Franco Latini (September 12, 1927 – February 2, 1991) was an Italian

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

and

voice actor Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

. He was considered to be one of the top voice dubbers for many animated films and cartoons for audiences across Italy.

Biography

Born in Pomezia, which is in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, Latini started out working as a singer in nightclubs in the early 1950s, then he went on to work in the theatre and star in the 1953 film '' The World Condemns Them''. Among Latini's most popular filmography includes the 1966 musical-comedy film '' Mondo pazzo... gente matta!'' starring

Silvana Pampanini Silvana Pampanini (25 September 1925 – 6 January 2016) was an Italian film actress, director and singer. She was also the niece of the well-known soprano of the golden era of opera, Dame Rosetta Pampanini. Silvana Pampanini caused a sensation ...

and the 1976 film '' The Black Maid'' starring Carla Brait. Despite Latini's popularity working as an actor, he was also heavily active as a voice actor. He dubbed Stan Laurel in several redubs of '' Laurel and Hardy'' shorts and films in which he was paired up with Carlo Croccolo. He also dubbed characters in many animated productions. He was the first voice of

Skeletor Skeletor () is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the ''Masters of the Universe'' franchise created by Mattel, serving as the archenemy of the protagonist He-Man. He is typically depicted as a blue-skinned humanoid who wears a purpl ...

in '' Masters of the Universe'' and from 1983 until 1988, he was the primary Italian voice of Donald Duck and he even dubbed Tom from '' Tom & Jerry'' and various characters from '' Looney Tunes'' and ''

The Muppet Show ''The Muppet Show'' is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two pilot episodes produced by Henson for ABC in 1974 and 1975. While neither episode was moved forward as a s ...

''. Latini founded his own dubbing company in the late 1970s, which was active until some point during the 1980s. In 1981, he lost one of his legs in an accident, which rendered him unable to perform on screen. After that, he devoted himself exclusively to dubbing.

Personal life

Latini had three children, daughters Laura and Ilaria from his marriage with dialogue writer Maria Pinto and son

Fabrizio Fabrizio is an Italian first name, from the Latin word "Faber" meaning "smith" and may refer to: * Fabrizio Barbazza (born 1963), Italian Formula One driver * Fabrizio Barca (born 1954), Italian politician * Fabrizio Brienza (born 1969), Italian mo ...

from his relationship with actress Piera Vidale. All three followed in Latini's footsteps.

Death

Latini died of a stroke at the

Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic The Gemelli University Hospital ( it, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli) is a large general hospital in Rome, Italy. With 1575 beds, it is the second-largest hospital in Italy, the largest hospital in Rome and one of the lar ...

around the evening of February 2, 1991 at the age of 63. He was later interred at

Campo Verano The Campo Verano (Italian: ''Cimitero del Verano'') is a cemetery in Rome, Italy, founded in the early 19th century. The monumental cemetery is currently divided into sections: the Jewish cemetery, the Catholic cemetery, and the monument to the ...

Filmography

Cinema

*'' The World Condemns Them'' (1953) - Double Bass Player (uncredited) *'' Serenatella sciuè sciuè'' (1958) - Barone Paolino *'' The Motorized Women'' (1963) - Plump Man with a Hat (uncredited) *'' Bullet in the Flesh'' (1964) - Bob Rusky *'' Blue Summer'' (1965) - Oliveras *'' Mondo pazzo... gente matta!'' (1966) - Paolo Pizziconi *'' For Love... for Magic...'' (1967) *''

Johnny Hamlet ''Johnny Hamlet'' ( it, Quella sporca storia nel West, lit=That Dirty Story in the West is a 1968 Italian film directed by Enzo G. Castellari. The film is a Spaghetti Western version of William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Hamlet''. Plot Johnny Hamil ...

'' (1968) - Gravedigger *'' May God Forgive You... But I Won't'' (1968) - Undertaker *'' Jus primae noctis'' (1972) *'' The Black Maid'' (1976) - Placido

Television

*'' Qui squadra mobile'' (1973) - Padrone

Dubbing roles

Animation

*Luke in ''

The Rescuers ''The Rescuers'' is a 1977 American animated adventure comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution. The 23rd Disney animated feature film, its story follows Bernard and Bianca, two members ...

'' *Various characters in '' Looney Tunes'' *Various characters in '' Merrie Melodies'' *

Daffy Duck Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character created for Leon Schlesinger Productions by animators Tex Avery and Bob Clampett. Styled as an anthropomorphic black duck, he has appeared in cartoon series such as ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Mel ...

in ''

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie ''The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie'' is a 1979 American animated comedy package film directed by Chuck Jones, consisting of a compilation of classic '' Looney Tunes/ Merrie Melodies'' shorts and newly animated bridging sequences hosted by Bugs ...

