi Antonio Guidi (28 October 1927 – 17 October 2013) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Ferrara, Guidi began a career of acting in the 1950s. He originally wanted to become an architect but he did not pursue that vocation. He ...

in the remaining seasons of the show.

Filmography

Cinema

*''

March on Rome The March on Rome ( it, Marcia su Roma) was an organized mass demonstration and a coup d'état in October 1922 which resulted in Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party (PNF) ascending to power in the Kingdom of Italy. In late October 1922, Fa ...

'' (1962) - Cristoforo *''

The Organizer ''The Organizer'' ( it, I compagni"''I compagni''" literally translates into "''The Comrades''.") is a 1963 Italian-French-Yugoslavian-produced drama film written by Mario Monicelli and Age & Scarpelli, and directed by Mario Monicelli. Set in Tur ...

'' (1963) - Porro *''

La vita agra ''La vita agra'', known in English-speaking countries as ''It's a Hard Life'', is a novel by Luciano Bianciardi published in 1962 by Rizzoli. It became a best-seller in Italy and it is considered one of the most important novels in contemporary ...

'' (1964) - Libero Fornaciari *''

Thrilling ''Thrilling'' is a 1965 Italian comedy film. The film is split into three distinct segments, each directed by a different director; namely Carlo Lizzani, Ettore Scola and Gian Luigi Polidoro. Cast Il vittimista * Directed by Ettore Scola * N ...

'' (1965) - Il "Rosso" (segment "L'autostrada del sole") *''

Seven Golden Men ''Seven Golden Men'' ( it, Sette uomini d'oro) is a 1965 Italian crime-comedy film directed by Marco Vicario. A film about a bank heist, it follows a gang of men and one woman. It followed the same story line as '' Topkapi'', and has a sequ ...

'' (1965) - August (le portugais) *''

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) - Immigrant (segment "6 Final episode") *''

Seven Golden Men Strike Again ''Seven Golden Men Strike Again'' ( it, Il grande colpo dei sette uomini d'oro, lang-en, ''The Big Hit of the Seven Golden Men'') is a 1966 film directed by Marco Vicario. It is the sequel of ''Seven Golden Men''. Plot The Seven Golden Men ...

'' (1966) - August *''

The Million Dollar Countdown ''The Million Dollar Countdown'' ( es, El gran golpe de Niza, it, Per favore... non sparate col cannone, also known as ''L'assalto al centro nucleare'') is a 1967 Spanish-Italian criminal comedy film directed by Mario Caiano and starring Frank ...

'' (1967) - Joe *''

Tiffany Memorandum ''Tiffany Memorandum'' (also known as ''The Tiffany Memorandum'') is a 1967 Eurospy film directed by Sergio Grieco. It is an international co-production between Italy, France (where the film is known as ''Coup de force à Berlin'') and West Germany ...

'' (1967) - Callaghan's Agent / Doctor *'' The Head of the Family'' (1967) *''

Italian Secret Service ''Italian Secret Service'' (also known as ''Il nostro agente Natalino Tartufato'') is a 1968 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Comencini. For his performance in this film and in '' Il padre di famiglia'', Nino Manfredi was awarded with a Golden ...

'' (1968) - Ottone *'' Days of Fire'' (1968) - Sempresi *'' A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die'' (1968) - Fred Duskin *''Summit'' (1968) *'' The Black Sheep'' (1968) - Senator Santarini *''

Commandos Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...

'' (1968) - Aldo *''Eat It'' (1968) - Farmer *''

Burn! ''Burn!'' (original title: ''Queimada'') is a 1969 historical war drama film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. Set in the mid-19th century, the film stars Marlon Brando as a British ''agent provocateur'' sent to overthrow a Portuguese colony in th ...

'' (1969) - Henry Thompson *''Bolidi sull'asfalto - A tutta birra!'' (1970) - Albertarelli *''

Many Wars Ago ''Many Wars Ago'' ( it, Uomini contro, lit=Men Against) is a 1970 anti-war film set on the Alpine Front of the First World War. Directed, produced, and co-written by Francesco Rosi, the film is based on Emilio Lussu's memoir ''Un anno sull'altip ...

'' (1970) - Capt. Abbati *''

Return of Sabata ''Return of Sabata'' ( it, È tornato Sabata ... hai chiuso un'altra volta, lit=Sabata is back ... you're finished again) is a 1971 Spaghetti Western film directed by Gianfranco Parolini. The third film in ''The Sabata Trilogy'', it features the ...

'' (1971) - Joe McIntock *''

The Life of Leonardo da Vinci ''La Vita di Leonardo Da Vinci'' — in English, ''The Life of Leonardo da Vinci '' — is a 1971 Italian television miniseries dramatizing the life of the Italian Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). The Golden Globe-winning mini ...

'' (1971) -

Ludovico il Moro Ludovico Maria Sforza (; 27 July 1452 – 27 May 1508), also known as Ludovico il Moro (; "the Moor"). "Arbiter of Italy", according to the expression used by Guicciardini,

*''

The Case of the Bloody Iris ''The Case of the Bloody Iris'' (Italian: ''Perché quelle strane gocce di sangue sul corpo di Jennifer?'', lit. "Why those strange drops of blood on Jennifer's body?", originally released in the UK as ''Erotic Blue'') is a 1972 Italian giallo film ...

'' (1972) - Commissioner Enci *''Partirono preti, tornarono... curati'' (1973) - Gen. Miguel *'' Seven Hours of Violence'' (1973) - Police Commissioner *''La rosa rossa'' (1973) * '' The Suspects'' (1974) - Matteo Gallone *''E cominciò il viaggio nella vertigine'' (1974) - Train's escort officer *''

Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...

