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claudia Cardinale, Iconic Star of Italian Cinema, Dies at 87
Paris, France – Claudia Cardinale, the captivating actress who graced the silver screen in some of cinema’s most celebrated films, including Federico Fellini‘s 8½ and Sergio Leone‘s Once Upon a time in the West, has died at the age of 87. Her agent, Laurent savry, confirmed her passing in Nemours, near Paris, surrounded by her children.
Cardinale’s career spanned decades, establishing her as a leading lady of Italian cinema and a globally recognized star. Born in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 15, 1938, she rose to prominence after winning a beauty contest in 1957, earning the title of “Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.”
Her film debut came in 1958 with a small role in Goha, alongside Omar Sharif. However,it was her performance in Luchino visconti’s 1960 drama,Rocco and His Brothers,that truly launched her career. She quickly became a fixture in Italian cinema, starring in a string of successful films like Girl with a suitcase (1961) and Cartouche (1962).
Image of Cardinale with Alain Delon in 1963’s ‘The Leopard’ (Getty)
Cardinale’s talent extended beyond Italy. She charmed audiences with her role opposite Peter Sellers in The Pink Panther (1963) and delivered a memorable performance in Visconti’s epic The Leopard (1963).
