Director, writer, screenwriter and actor Damiano Damiani died today March 7, 2013 in Rome at his home from respiratory failure. This was confirmed by his daughter Sybil.
Born in Pordenone July 23, 1922, Damiano Damiani had a long career in the cinema. He established himself as a leader of the civil-political trend especially for his films such as 'Il giorno della civetta' ('The Day of the Owl'), based on the novel by Leonardo Sciascia, with Claudia Cardinale and Franco Nero
Among his most famous films is 'Arturo's Island' (from the novel by Elsa Morante), 'L’isola di Arturo', 'Io ho paura' with Gian Maria Volonte. He directed the feature film debut of Ornella Muti, in 1970’s in ‘'La moglie più bella'’.
His name is also linked to the TV drama ' 'La Piovra' (1984), in which he recounts the intertwining of politics and the mafia around the figure of Commissioner Corrado Cattani, played by Michele Placido. He was also an actor in films, including ' 'Il delitto Matteotti' by Florestano Vancini.
For many years he has been retired. In 2002 he released his latest film, ' 'Assassini dei giorni di festa', which tells of how a group of starving Italian actors, choose to play the part of relatives to the funerals of people unknown to them, in attempt to steal something.
Damiani was involved in two classic films of the Spaghetti western genre: “A Bullet for the General” (1966), with Gian Maria Volonte, Klaus Kinski and Lou Castel and “The Genius” (1975) with Terence Hill and Patrick McGoohan
DAMIANI, Damiano
Born: 7/23/1922, Pasiano, Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Udine, Italy
Died: 3/7/2013, Rome, Lazio, Italy
Damiano Damiani’s westerns – director, screenwriter, actor, himself:
A Bullet for the General – 1966 (Journalist) [director, screenwriter]
The Genius - 1975 [director, screenwriter]
Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern (TV) - 2005 [himself]