Fernando Ghia (July 22, 1935 – June 1, 2005) was an Italian film and theatre producer and talent agent. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and a BAFTA Award for Best Film for producing The Mission (1986).
Early years Ghia was born in Rome in 1935. He trained as an actor at Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico, and made his stage debut in 1956 for the company of Giorgio Albertazzi and Anna Proclemer. He took up theatre producing in 1959, overseeing productions of The Miracle Worker and Becket, Or, The Honor of God.
Agent and producer In the 1960s, Ghia had a stint working as an agent for the William Morris Agency, and was taught to speak English by Albert Finney (whom he represented). His other clients Anouk Aimée, Raf Vallone, Rossano Brazzi, Anita Ekberg, Vittorio Gassman, Annie Girardot, Stefania Sandrelli and Gian Maria Volonté. He was an assistant to producer Franco Cristaldi during the decade, later becoming his head of production.
In 1972 he read an article about the Jesuit order and political trouble in South America in Time magazine which generated a lifelong interest in it and formed the basis of several of the films he produced, including The Mission and the Anglo-Italian series Nostromo. He also produced Lady Caroline Lamb (1972), the only film directed by Robert Bolt. He spent over a decade in Hollywood, returning to his native Italy in the late 1980s and establishing Pixit Productions in Rome.
Personal life In the 1990s Ghia married actress (no relation to Dino). They had a son, Sebastian, in 1996. For several years, Ghia resided at a suite at The Dorchester in London.
Death At his funeral in June 2005, Ennio Morricone's stirring theme for The Mission was reportedly played.
Filmography
Film Year Title Director Notes 1969 The Red Tent Mikhail KalatozovAssociate producer1972Winged DevilsDuccio TessariExecutive producerLady Caroline LambRobert Bolt1982Spaghetti HouseGiulio Paradisi1986The MissionRoland Joffé1990Tre colonne in cronacaCarlo Vanzina
Television Year Title Director Notes 1989 The Endless Game Bryan ForbesMiniseries; 2 episodes1997NostromoAlastair ReidMiniseries; 4 episodes
Accolades Institution Year Category Work ResultRef.Academy Awards 1987 Best Picture The MissionBritish Academy Film Awards1987Best FilmDavid di Donatello1987Best Foreign Film
References
External links
PBS interview with Ghia on Nostromo