Remembering the Italian actress Pier Angeli
Born on this day in 1932, Angeli’s career began in Italy where she won a Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her role in “Domani è troppo tardi”, which led to her discovery by Hollywood talent scouts
Remembering the Italian actress Pier Angeli
Pier Angeli was born Anna Maria Pierangeli on June 19, 1932, in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. Raised in a family that valued the arts, Angeli’s striking beauty and talent were apparent from a young age. She had a twin sister, Maria Luisa Pierangeli, who would also become an actress under the stage name Marisa Pavan.
Angeli’s acting career began in Italy with the film “Domani è troppo tardi” (1950), directed by Léonide Moguy. Her performance in this movie earned her the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival, which led to her discovery by Hollywood talent scouts.
Angeli’s Hollywood debut came in the film “Teresa” (1951), directed by Fred Zinnemann. Her portrayal of a young Italian war bride won her the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. This early success catapulted her into the Hollywood spotlight.
Throughout the 1950s, Angeli starred in several notable films including “The Story of Three Loves” (1953) – an anthology film where Angeli starred alongside Kirk Douglas, “The Flame and the Flesh” (1954) – where she played opposite Lana Turner and “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (1956) – where Angeli starred with Paul Newman in this biographical film about boxer Rocky Graziano,
Despite her early success, Angeli’s career began to decline in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She continued to act in both American and European films but never regained the same level of stardom.
Pier Angeli’s personal life was marked by high-profile relationships and struggles. She was romantically linked to several famous men, including James Dean, with whom she had a highly publicized relationship. Angeli ultimately married singer and actor Vic Damone in 1954, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1958. They had one son, Perry Damone.
She later married Italian composer Armando Trovajoli in 1962, and they had another son, Andrew. This marriage also ended in divorce in 1969. Angeli’s personal life was often tumultuous, and she faced numerous challenges, including struggles with depression.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Angeli’s career included more European films and television appearances. However, she could not revive her once-bright Hollywood stardom. Her final film role was in the 1971 Italian movie “Octaman.”
Tragically, Pier Angeli passed away on September 10, 1971, at the age of 39, in Beverly Hills, California. Her death was ruled as a suicide by a barbiturate overdose, a sad end to a life that had once held such promise.
Pier Angeli’s legacy as an actress is remembered through her memorable performances and the impact she had on both Italian and Hollywood cinema. Her beauty, talent, and the tragic elements of her personal life have kept her memory alive among classic film enthusiasts.
Look back at a scene from one of Pier Angeli’s most famous roles in the 1956 film “Somebody Up There Like Me” starring alongside Paul Newman
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