Gianfelice "Gianni" Bonagura (27 October 1925 – 8 October 2017) was an Italian actor and voice actor.

Life and career

Born 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 ...

, Bonagura was active on film, stage, television and radio. He appeared in 40 films between 1950 and 2001. He arrived at the threshold of a degree in philosophy, then in 1946 he abandoned his studies to attend the Silvio d'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Arts. Essentially a stage actor, Bonagura became popular in the second half of the fifties as a radio actor, protagonist of

vignettes Vignette may refer to: * Vignette (entertainment), a sketch in a sketch comedy * Vignette (graphic design), decorative designs in books (originally in the form of leaves and vines) to separate sections or chapters * Vignette (literature), short, i ...

together with

Nino Manfredi Saturnino "Nino" Manfredi (22 March 1921 – 4 June 2004) was an Italian actor, voice actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, comedian, singer, author, radio personality and television presenter. He was one of the most prominent Italian a ...

and Paolo Ferrari. In cinema and television, he was only used 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 ...

, with the exception of the role of

Dr. Watson John H. Watson, known as Dr. Watson, is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). The last work by Doyle f ...

in the 1968

RAI RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...

television series ''

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

''. Bonagura also worked as a voice actor. He occasionally dubbed over the voices of Danny De Vito,

Mel Brooks Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodies. He began h ...

and

Ian Holm Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert (12 September 1931 – 19 June 2020) was an English actor who was knighted in 1998 for his contributions to theatre and film. Beginning his career on the British stage as a standout member of the Royal Shakespeare Company ...

. One of his most popular dubbing roles includes providing the Italian voice of Palpatine's alter ego, Darth Sidious in '' Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace''. In his animated roles, he dubbed the voices of Uncle Waldo in ''

The Aristocats ''The Aristocats'' is a 1970 American animated romantic musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman. The 20th Disney animated feature film, the film is based on a story by Tom McGowan and Tom R ...

'' and Mr. Snoops in ''

The Rescuers ''The Rescuers'' is a 1977 American animated adventure comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution. The 23rd Disney animated feature film, its story follows Bernard and Bianca, two members ...

''.

Death

Bonagura died in

on 8 October 2017, 19 days before his 92nd birthday.

Selected filmography

* '' Against the Law'' (1950) *''

Fugitive in Trieste ''Fugitive in Trieste'' ( it, Clandestino a Trieste) is a 1951 Italian war-drama film directed by Guido Salvini and starring Doris Duranti, Jacques Sernas and Massimo Girotti. Plot Giulio (Jacques Sernas), an Italian Air Force officer is arrest ...

'' (1951) *'' Susanna Whipped Cream'' (1957) *''

The Employee ''The Employee'' ( it, L'impiegato) is a List of Italian films of 1959, 1959 Cinema of Italy, Italian comedy film directed by Gianni Puccini. The film is loosely inspired by ''The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947 film), The Secret Life of Walter ...

'' (1959) * ''

Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti ''Audace colpo dei soliti ignoti'' (also known as ''Fiasco in Milan'' or ''Hold-up à la milanaise'') is a 1959 Italian comedy crime film directed by Nanni Loy. The film stars Vittorio Gassman, Renato Salvatori and Claudia Cardinale. It is the s ...

'' (1960) * '' Behind Closed Doors'' (1961) * ''

Damon and Pythias The story of Damon (; grc-gre, Δάμων, gen. Δάμωνος) and Pythias (; or ; or Phintias, ) is a legend in Greek historic writings illustrating the Pythagorean ideal of friendship. Pythias is accused of and charged with plotting against ...

'' (1962) * ''

Le pillole di Ercole ''Le pillole di Ercole'' is a 1960 Italian comedy film directed by Luciano Salce. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Cast * Nino Manfredi as Dottor Pasqui * Sylva Koscina ...

'' (1962) * ''

I cuori infranti ''I cuori infranti'' ( ''The Broken Hearts'') is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Vittorio Caprioli and Gianni Puccini. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Cast Segmen ...

'' (1963) * ''

'' (1968) * ''

In Prison Awaiting Trial ''In Prison Awaiting Trial'' ( it, Detenuto in attesa di giudizio) is a 1971 Italian drama film directed by Nanni Loy. It was entered into the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival where Alberto Sordi won the Silver Bear for Best Actor award. ...

'' (1971) * ''

My Darling Slave ''My Darling Slave'' ( it, La schiava io ce l'ho e tu no, "The emaleslave, I have her and you don't", also known as ''The Slave'') is a 1973 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Capitani. It stars Lando Buzzanca, Catherine Spaak, and Adrian ...

'' (1973) * ''

The Great Kidnapping ''The Great Kidnapping'' ( it, La polizia sta a guardare, also known as ''The Police Look On'' and ''Ransom! Police Is Watching'') is a 1973 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Roberto Infascelli. Cast * Enrico Maria Salerno: Quaestor Cardo ...

'' (1973) * '' Sex Pot'' (1975) * '' Segni particolari: bellissimo'' (1983) * '' I Am an ESP'' (1985) * ''

Grandi magazzini ''Grandi magazzini'' ( Department Stores) is a 1986 Italian anthology-comedy film directed by Castellano & Pipolo. Plot summary Various characters and stories intertwine inside the Grandi Magazzini store. Evaristo Mazzetti is a cleaner at th ...

'' (1986) * ''

In the Name of the Sovereign People ''In the Name of the Sovereign People'' ( it, In nome del popolo sovrano) is a 1990 Italian historical comedy-drama film written and directed by Luigi Magni. It won the David di Donatello for best costumes. Plot Rome, Papal States, 1849. P ...

'' (1990) * ''

Tre colonne in cronaca ''Tre colonne in cronaca'' (''Three columns in the news'') is a 1990 Italian drama film directed by Carlo Vanzina. It is loosely based on the novel with the same name written by Corrado Augias and Daniela Pasti. For his performance Sergio Caste ...

'' (1990) * '' Ferdinando and Carolina'' (1999) * '' Padre Pio: Miracle Man'' (2000)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bonagura, Gianni 1925 births 2017 deaths Male actors from Milan Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico alumni Italian male film actors Italian male voice actors Italian male television actors Italian male stage actors Italian male radio actors 20th-century Italian male actors