'' (1975) - Brother Francisco *''

Mark of the Cop ''Mark il poliziotto'' (internationally released as ''Mark of the Cop'', ''Blood, Sweat and Fear'' and ''Mark the Narc'') is an Italian poliziottesco film directed in 1975 by Stelvio Massi. This film obtained a great commercial success and gener ...

'' (1975) - Brigadiere Bonetti *''

The Tough Ones ''The Tough Ones'' () is a 1999 Finnish film directed by Aleksi Mäkelä. It was Finland's official Best Foreign Language Film submission at the 72nd Academy Awards, but did not manage to receive a nomination.* Plot The film starts when Jussi ...

'' (1976) - Commissioner Caputo *''L'Année sainte'' (1976) - Commissaire Mazzola *'' A Matter of Time'' (1976) - Mr. De Perma *''

Mark Strikes Again ''Mark Strikes Again'' ( it, Mark colpisce ancora, also known as ''The .44 Specialist'') is a 1976 Italian '' poliziottesco'' film directed by Stelvio Massi. Originally planned as an original film, during the shoots and the post-production process ...

'' (1976) - Montelli *''

The Last Round ''The Last Round'' ( it, Il conto è chiuso) is a 1976 Italian crime film directed by Stelvio Massi. Cast *Carlos Monzón: Marco Russo *Luc Merenda: Rico Manzetti *Leonora Fani: Nina *Mariangela Giordano: Lisa's Mother *Gianni Dei: Beny Manzett ...

'' (1976) - Sapienza *'' Le Gang'' (1977) - Léon *''Tre soldi e la donna di classe'' (1977) *'' Return of the 38 Gang'' (1977) - Folco Bordoni *''

Dove volano i corvi d'argento ''Dove volano i corvi d'argento'' (Italian for "Where The Silver Crows Fly") is a 1977 Italian crime-drama film written and directed by Piero Livi and starring Corrado Pani, Jenny Tamburi, Flavio Bucci and Renzo Montagnani. Plot A young Italian m ...

'' (1977) - Istevene's father *''Non sparate sui bambini'' (1978) - Sign. Settimi *'' Suggestionata'' (1978) - Francesco / Rachele's father *'' The Life of Verdi'' (1982) *'' The Betrothed'' (1989) *''Saremo felici'' (1989)

Dubbing roles

Animation

*Smoke in ''

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue ''Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue'' is a 1990 American animated television film starring many characters from several animated television series at the time of its release. Financed by McDonald's, Ronald McDonald Children's Charities, it was or ...

Live action

* Lieutenant Colombo in ''

'' (seasons 1-8) *Sam Diamond in ''

Murder by Death ''Murder by Death'' is a 1976 American comedy mystery film directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon. The film stars Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, M ...

'' *Lou Peckinpaugh in ''

The Cheap Detective ''The Cheap Detective'' is a 1978 American mystery comedy film written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore. It stars Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, a parody of Humphrey Bogart. The film is a parody of Bogart films such as '' Casablan ...

'' *

in ''

Wings of Desire ''Wings of Desire'' (, ; ) is a 1987 romantic fantasy film written by Wim Wenders, Peter Handke and Richard Reitinger, and directed by Wenders. The film is about invisible, immortal angels who populate Berlin and listen to the thoughts of its ...

'' *Ray Calhoun in ''

Hang 'Em High ''Hang 'Em High'' is a 1968 American DeLuxe Color revisionist Western film directed by Ted Post and written by Leonard Freeman and Mel Goldberg. It stars Clint Eastwood as Jed Cooper, an innocent man who survives a lynching; Inger Stevens as ...

'' *Tang Wu in ''

The Love Bug ''The Love Bug'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and the first in a franchise by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 19 ...

'' *Owen Lars in '' Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope'' *Sheriff Jellicol in ''

The Big Gundown ''The Big Gundown'' ( it, La resa dei conti, lit=The Settling of Scores) is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Sollima, and starring Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian. Plot Possessing a reputation for bringing criminals to justice, ...

'' *Mel Sharples in '' Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' *

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

in ''

The Wind and the Lion ''The Wind and the Lion'' is a 1975 American epic adventure film written and directed by John Milius and starring Sean Connery, Candice Bergen, Brian Keith, and John Huston. Made in Panavision and Metrocolor and produced by Herb Jaffe and Phil ...

'' *Bennett Cross in ''

Death Wish 3 ''Death Wish 3'' is a 1985 American action thriller film directed and edited by Michael Winner. It is the third film and the last to be directed by Winner in the ''Death Wish'' film series. It stars Charles Bronson as the vigilante killer Paul Ke ...

'' *Sanchez in ''

Mackenna's Gold ''Mackenna's Gold'' is a 1969 American Western film directed by J. Lee Thompson, starring an ensemble cast featuring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Ted Cassidy, Camilla Sparv and Julie Newmar in lead roles. It was photographed in Supe ...

'' *

Ernst Stavro Blofeld Ernst Stavro Blofeld is a fictional character and villain from the James Bond series of novels and films, created by Ian Fleming. A criminal mastermind with aspirations of world domination, he is the archenemy of the British Secret Service agen ...

in '' You Only Live Twice'' * Sir Bedevere in ''

Monty Python and the Holy Grail ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' is a 1975 British comedy film satirizing the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) an ...

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Albertini, Giampiero 1927 births 1991 deaths Italian male stage actors Italian male film actors Italian male voice actors Italian television personalities People from the Province of Monza e Brianza 20th-century Italian male actors