Gigi Ballista
Gigi Ballista was an Italian film and television actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1961 and 1980.
Life and career
Born in Florence, Ballista graduated in law, then he started working as a PR consultant in the field of advertising and industrial documentaries. He debuted as an actor at a mature age in the early 1960s with some minor roles, but his breakout came in 1966 with a role of weight in Pietro Germi's The Birds, the Bees and the Italians.
Following the critical and commercial success of the film, Ballista decided to pursue a professional career as an actor, and he became, mainly thanks to his characteristic hoarse and dysphonic voice, one of the most recognizable character actors in Italian cinema and television.
Selected filmography
A Day for Lionhearts - Il frateI maniaci - Count at the party The Dreamer - MedicoThe Birds, the Bees and the Italians - Giacinto CastellanHow I Learned to Love Women - Sir ArchibaldPleasant Nights - Luca di MontemerloSex Quartet - The Priest The Seventh Floor - Dr. ClarettaThe Climax - Don MicheleL'Homme qui trahit la mafia - Aldo Galileo - Trial JudgeTorture Me But Kill Me with Kisses - EngineerEmma Hamilton - Le cardinal RuffoColpo di sole Fellini Satyricon - The Secret of Santa Vittoria - Padre PolentaUna storia d'amore - BorgogniniKill the Fatted Calf and Roast It - Il medicoLady Caliph - Il principe industrialeThe Blonde in the Blue Movie - Commendatore Silvio BorellonRoma Bene - VitozziTrastevere - Il conteDo Not Commit Adultery - Padre SpiridoneSnow Job Beati i ricchi - CommendatoreBlack Turin - MarinottiHouse of 1000 Pleasures - Genie in lampGiovannona Long-Thigh - Commendatore La NoceCrescete e moltiplicatevi - DottoreBlume in Love - Older ManLa signora è stata violentata! - CariniStregoni di città Brigitte, Laura, Ursula, Monica, Raquel, Litz, Florinda, Barbara, Claudia, e Sofia le chiamo tutte... anima mia Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia - Dottore Fischia il sesso - Mr. LewisClaretta and Ben - Gino's FriendStavisky - Gaston HenrietSesso in testa - Father of CarlettoPoker in Bed - Il commendator Gervasio CaminataPolicewoman - L'avvocatoPiange... il telefono The Family Vice - The CountThe Sunday Woman - VolleroMala, amore e morte - avv. Carlo Alberto GiorgiLa banca di Monate - The BishopIl giustiziere di mezzogiorno - Direttore RossettiIl fratello La madama - Il VenezianoConfessions of a Lady Cop - Questore MorettiSalon Kitty - GeneralLa dottoressa sotto il lenzuolo - Prof. CiottiFebbre da cavallo - Conte DallaraUn amore targato Forlì Cassiodoro il più duro del pretorio La compagna di banco - GirardiMidnight Express - Chief JudgeLiquirizia - BartolozziI Hate Blondes - PsychiatristL'assistente sociale tutto pepe - Bishop