Gabriele Ferzetti (1925 - 2015)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gabriele-ferzetti-playboy-michelangelo-antonioni-845390

Hollywood Reporter wrote:

Gabriele Ferzetti, the Italian stage, screen and TV star whose career spanned seven decades, died in Rome on Wednesday. He was 90.

With more than 160 credits to his name, Ferzetti was best known for his critically acclaimed role as the oversexed playboy in Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura.

Ferzetti also starred in Antonioni’s film Girlfriends. Among his other most famous films were Mario Soldati’s The Provincial and Elio Petri’s To each his own.

His career crossed over into Hollywood in 1966 with the role of Lot in John Huston’s The Bible and as Morton the railroad baron in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West.

Ferzetti is also remembered internationally for playing an organized crime boss in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the one and only time George Lazenby played 007. Ferzetti was sought out by Bond producers to play Marc Ange-Draco but due to his heavy Italian accent his speaking parts were dubbed.

Ferzetti also appeared in Liliana Cavani’s The Night Porter and most recently Luca Guadagnino’s 2009 film I Am Love.

Born March 17, 1925, Ferzetti began acting in the 1940s before coming to prominence in the 1950s when he played Puccini in two films, Puccini and Casa Ricordi. He then took on costarring roles alongside actors including Elsa Martinelli (Donatella) and Marcello Mastroianni (Girls for the Summer).

As well as cinema, Ferzetti had prominent television roles including parts on the series Dossier Mata Hari, I Vecchi e I Giovani, and more recently on Une Famille Formidable.

To my favourite James Bond ally, may you rest in peace.

Only seen him in OHMSS and ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, still left behind an impressive career.

Sad news indeed.

RIP

R.I.P. Very fine actor.

Rest In Peace

One of the finest Bond allies and actors to grace the series. RIP.