Jimmy Il Fenomeno
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Luigi Origene Soffrano, better known by his stage name Jimmy il Fenomeno (22 April 1932 – 6 August 2018) was an Italian actor who played supporting roles within the Italian cinema.


Biography

Born in
Lucera Lucera (Neapolitan language, Lucerino: ) is an Italian city of 34,243 inhabitants in the province of Foggia in the region of Apulia, and the seat of the Diocese of Lucera-Troia. Located upon a flat knoll in the Tavoliere delle Puglie, Tavoliere ...
, Jimmy il Fenomeno began his acting career in 1957 starring in the film '' Legs of Gold'' starring
Totò Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il principe della risat ...
which was released a year later. He landed the role after an audition with the film production company
Titanus Titanus (also called Titanus Distribuzione) is an Italian film production and distribution company, founded in 1904 by Gustavo Lombardo (1885–1951). The company's headquarters are located at 28 Via Sommacampagna, Rome and its studios on the Vi ...
. An actor spanning nearly 50 years, Jimmy il Fenomeno participated in over 150 films usually playing minor or supporting roles in a
commedia sexy all'italiana The ''commedia sexy all'italiana'' (, lit. "sex comedy Italian style"), also known as ''commedia scollacciata'' ("low-cut comedy") or ''commedia erotica all'italiana'', is a subgenre of the Italian ''commedia all'italiana'' film genre. Style '' ...
. He suffered from
strabismus Strabismus is an eye disorder in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. The eye that is pointed at an object can alternate. The condition may be present occasionally or constantly. If present during a ...
, which contributed greatly to his comedic roles as well as his odd laugh exposure. In the 1980s, Jimmy il Fenomeno explored a career in television, He appeared in the successful Italian television program '' Drive In'' directed by
Giancarlo Nicotra Giancarlo Nicotra (30 April 1944 – 12 June 2013), sometimes spelled Gian Carlo Nicotra, was an Italian television writer, director and actor. Biography Born in Rome, Nicotra was the son of the actors Mariannina Libassi and Antonio Nicotra. H ...
and Beppe Ricchia. By the 1990s, there was a decline in his career due to serious health issues. He eventually needed to use a wheelchair. In 2003, Jimmy il Fenomeno retired and settled into an elderly home. In several of his films. Jimmy il Fenomeno's voice was dubbed by voice artists such as Piero Tiberi, Franco Latini,
Ferruccio Amendola Ferruccio Amendola (22 July 1930 – 3 September 2001) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Turin to actors Federico Amendola and Amelia Ricci and the nephew of director and screenwriter Mario Amendola, he was among Italy's m ...
and
Enzo Garinei Enzo Garinei (4 May 1926 – 25 August 2022) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in nearly 80 films since 1949. He was also a professional voice artist, best remembered as the Italian voice of Sherman Hemsley in the American sitcom ''The Je ...
. Jimmy il Fenomeno's name in English translates to "Jimmy the Phenomenon".


Death

Jimmy il Fenomeno died on August 6, 2018, in his home in
Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
as a result of his depleting health. He was 86 years old. He was buried in a cemetery within the district of Chiaravalle.


