Silvana Pampanini, Postwar Italian Diva, Dies
JANUARY 7, 2016 | 04:56AM PT
Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent
ROME – Actress Silvana Pampanini, the voluptuous postwar Italian diva who starred in more than fifty films and reigned as Italy’s sex symbol in the 1950’s when she worked with Vittorio De Sica, Marcello Mastroianni, Buster Keaton, and Vittorio Gassman, among others, died on Wednesday in Rome. She was 90.
Born September 25, 1925, in Rome, Pampanini was the niece of soprano Rosetta Pampanini. She therefore trained as an opera singer and entered the film business after participating in a Miss Italy beauty pageant in 1946. Her failure to win prompted an outcry in the tabloids of the day.
Pampanini’s first big hit was 1951 comedy “Bellezze in bicicletta,” (”Beauties on bicycles”) directed by Carlo Campogalliani. A slew of pics followed, including Luigi Comencini’s drama “The White Slave Trade” in 1952, with Vittorio Gassman; Italo-Spanish comedy “The Island Princess,” (Aka “Tirma”) with Mastroianni; and “Roman Tales,” with De Sica, in 1955. In 1965 she starred in Dino Risi’s Buenos-Aires-set dark comedy “The Gaucho,” also with Gassman.
Pampanini, who became known in France as Ninì Pampas, also worked with Jean Gabin, Henri Vidal, and Abel Gance. She became an icon of Italian beauty around the world, paving the way for subsequent Italian screen sirens Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida.
Though she never married and had no children, Pampanini is said to have cavorted with a string of famous men including Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Egypt’s King Farouk, Orson Welles and Omar Sharif.
A devout Catholic, Pampanini worked only occasionally after giving up acting full-time to look after her elderly parents in the mid-1960s. Her most recent screen role was in Italian TV movie “Tre Stelle” in 1999.
R.I.P. Silvana Pampanini
Whether they are behind the camera or in front of it, this is the place to discuss all filmmakers regardless of their role in the filmmaking process.
Jump to
- Announcements
- ↳ General Announcements
- Introductions
- ↳ Let Me Introduce Myself...
- The Academy Awards
- ↳ The 10th Decade
- ↳ 97th Academy Awards
- ↳ 96th Academy Awards
- ↳ 95th Academy Awards
- ↳ 94th Academy Awards
- ↳ 93rd Academy Awards
- ↳ 92nd Academy Awards
- ↳ 91st Academy Awards
- ↳ The 9th Decade
- ↳ 90th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 90th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 89th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 89th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 88th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 88th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 87th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 87th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 86th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 86th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 85th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 85th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 84th Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 84th Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 83rd Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 83rd Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 82nd Nominations and Winners
- ↳ 82nd Predictions and Precursors
- ↳ 81st and Other 9th Decade Discussions
- ↳ The 8th Decade
- ↳ The Damien Bona Memorial Oscar History Thread
- ↳ Other Oscar Discussions
- General Film Discussions
- ↳ 2020s
- ↳ Coming Soon
- ↳ 2024
- ↳ 2023
- ↳ 2022
- ↳ 2021
- ↳ 2020
- ↳ 2010s
- ↳ 2019
- ↳ 2018
- ↳ 2017
- ↳ 2016
- ↳ 2015
- ↳ 2014
- ↳ 2013
- ↳ 2012
- ↳ 2011
- ↳ 2010
- ↳ 2000s
- ↳ 2009
- ↳ 2008
- ↳ 2000 - 2007
- ↳ The First Century
- ↳ Dream Projects
- ↳ The People
- ↳ Other Film Discussions
- Miscellaneous Discussions
- ↳ Help Forum
- ↳ DVD Discussions
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ Broadcast Media
- ↳ The Cam Dagg Memorial Theatre and Literature Forum
- ↳ General Off-Topic