Giancarlo Giannini Biography
Giancarlo Giannini, born on August 1, 1942, in La Spezia, Italy, is known for his dynamic acting skills and his love for inventions. As a child, he spent most of his days in the small town of Pitelli before moving to Naples where he completed his education in electronic engineering.
However, his true passion was in acting, and he moved to Rome to study at the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D’Amico.
Giannini made his stage debut at the age of 18 in a production of In memoria di una signora amica, and his acting career soon took off when he was cast in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Romeo and Juliet, which played at The Old Vic in London.
Giancarlo Giannini made his film debut in I criminali della metropoli in 1965, and went on to appear in supporting roles in Anzio and The Secret of Santa Vittoria. However, it was his starring role in Swept Away, which catapulted him to international fame.
Giancarlo Giannini’s performance in Love and Anarchy won him the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor in 1973, and he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in Seven Beauties in 1976. He continued to impress audiences with his performances in Lina Wertmüller’s films, such as The Seduction of Mimi, Love and Anarchy, A Night Full of Rain, and Francesca e Nunziata.
Giannini’s fluency in English led him to be cast in various Hollywood productions, such as Inspector Pazzi in Hannibal and Man on Fire. He also played Emperor Shaddam IV in the 2000 Dune miniseries and French agent René Mathis in the James Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
Apart from acting, Giannini had a passion for inventing gadgets, and some of his inventions were used in the 1992 film Toys starring Robin Williams. He also collaborated with Gabriella Greison on his memoir Sono ancora un bambino, which was published in 2014, and received the Premio Cesare Pavese in 2015.
Giancarlo Giannini was married to actress Livia Giampalmo from 1967 to 1975, and they had two children. Their eldest son, Lorenzo, passed away in 1987, while their second-born son, Adriano Giannini, followed in his father’s footsteps and became an actor. Giancarlo has been married to Eurilla del Bono since 1983, and they have two sons, Emanuele and Francesco, both musicians.
In 2009, Giancarlo Giannini received a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Canada, and is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2021.