Filmography


Cinema

*'' Legs of Gold'' (1958) *''
The Fascist ''The Fascist'' () is a 1961 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Luciano Salce. It was coproduced with France. It was also the first feature film scored by Ennio Morricone. Plot In 1944, Italy is divided between the fascist puppet state ...
'' (1961) *'' Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis'' (1961) *'' Day by Day, Desperately'' (1961) *''
His Women ''His Women'' () is a 1961 Italian comedy film directed by and starring Ugo Tognazzi. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Cast * Ugo Tognazzi as Stefano Garbelli * Ilaria Occ ...
'' (1961) *''
Crazy Desire ''Crazy Desire'' (originally titled as ''La voglia matta'', also known as ''The Crazy Urge'') is a 1962 Italian comedy film directed by Luciano Salce. It launched the film career of Catherine Spaak. The film initially was banned by the Italian cen ...
'' (1962) *'' A Girl... and a Million'' (1962) * '' The Changing of the Guard'' (1962) *'' The Monk of Monza'' (1963) *''
Messalina vs. the Son of Hercules ''Messalina vs. the Son of Hercules'' () is a 1964 peplum film, ''peplum'' film directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring Richard Harrison (actor), Richard Harrison and Lisa Gastoni.Michele Giordano. ''Giganti buoni''. Gremese Editore, 1998. . Plot ...
'' (1964) *''
I figli del leopardo ''I figli del leopardo'' (also known as ''Sons of the Leopard'') is a 1965 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio that is a parody of ''The Leopard''. Plot Sicily, 1860. The Baron Tulico is a pen ...
'' (1965) *''
Lola Colt ''Lola Colt'' (also known as ''Black Tigress'' and ''Lola Baby'') is a 1967 Spaghetti Western film directed by Siro Marcellini. Reception One writer described as "a very average Western filled with all the predictable clichés of the genre". Ca ...
'' (1967) *'' Cuore matto... matto da legare'' (1967) *'' Ten Thousand Dollars for a Massacre'' (1967) *'' Be Sick... It's Free'' (1968) *''
A Black Veil for Lisa ''A Black Veil for Lisa'' (, lit. "Death has no sex") is a 1968 thriller film directed by Massimo Dallamano. The film follows narcotics detective Franz Buloff as he investigates a drug ring and hires a hitman, Max Lindt, to kill his wife, Lisa, s ...
'' (1968) *''
The Longest Hunt ''Spara, Gringo, spara'' (internationally released as ''The Longest Hunt'' and ''Shoot, Gringo... Shoot!'') is a 1968 Italian Spaghetti Western directed by Bruno Corbucci. It is the first western directed by Bruno Corbucci (brother of western ...
'' (1968) *'' Dismissed on His Wedding Night'' (1968) *'' I See Naked'' (1969) *'' Poppea's Hot Nights'' (1969) *''
The Last Italian Tango ''The Last Italian Tango'' () is a 1973 Italy, Italian comedy film directed by Nando Cicero. It is a parody of ''Last Tango in Paris'', set in the town of Zagarolo, in the province of Rome. The film had great commercial success, grossing about 950 ...
'' (1973) *''
Italian Graffiti ''Italian Graffiti'' () is a 1973 Italian comedy film, criminal comedy film written and directed by Alfio Caltabiano and starring Pino Colizzi and Ornella Muti. Plot Assunta Morano is the daughter of Bug Morano, a Sicilian boss transplanted in Ch ...
'' (1973) *'' Ku-Fu? Dalla Sicilia con furore'' (1973) *'' Hospitals: The White Mafia'' (1973) *'' Paolo il freddo'' (1974) *'' The Big Snail'' (1974) *''
Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno ''Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno'' (''To my dear mother on the day of her birthday'') is a 1974 Italian comedy drama film directed by Luciano Salce.Andrea Pergolari. ''Ha visto il montaggio analogico?''. Lavieri edizioni, 2011. ...
'' (1974) *'' The Exorcist: Italian Style'' (1975) *'' The Noonday Executioner'' (1975) *''
Loaded Guns ''Loaded Guns'' () is a 1975 Italian crime film written and directed by Fernando di Leo and starring Ursula Andress. Plot A flight attendant finds herself in the middle of fighting between rival gangs in Naples. Cast * Ursula Andress as Nora ...
'' (1975) *'' Fantozzi'' (1975) *'' Confessions of a Lady Cop'' (1976) *'' The Lady Medic'' (1976) *'' Scandal in the Family'' (1976) *'' Squadra antitruffa'' (1977) *'' Destruction Force'' (1977) *'' Double Murder'' (1977) *'' Brothers Till We Die'' (1977) *'' The Criminals Attack, The Police Respond!'' (1977) *'' Le braghe del padrone'' (1978) *'' The Schoolteacher Goes to Boys' High'' (1978) *'' La liceale nella classe dei ripetenti'' (1978) *'' The School Teacher in the House'' (1978) *''
Liquorice Liquorice ( Commonwealth English) or licorice (American English; see spelling differences; ) is the common name of ''Glycyrrhiza glabra'', a flowering plant of the bean family Fabaceae, from the root of which a sweet, aromatic flavouring is ...
'' (1979) *'' Where Can You Go Without the Little Vice?'' (1979) *'' Assassination on the Tiber'' (1979) *'' Night Nurse'' (1979) *'' How to Seduce Your Teacher'' (1979) *'' A Policewoman on the Porno Squad'' (1979) *'' Pardon Me, Are You Normal?'' (1979) *'' The Nurse in the Military Madhouse'' (1979) *''
I'm Photogenic ''I'm Photogenic'' () is a 1980 Italian comedy film directed by Dino Risi. It was screened out of competition at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival. Plot Italy, early 1980s. Antonio Barozzi (Renato Pozzetto), an aspiring actor, goes to the film stud ...
'' (1980) *'' L'insegnante al mare con tutta la classe'' (1980) *'' La ripetente fa l'occhietto al preside'' (1980) *'' Girls Will Be Girls'' (1980) *'' Crime at Porta Romana'' (1980) *'' Prickly Pears'' (1980) *'' My Wife is a Witch'' (1980) *'' The Taming of the Scoundrel'' (1980) *'' Mia moglie torna a scuola'' (1981) *'' L'onorevole con l'amante sotto il letto'' (1981) *'' I carabbimatti'' (1981) *'' I fichissimi'' (1981) *'' Madly in Love'' (1981) *''
Bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft that utilizes air-to-ground weaponry to drop bombs, launch aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploy air-launched cruise missiles. There are two major classifications of bomber: strategic and tactical. Strateg ...
'' (1982) *'' Viuuulentemente mia'' (1982) *'' Vieni avanti cretino'' (1982) *'' Giovani, belle... probabilmente ricche'' (1982) *'' W la foca'' (1982) *'' Eccezzziunale... veramente'' (1982) *'' Attila flagello di Dio'' (1982) *''
Acqua e sapone ''Acqua e sapone'' (''Water and Soap'') is an Italian romantic comedy film by Carlo Verdone. Verdone, here in his fourth direction, besides interpreter is also the author of the subject and participates in the script as in his other films. Pl ...
'' (1983) *'' Time for Loving 2 - One Year Later'' (1983) *'' The Country Boy'' (1984) *'' Hearts in the Storm'' (1984) *'' To Love a Little'' (1984) *'' Holidays in America'' (1984) *'' Il ragazzo del Pony Express'' (1986) *'' Superfantozzi'' (1986) *'' Bellifreschi'' (1987) *''
Rimini Rimini - Un anno dopo ''Rimini Rimini - Un anno dopo'' is a 1988 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Bruno Corbucci. It is the sequel to the 1987 film '' Rimini Rimini''. Plot summary The film is divided into episodes set on the beaches of Rimini. A womanize ...
'' (1988) *'' The Invisible Wall'' (1991) *'' Vacanze di Natale '91'' (1991) *'' Fantozzi in Heaven'' (1993)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jimmy il Fenomeno 1932 births 2018 deaths People from Lucera Male actors from Apulia Italian male film actors Italian male television actors Italian male comedians 20th-century Italian male actors 20th-century Italian comedians