Gino Buzzanca (8 March 1912 – 5 May 1985) was an Italian film actor.

Life and career

Born in

Messina Messina (, also , ) is a harbour city and the capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of more than 219,000 inhabitants in ...

, Buzzanca began his career on stage, specializing as an actor of the

Sicilian language Sicilian ( scn, sicilianu, link=no, ; it, siciliano) is a Romance language that is spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands. A variant, ''Calabro-Sicilian'', is spoken in southern Calabria, where it is called Southern Calabro ...

theater, and starring in works by

Luigi Pirandello Luigi Pirandello (; 28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power ...

and

Giovanni Verga Giovanni Carmelo Verga di Fontanabianca (; 2 September 1840 – 27 January 1922) was an Italian realist ('' verista'') writer, best known for his depictions of life in his native Sicily, especially the short story and later play ''Cavalleria ...

. Discovered by

Luigi Zampa Luigi Zampa (2 January 1905 – 16 August 1991) was an Italian film director. Biography Son of a worker, Zampa studied filmmaking from 1932 to 1937 at the Italian film school Centro sperimentale di cinematografia in Rome. He directed several ...

, who offered him a role of weight in the film ''

Easy Years ''Easy Years'' ( it, Anni facili) is a 1953 drama film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring Nino Taranto. Cast *Nino Taranto as Professor Luigi De Francesco *Clelia Matania as Rosina, his wife *Giovanna Ralli as Teresa, his daughter *Gino Buz ...

'', Buzzanca then had a long film career as a

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

, often cast in negative roles. He also appeared in several

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

s, usually credited as Bill Jackson. He was the uncle of the actor

Lando Buzzanca Gerlando "Lando" Buzzanca (24 August 1935 – 18 December 2022) was an Italian stage, film, and television actor whose career spanned 65 years. Life and career Early years Born in Palermo the son of a cinema projectionist, at 16 years old Buz ...

Partial filmography

* ''

'' (1953) - Barone Ferdinando LaPrua * ''

Woman of Rome ''Woman of Rome'' ( it, La romana) is a 1954 drama film directed by Luigi Zampa, and starring Gina Lollobrigida. Plot Beautiful but poor Adriana, during the fascist era, finds work as a model for a painter. She becomes the lover of a chauffeur ...

'' (1954) - Riccardo * ''Due lacrime'' (1954) - Tony * ''

The Art of Getting Along ''The Art of Getting Along'' ( it, L'arte di arrangiarsi) is a 1954 in film, 1954 comedy film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring Alberto Sordi. Following ''Difficult Years'' and ''Easy Years'', it is the third and final chapter in the trilogy ab ...

'' (1955) - Il barone Mazzei * '' Are We Men or Corporals?'' (1955) - Il regista * ''

Il bidone ''Il bidone'' (, "The Drum .html" ;"title="ontainer/nowiki>">ontainer/nowiki>"; also known as ''The Swindle'' or ''The Swindlers'') is a 1955 Italian film directed by Federico Fellini from his own screenplay co-written with Ennio Flaiano and Tull ...

'' (1955) - Saro (uncredited) * ''Yalis, la vergine del Roncador'' (1955) * ''Agguato sul mare'' (1955) - Elia * '' A Woman Alone'' (1956) * ''

Vendicata! ''Vendicata!'' (i. e. "Vindicated!") is a 1955 Italian melodrama film written and directed by Giuseppe Vari and starring Milly Vitale and Alberto Farnese.Anonimo. "Vendicata!". ''Segnalazioni Cinematografiche'', vol. XXXVIII. 1955. It grossed 300 ...

'' (1956) * ''

Roland the Mighty ''Roland the Mighty'' ( it, Orlando e i Paladini di Francia) is a 1956 Italian film directed by Pietro Francisci. about the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in AD 778, where Roland, a knight in the service of Charlemagne was killed while defending the re ...

'' (1956) * ''

Peccato di castità ''Peccato di castità'' (Italian for "Sin of chastity") is a 1956 Italian comedy film directed by Gianni Franciolini. Plot Adventures of a young married couple during their honeymoon trip. Because of a promise, Valentina has to resort to any t ...

'' (1956) * ''Parola di ladro'' (1957) * ''Addio sogni di gloria'' (1957) * ''

Doctor and the Healer ''Doctor and the Healer'' ( it, Il medico e lo stregone) is a 1957 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. Plot The young Dr. Marchetti relocates to a small mountain village in rural southern Italy. He quickly runs into trouble with ' ...

'' (1957) - Il sindaco di Pianetta * ''A sud niente di nuovo'' (1957) * ''

Rascel-Fifì ''Rascel-Fifì'' is a 1957 Italian crime-comedy film directed by . It is a parody of Jules Dassin's ''Rififi''. The film was a success at the Italian box office. Plot Renato and Gideone team up in business and open a Night in one of the worst ...

'' (1957) - Gionata - il capo della gang * ''

L'amore nasce a Roma ''L'amore nasce a Roma'' (i.e. "Love was born in Rome") is a 1958 Italian comedy film written and directed by Mario Amendola and starring Claudio Villa, Antonio Cifariello, Rossella Como and Valeria Moriconi. Plot Lello, a painter, and Mario, ...

'' (1958) - padre di Mario * ''Serenatella sciuè sciuè'' (1958) - don Ciccillo * ''Caporale di giornata'' (1958) - Commendator Bianconi * '' Conspiracy of the Borgias'' (1959) * ''Arriva la banda'' (1959) - Il padre di Anna * ''Il cavaliere senza terra'' (1959) * ''I mafiosi'' (1959) - John Mistretta * ''

Prepotenti più di prima ''Prepotenti più di prima'' is a 1959 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Aldo Fabrizi. It is the sequel of '' I prepotenti''. Cast * Aldo Fabrizi - Cesare Pinelli * Nino Taranto - Domenico Esposito * Ave Ninchi - Cleli ...

