Legendary Actress Claudia Cardinale Dies at 87
Rome, Italy – Claudia Cardinale, the iconic Italian actress celebrated for her captivating beauty and powerful performances in films like “8 ½” and “The Professionals,” has died at the age of 87. Her death was reported by italian news agency ANSA on Monday.
Cardinale rose to prominence as Italy’s answer to Brigitte Bardot, though she forged her own distinct path to international stardom. Born in Tunisia to Italian parents, she began her career with a small role in the 1958 comedy “Rufufú,” produced by Franco Cristaldi, who later became her husband from 1966 to 1975.
Known for portraying passionate women, Cardinale initially had her voice dubbed in early films due to her deep voice and strong French-Italian accent. While she achieved some success in Hollywood, appearing alongside Rock Hudson in “Blindfold” (1965) and Tony Curtis in “Don’t Make Waves” (1967), she prioritized European cinema.
“They wanted me to sign an exclusivity contract, and I refused. Because I am a European actress and I was going there to make movies,” Cardinale explained in a 2002 interview with The Guardian. She considered 1966’s “The Professionals,” directed by Richard Brooks and co-starring Burt Lancaster, Jack Palance, Robert Ryan, and Lee Marvin, to be her best Hollywood film, calling it “really a magnificent movie.”
Throughout her prolific career,Cardinale collaborated with some of Europe’s and Hollywood’s leading directors. She received a golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival decades after her screen debut. In 2000, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO, dedicating her efforts to the defense of women’s rights.
Cardinale is survived by two children, one with Cristaldi and another with Italian director Pasquale Squitieri. ”They gave me everything,” Cardinale once said, reflecting on her life. “It is fantastic to live so many lives. I have lived more than 150 lives, totally different women.”