Luigi "Gigi" Proietti (2 November 1940 – 2 November 2020) was an Italian actor, dubber, comedian, singer and television presenter.
Early life He was born in Rome to Romano Proietti, originally from Umbria, and Giovanna Ceci, a housewife. During his youth, he was keen on singing and playing guitar, piano, accordion, and double bass at several Roman nightclubs. He enrolled in the Faculty of Law at La Sapienza University, where he attended the mimicry courses of the University Theatre Centre held by Giancarlo Cobelli, who immediately noticed his talent as a musician and booked him for an avantgarde play.
Career Acting After several stage works, in 1966 Proietti debuted both in cinema, in Pleasant Nights, and on television, in the TV series I grandi camaleonti. His first personal success came in 1971, when he replaced Domenico Modugno in the stage musical Alleluja brava gente by Garinei & Giovannini, starring alongside Renato Rascel. In 1974, after playing the role of Neri Chiaramantesi in the drama La cena delle beffe, alongside Carmelo Bene and Vittorio Gassman, in 1976, he started a fruitful collaboration with playwright Roberto Lerici, with whom he wrote and directed his stage plays, starting with the one-man show A me gli occhi, please (Give me your eyes, please, 1976, reported on the scene in 1993, 1996 and 2000, in a memorable performance at the Olympic Stadium in his hometown). Initially planned to be performed 6 times, the show exceeded 300 performances, with an average audience of 2,000 per performance.
He took part in several international movies, including The Appointment (1969), directed by Sidney Lumet, A Wedding (1978), directed by Robert Altman, and Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978), directed by Ted Kotcheff.
Proietti was also a voice dubber of films and television shows into the Italian language. He has dubbed the voices of actors such as Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Newman, Charlton Heston and Marlon Brando. His credits also include the role of the Genie in the Italian version of the Aladdin film series and Draco in Dragonheart. He also provided the Italian voice of Gandalf in The Hobbit film series, replacing the late Gianni Musy, who dubbed Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, as well as Sylvester from Looney Tunes during the 1960s.
Music Proietti was interested in music from a young age. During his time singing in nightclubs and outdoor bars, he was initially not interested in pursuing an acting career. Proietti starred in and performed the opening and closing theme song for Il Circolo Pickwick which aired on Rai 1 in 1968 and at that time, he met Lucio Battisti, who was signed with the record label Dischi Ricordi.
In the mid-1990s, Proietti was a member of alongside Peppino di Capri and Stefano Palatresi. The group was only active from the Sanremo Music Festival 1995 until 1996 and they released only one album. Proietti also enjoyed a successful solo career and he released more than 11 albums and 15 singles.
Personal life
Proietti had been in a relationship since 1962 with Swedish former tour guide Sagitta Alter, with whom he had two daughters, Susanna and Carlotta. His nephew Raffaele has followed him into a voice dubbing career.
Death On 1 November 2020, Proietti suffered a heart attack whilst in the hospital, having been admitted fifteen days prior for heart-related problems. He was transferred to intensive care where his condition was described as critical. Proietti died the following morning, in the early hours of 2 November 2020, the day of his 80th birthday.
After his death, the mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, arranged for the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre to be renamed after Proietti. Proietti's funeral took place on 5 November at the Church of the Artists. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no more than 60 people were in attendance. Proietti was cremated at the Cimitero Flaminio and his ashes were placed at Campo Verano.
Filmography Cinema YearTitleRole(s) Notes1964Let's Talk About WomenOmeroFeature film debut1966Pleasant NightsMario Di Colli1967La ragazza del bersagliereCesare BottazziCatch as Catch CanMake up artistCameo appearance 1968The LibertineSandro Maldini1969A Complicated GirlPietroThe AppointmentFabre1970Brancaleone at the CrusadesDeath / Pattume / ColombinoThe HowlCosoDropoutCieco1971BubùGiulio "the Thief"Lady LibertyMichele Bruni1972Gli ordini sono ordiniMario PasiniMeo PataccaMeo Patacca1973La ToscaMarioProperty Is No Longer a TheftPaco1974I'll Take Her Like a FatherSaverio Mazzaccolli1975The Sex MachineEnrico Nobili1976House of Pleasure for WomenIvanhoe ZuccoliChi dice donna dice donnaFilippo / SoniaSegment: "Papà e maman"The InheritancePippo FerramontiFebbre da cavalloBruno "Mandrake" FiorettiLanguid Kisses, Wet CaressesOrfeo1977Beach HouseGigi1978A WeddingDino CorelliWho Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?Ravello1979Happy HobosAlbergatore1980I Don't Understand You AnymoreAlberto Spinelli1982Di padre in figlioHimselfCameo appearance 1983"FF.SS." – Cioè: "...che mi hai portato a fare sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più bene?"Curtatone1985Mi faccia causaLuigi Marchetti1994Revenge of the MusketeersGiulio Mazarino1999Dirty LinenRodolfo Melchiorri2002Febbre da cavallo – La mandrakataBruno "Mandrake" Fioretti2004The JokesVarious roles2008Un'estate al mareGiulio Bonetti2009Un'estate ai CaraibiAlberto2010La vita è una cosa meravigliosaClaudio2011All at SeaNinoBox Office 3D: The Filmest of FilmsMr. Silenzio2013Guess Who's Coming for Christmas?Leonardo Sereni2014What's Your Sign?Giuliano De Marchis2017The PrizeGiovanni2019PinocchioMangiafuoco2021Io sono Babbo NataleEttore Magni / Santa ClausPosthumous release
