Person Biography:
Ettore Manni was a renowned Italian actor, born on May 6, 1927, in Rome, Italy. He began his acting career in 1952, appearing in over 100 films throughout his nearly three-decade-long career. Manni was known for his rugged and good-looking appearance, often playing the continental lover in his early movies.
Manni's early career saw him paired with Italy's leading ladies, including Sophia Loren, Eleonora Rossi Drago, and Gianna Maria Canale. He played opposite Loren in Two Nights with Cleopatra (1954),where he portrayed Marc Antony to her Cleopatra. He also appeared in films with Kerima and May Britt, including Fatal Desire (1953) and The Ship of Damned Women (1953).
Manni's career continued to flourish in the late 1950s and 1960s, with roles in sword-and-sandal spectacles such as Hercules and the Captive Women (1961) and Giants of Rome (1964). He also appeared in spaghetti westerns, including Ringo and His Golden Pistol (1966) and I Am Sartana, Your Angel of Death (1969).
Outside of Italy, Manni played priests and officer parts, including a couple of roles in the popular French "Angelique" series. He also supported American and British male leads in Italian productions, including John Mills in The Valiant (1962) and Cameron Mitchell in Attack of the Normans (1962).
Manni's personal life was marked by a long-term companionship with Austrian-born actress Krista Nell, whom he met in the early 1970s. Nell was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in 1975, leaving Manni devastated and suffering from chronic depression. Despite his struggles, Manni continued to work in Italy, appearing in numerous films and TV projects.
Manni's life was cut short when he died on July 27, 1979, at the age of 52. The circumstances of his death were initially believed to be an accidental shooting, but it is now thought that he took his own life. His final film, Federico Fellini's City of Women (1980),was released posthumously, featuring Manni in a supporting role alongside Marcello Mastroianni.
