Ettore Manni


Ettore Manni was an Italian actor, active in film and television from 1952 and 1979. He was a popular leading man during the 1950’s and ‘60s, when he was a star of the peplum genre. In the following decade, he primarily played supporting roles, with his last appearance in Federico Fellini's City of Women.

Life and career

Manni was born and raised in Rome. While still a university student, he was spotted by director Luigi Comencini, who cast him in the lead role of his crime drama Girls Marked Danger, despite his complete lack of acting experience. Following the success of the film, Manni turned to acting full-time, appearing in a significant number of films of any genre, becoming in a short time one of the most popular leading men in the Italian cinema. During the following two decades, Manni became a star of the peplum genre.
His fame declined somewhat in the 1960's, though he maintained a healthy career in supporting roles. He appeared mainly in Spaghetti Westerns and poliziotteschi, though he also took part in several international productions, including films by Delmer Daves and Tony Richardson.
Trading on his reputation as a rugged, masculine screen hero, Manni was cast in a co-starring role by Federico Fellini as Dr. Xavier Katzone in his surreal 1980 "battle-of-the-sexes" comedy City of Women. It would be his last film role, as he died shortly after completing his scenes.

Personal life

Manni was married to actress Mireille Granelli, whom he met during the filming of Hercules, Prisoner of Evil. The two had a daughter together, named Alessia.
After their divorce, Manni entered a long-term relationship with Krista Nell, until her death from leukemia in 1975.

Death

Following Nell's death, Manni entered a period of severe depression. He died on 27 July 1979, aged 52, at his home in Rome from blood loss caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his thigh. It is unknown if the injury was accidental or self-inflicted.

Filmography

Girls Marked Danger - Carlo SozzosiThe Three Pirates - Il Corsaro Nero - Enrico di VentimigliaBrothers of Italy - Il capitano Nazario SauroFatal Desire - TuridduLa lupa - Nanni LascaThe Ship of Condemned Women - Da SilvaTwo Nights with Cleopatra - MarcantonioAttila - Bleda, brother of AttilaHuman Torpedoes - MarcoBella non piangere - Enrico TotiLe Amiche - Carlo' - Marco VettiFolgore Division - Captain Martini