'' *Various characters in ''

The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie ''The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie'' (credited onscreen as ''Friz Freleng's Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie'') is a 1981 American animated comedy package film with a compilation of classic ''Looney Tunes''/''Merrie Melodies'' War ...

'' *Various characters in '' Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales'' *Various characters in '' Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island'' *Various characters in ''

The Flintstones ''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighb ...

'' *Various characters in ''

Kimba the White Lion ''Kimba the White Lion'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese '' shōnen'' manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka which was serialized in the '' Manga Shōnen'' magazine from November 1950 to April 1954. An anime based on ...

'' *Bobo and Rock Slag in '' The Man Called Flintstone'' *Various characters in ''

'' *

in ''

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattel's toy line ''Masters of the Universe''. The show, often referred to as simply ''He-Man'', was one of the most popular anim ...

'' (season 1) *

Muttley Muttley is a fictional dog created in 1968 by Hanna-Barbera Productions; he was originally voiced by Don Messick. He is the foil to the cartoon villain Dick Dastardly, and appeared with him in the 1968 television series '' Wacky Races'' and its ...

in ''

Wacky Races Eccentricity (also called quirkiness) is an unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive. Eccentricity is contrasted with nor ...

'' *Muttley in ''

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines ''Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines'' (or simply ''Dastardly and Muttley'' in the UK and Ireland) is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and a spin-off from '' Wacky Races''. The show was ...

'' * Tom in '' Tom & Jerry'' * Donald Duck in All Disney Productions (1983-1988) *Mr. Jinks in ''

Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks ''Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks'' is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon television series that featured as a regular segment of the television series ''The Huckleberry Hound Show'' from 1958 to 1961. Plot The cartoon series stars two mice, the bow-tied Pix ...

'' *Top Cat in ''

Top Cat ''Top Cat'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and originally broadcast in prime time on the ABC network. It aired in a weekly evening time slot from September 27, 1961, to April 18, 1962, for a single season of ...

'' *Top Cat in ''

Yogi's Treasure Hunt ''Yogi's Treasure Hunt'' (originally titled ''The Funtastic Treasure Hunt'') is an American animated television series and the fifth entry in the ''Yogi Bear'' franchise produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, featuring Yogi Bear and various other ...

'' *Top Cat in '' Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats'' *

Popeye Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.Popeye and Son ''Popeye and Son'' is an American animated comedy series based on the ''Popeye'' comic strip created by E.C. Segar and published by King Features Syndicate. Jointly produced by Hanna-Barbera and King Features subsidiary King Features Entertainm ...

'' *Spider Monster in '' Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf'' *Hair Bear in '' Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!'' *Grape Ape / Beegle Beagle in ''

The Great Grape Ape Show ''The Great Grape Ape Show'' is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and broadcast on ABC from September 6 to December 13, 1975. ABC continued to air it in reruns until 1978. Premise The title character i ...

'' *Gus Holiday / Brutus the Lion in ''

The Roman Holidays ''The Roman Holidays'' is a half-hour Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and broadcast on NBC from September 9 to December 2, 1972. It ran for 13 episodes before being cancelled, and reruns were later shown on ...

'' *Punkin' Puss in '' Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse''

Live action

* Stan Laurel in '' Laurel and Hardy'' (1968-1970 redubs) *Moe Gelly in ''

Once Upon a Time in America ''Once Upon a Time in America'' ( it, C'era una volta in America) is a 1984 epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American venture prod ...

'' *Benjy Benjamin in ''

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer with a story and screenplay by William Rose and Tania Rose. The film, starring Spencer Tracy with an all-star cast of comedians, is a ...

'' *El Nebuloso in ''

Yellowbeard ''Yellowbeard'' is a 1983 British comedy film directed by Mel Damski and written by Graham Chapman, Peter Cook, Bernard McKenna, and David Sherlock, with an ensemble cast featuring Chapman, Cook, Peter Boyle, Cheech & Chong, Martin Hewitt, ...

'' *Tushin in ''

War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (russian: Война и мир, translit=Voyna i mir; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy that mixes fictional narrative with chapters on history and philosophy. It was first published ...

'' *Albert C. Provo in '' The Green Berets'' *Second Griner in ''

Deliverance ''Deliverance'' is a 1972 American survival thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman, and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox, with the latter two making their feature film debuts. The screenplay was adapt ...

'' *Photographer in '' Little Fauss and Big Halsy'' *Eugene in ''

Honky Tonk Freeway ''Honky Tonk Freeway'' is a 1981 American-British comedy film directed by John Schlesinger. The film, conceived and co-produced by Don Boyd, was one of the most expensive box office bombs in history, losing its British backers Thorn EMI betwee ...

'' *Lucius in '' The Beauty Jungle''

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Latini, Franco 1927 births 1991 deaths Male actors from Rome Italian male film actors Italian male stage actors Italian male television actors Italian male voice actors Italian voice directors 20th-century Italian male actors Italian amputees Burials at Campo Verano