'' (1959) - Rosario * ''Perfide.... ma belle'' (1959) * '' Nel blu dipinto di blu'' (1959) - The Sicilian Industrialist * ''

Guardatele ma non toccatele ''Guardatele ma non toccatele'' is a 1959 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Ugo Tognazzi. Cast * Ugo Tognazzi - Maresciallo La Notte * Caprice Chantal - Rebecca O'Connor * Johnny Dorelli - Tenente Altieri * Lynn Shaw ...

'' (1959) - Maggiore * ''

Tipi da spiaggia ''Tipi da spiaggia'' is a 1959 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Johnny Dorelli. Cast *Ugo Tognazzi: Pasubio Giovinezza *Christiane Martel: Barbara Patton * Giustino Durano: Nick Balmora *Johnny Dorelli: Giorgio Binot ...

'' (1959) - Giovanni Buzzanca - the theatre manager * '' Gentlemen Are Born'' (1960) * ''

Colossus and the Amazon Queen ''Colossus and the Amazon Queen'' ( it, La regina delle Amazzoni/ ''Queen of the Amazons'') is a 1960 Italian sword and sandal comedy film directed by Vittorio Sala. Cast *Rod Taylor as Pirro *Ed Fury as Glauco *Dorian Gray as Antiope *Danie ...

'' (1960) - Mercante #2 * ''

Robin Hood and the Pirates ''Robin Hood and the Pirates'' ( it, Robin Hood e i pirati) is a 1960 Italian adventure film directed by Giorgio Simonelli, and starring Lex Barker and Jackie Lane. Plot Robin Hood, the protagonist, leaves Sherwood Forest, and joins the pirates ...

'' (1960) - Capitan Uncino * ''Caravan petrol'' (1960) * ''

Garibaldi Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi ( , ;In his native Ligurian language, he is known as ''Gioxeppe Gaibado''. In his particular Niçard dialect of Ligurian, he was known as ''Jousé'' or ''Josep''. 4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, patr ...

'' (1961) - Rosa's Father * ''

L'onorata società ''L'onorata società'' is a 1961 Italian comedy film written and directed by Riccardo Pazzaglia. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Cast * Franco Franchi as Salvatore * C ...

'' (1961) - Salvatore Zappalà * '' The Secret of the Black Falcon'' (1961) - Gouverneur di Melida * ''

Totòtruffa 62 ''Totòtruffa '62'' (also known as ''Totó Vigarista'') is a 1961 Italian comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque. Plot summary Antonio is a poor man who has to support his daughter and especially he should pay her stay at a prestigious bo ...

'' (1961) - The Ambassador of Nicarogua * ''

The Fascist ''The Fascist'' ( it, Il federale) is a 1961 Italian film directed by Luciano Salce. It was coproduced with France. It was also the first feature film scored by Ennio Morricone. Plot The movie takes place in 1944, when Italy was divided bet ...

'' (1961) * ''Maciste contro Ercole nella valle dei guai'' (1961) * ''L'urlo dei bolidi'' (1961) * ''Caribbean Hawk'' (1962) - Nobleman (uncredited) * '' Duel of Fire'' (1962) - Barone Carteri * ''

Musketeers of the Sea ''Musketeers of the Sea'' ( it, I moschettieri del mare) is a 1962 Italian adventure film directed by Steno. Cast * Pier Angeli as Consuelo/Altagracia Di Lorna * Channing Pollock as Pierre De Savigny * Aldo Ray as Moreau * Philippe Cla ...

'' (1962) - Capo Ciurma Gutierrez * ''Love in Four Dimensions'' (1964) * ''

I due mafiosi '' I due mafiosi'' ( es, Dos de la mafia, literally "Two Mafiamen") is a 1964 Italian-Spanish crime comedy film directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring the comedy duo Franco and Ciccio. It is a parody of Alberto Lattuada's ''Mafioso (film), Mafi ...

'' (1964) - Don Calogero * '' I due toreri'' (1965) - Maresciallo * ''

Soldati e caporali ''Soldati e caporali'' (translation: ''Soldiers and Corporals'') is a 1965 Italian "musicarello" comedy military film directed by Mario Amendola starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Cast * Franco Franchi as Franco * Ciccio Ingrassia as Cic ...

'' (1965) - Maresciallo Luigi Donatone * '' Two Mafiosi Against Goldginger'' (1965) - (uncredited) * ''

Due mafiosi contro Al Capone ''Due mafiosi contro Al Capone'' ( es, Dos contra Al Capone, literally "Two Mafiamen against Al Capone") is a 1966 Italian-Spanish gangster-comedy film directed by Giorgio Simonelli starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Cast * Franco Franc ...

'' (1966) - Calogero * ''Ringo and Gringo Against All'' (1966) - Il messicano * '' I due sanculotti'' (1966) - Executioner * ''Giorno caldo al Paradiso Show'' (1966) * ''7 monaci d'oro'' (1966) - Alfio * '' Cjamango'' (1967) * ''

The Handsome, the Ugly, and the Stupid ''Il bello, il brutto, il cretino'', internationally known as ''The Handsome, the Ugly, and the Stupid'' is a 1967 Italian film directed by Giovanni Grimaldi starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. It is a Spaghetti Western parody of ''The Good, ...

'' (1967) - Bookmaker * ''Don't Wait, Django... Shoot!'' (1967) - Don Alvarez (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Buzzanca, Gino 1912 births 1985 deaths Italian male film actors Italian male stage actors Actors from Messina 20th-century Italian male actors