Television YearTitleRole(s)Network Notes1964I grandi camaleontiMoureauRai 1Episode: "Episodio 8"1965La maschera e il voltoLuciano SpinaTV film1967Missione WiesenthalDieter Von WisliczenyTV film1968Il circolo PickwickJingle4 episodesPiccoli borghesiNilTV filmIl mondo di PirandelloCiro ColliEpisode: "Camere d'affitto"1970La fantastica storia del Don Chisciotte della ManciaDon QuixoteTV miniseries1974Sabato sera dalle nove alle dieciHimself / HostVariety show1975Fatti e fattacciHimself / co-hostVariety/musical show1981FregoliLeopoldo FregoliLead role1982Attore amore mioHimself / HostVariety show1983–1984FantasticoHimself / HostVariety show (season 4)1985Sogni e bisogniPompeoRai 2Episode: "Micio micio"1986Io a modo mioHimself / HostRai 1Variety show1987American PlayhouseUnknownPBSEpisode: "The Innocents Aboard"1989I 7 re di RomaRomulus / Numa Pompilius / Tullus Hostilius / Ancus Marcius / Tarquinius Priscus / Servius Tullius / Tarquinius SuperbusRai 1TV film1990Villa ArzillaThe GardenerRai 2Main role (also creator and director)1990–1991Club 92Himself / co-hostVariety show1992Un figlio a metàSandro GiacomelliTV film1993–1994PassioniFra' JoãoCanale 5Lead role1994Italian RestaurantGiulio BroccoliRai 1Lead role (also creator and producer)1996–2008Il maresciallo RoccaMarshal Giovanni RoccaLead role1997Un nero per casaLorenzo ParadisiCanale 5TV film1997–2000L'avvocato PortaLawyer Antonio PortaLead role1998Carramba! Che sorpresaHimself / GuestRai 1Also performer19992000 TodayHimself / co-hostSpecial2004Mai storie d'amore in cucinaMarcelloTV film2005Il veterinarioGigi CarulliTV film2010Saint Philip Neri: I Prefer HeavenPhilip NeriTV miniseries2013L'ultimo Papa ReRomeo Colombo da PrivernoTV film2014–2018Una pallottola nel cuoreBruno PalmieriLead role2015Tale e quale showHimself / JudgeTalent show (season 5)
Voice work YearTitleRoleNotes1993Mille bolle bluNarrator2000Chi ha paura...?YorickAnimated film2012StelleNarratorShort film
Dubbing Films (Animation, Italian dub) YearTitleRole(s) Ref1992AladdinGenie1994The Return of Jafar1996Aladdin and the King of Thieves1998Quest for CamelotDevon and Cornwall2011Happy Feet TwoBryan
Films (Live action, Italian dub) YearTitleRole(s)Original actor Ref1966Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?GeorgeRichard BurtonAny WednesdayCass HendersonDean JonesLa Grande VadrouilleAugustin BouvetBourvil1967Action ManJim BeckleyRobert StackLucky, the InscrutableLuckyRay DantonReflections in a Golden EyeMajor Weldon PendertonMarlon BrandoCamelotKing ArthurRichard HarrisThe ProducersLorenzo St. DuBoisDick ShawnDeath Rides a HorseWalcottLuigi PistilliThe HellbendersJeffGino Pernice1968FirecreekBob LarkinHenry FondaDanger: DiabolikInspector GinkoMichel PiccoliThe Stalking MoonSam VarnerGregory PeckThe Girl Who Couldn't Say NoFrancoGeorge Segal1969The UndefeatedColonel James LangdonRock Hudson1970Julius CaesarMark AntonyCharlton HestonA Man Called HorseJohn Morgan / ShunkawakanRichard HarrisThere Was a Crooked Man...Paris Pitman Jr.Kirk Douglas1973Mean StreetsJohn "Johnny Boy" CivelloRobert De Niro1974LennyLenny BruceDustin Hoffman1976Salon KittyHelmut WallenbergHelmut BergerBuffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History LessonBuffalo BillPaul NewmanThe Last TycoonMonroe StahrRobert De NiroFellini's CasanovaGiacomo CasanovaDonald SutherlandRockyRocky BalboaSylvester Stallone1978F.I.S.T.Johnny Kovak1993The VisitorsGodefroy de MontmirailJean Reno1995CasinoSam "Ace" RothsteinRobert De Niro1996DragonheartDracoSean ConneryHamletPlayer KingCharlton Heston2012HitchcockAlfred HitchcockAnthony HopkinsThe Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyGandalfIan McKellen2013The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug2014The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies2019AladdinThe SultanNavid NegahbanThe Art of Racing in the RainEnzoKevin Costner
Television (Animation, Italian dub) YearTitleRole(s)Notes Ref1960–1970Looney TunesSylvesterMain cast; 1960s redubsMerrie MelodiesMain cast; 1960s redubs
Honors On 30 September 2013, Proietti received honorary citizenship from the city of Viterbo. On 14 May 2021, asteroid 7916 Gigiproietti, discovered by astronomers Henri Debehogne and Giovanni de Sanctis at ESO's La Silla Observatory in 1981, was by the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature in his memory.
Awards and nominations Nastro d'Argento Awards 1997: Nastro d'Argento for Best Male Dubbing for dubbing Robert De Niro in Casino 2003: Nastro d'Argento for Best Actor for Febbre da cavallo - La mandrakata 2018: Nastro d'Argento Lifetime Achievement Award
References (Bulletin #1)
External links