Sergio Fantoni (7 August 1930 – 17 April 2020) was an Italian actor, voice actor and director.
Biography
Fantoni was born in Rome to the actor Cesare Fantoni. He began his career appearing in films, radio dramas, television and theatrical productions in the late 1940s. He made his debut film appearance alongside his father in the 1949 film Anthony of Padua.
In addition to working mainly in his own country, he starred in international productions as well. Fantoni made several appearances in Hollywood films in the 1960s, most notably opposite Frank Sinatra in the war film Von Ryan's Express, made in 1965. In 1960, he played the villainous Haman in Esther and the King, starring Joan Collins and Richard Egan in the title roles. Among his roles in the UK, Fantoni appeared alongside Anglo-Italian actress Cherie Lunghi in the Channel 4 television series The Manageress.
Fantoni was also a voice actor. He most notably dubbed over Marlon Brando’s voice in Apocalypse Now. He also provided voice-overs for Henry Fonda, Rock Hudson, Gregory Peck, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow and Robert Taylor in at least one or two of their movies.
Personal life
Fantoni was married to actress Valentina Fortunato (whom he met at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 1954) from 1961 until her death in 2019. They had one daughter, Monica.
In 1997, Fantoni underwent a laryngectomy, which caused problems for his voice. Because of this, he devoted himself mainly to directing until his retirement in 2003.
Fantoni died on 17 April 2020, at the age of 89.
Selected filmography
Anthony of Padua (1949) – Un cavaliere
Paolo e Francesca (1950) The Lion of Amalfi (1950) – Ruggero Le meravigliose avventure di Guerrin Meschino (1952) Captain Phantom (1953) – Officer in second Senso (1954) – Luca The Prince with the Red Mask (1955) Io sono la primula rossa (1955) – Lord Sheridan Nella città l'inferno (1959) – Giudice instruttore (uncredited) Hercules Unchained (1959) – Eteocles Caterina Sforza, la leonessa di Romagna (1959) – Giacomo Feo La notte del grande assalto (1959) – Marco da Volterra The Giant of Marathon (1959) – Teocrito The Employee (1960) – Sergio Escape by Night (1960) – Don Valerio Atom Age Vampire (1960) – Pierre Mornet I Delfini (1960) – Doctor Mario Corsi Esther and the King (1960) – Haman Il peccato degli anni verdi (1960) – Giulia's husband Il sicario (1961) Gioventù di notte (1961) – Commissario Man nennt es Amore (1961) – Fabrizio Pigeon Shoot (1961) – Nardi Morte di un bandito (1961) – Michele Galardo The Shortest Day (1962) – (uncredited) Ten Italians for One German (1962) – Gilberto di San Severino Catherine of Russia (1963) – Orloff Kali Yug: Goddess of Vengeance (1963) – Ram Chand Il mistero del tempio indiano (1963) – Ram Chand The Prize (1963) – Dr. Carlo Farelli High Infidelity (1964) – Luigi (segment "La Sospinosa") Corpse for the Lady (1964) – Commisario Von Ryan's Express (1965) – Capt. Oriani Do Not Disturb (1965) – Paul What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) – Capt. Fausto Oppo Diabolically Yours (1967) – Freddie Hornets' Nest (1970) – Capt. Friedrich Von Hecht Sacco e Vanzetti (1971) – Consul Giuseppe Andrower (uncredited) Bad Man's River (1971) – Colonel Enrique Fierro The Bloody Hands of the Law (1973) – Musante Una chica y un señor (1974) – El Señor Le Hasard et la Violence (1974) – Inspecteur Tanner E cominciò il viaggio nella vertigine (1974) – Andrei L'inconveniente (1976) Si elle dit oui... je ne dis pas non (1983) – Carniato The Belly of an Architect (1987) – Io Speckler Private Affairs (1988) Per non dimenticare (1992) The Accidental Detective (2003) – Baroni (final film role)