Lory Del Santo

Lory Del Santo in 2007 in Milan

Loredana "Lory" Del Santo (born 28 September 1958) is an Italian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder.

Life and career

Born in Povegliano Veronese, Del Santo started her career as a valletta [it] (presenter's assistant) in the 1975 edition of Festivalbar.[1][2][3] In the late-1970s she got her first film roles, mainly in sexy comedy films,[2][4] and in 1980 she represented Italy at the Miss Universe competition.[5] In the early-1980s Del Santo became popular thanks to her participation in successful TV shows such as Antonio Ricci's Drive In and Renzo Arbore's Tagli, ritagli e frattaglie.[1][2]

Del Santo was a focus of gossip columns, mainly for her relationship with Eric Clapton (who dedicated the song "Lady of Verona" to her).[6] While he was still married to Pattie Boyd, Clapton fathered a son, Conor, who was born on 21 August 1986. Conor died on 20 March 1991, at the age of four and a half, when he fell out of an open bedroom window on the 53rd floor of a Manhattan apartment building.[7] The death of their son was the inspiration for Clapton's songs, "Tears in Heaven" and "Circus".

Starting from early 2000s, Del Santo has taken part in several Italian reality shows, winning the third season of L'isola dei famosi.[1] In 2006 she wrote an autobiography, Piacere è una sfida.[1]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1977 Ecco noi per esempio Girl at disco Uncredited
1978 Where Are You Going on Holiday? Luisa Segment: "Sarò tutta per te"
Geppo il folle Female student Uncredited
1979 Dear Father Party guest Cameo appearance
Gardenia Laura
Where Can You Go Without the Little Vice? Irma
Passione amore servizio completo Lucy
Saturday, Sunday and Friday Baby Segment: "Saturday"
The Great Alligator River Jane
The Finzi Detective Agency Pierpaola Moser
A Dangerous Toy Girl at restaurant Uncredited
1980 I'm Photogenic Loredana
Desideria Naisse
Sunday Lovers Lory Segment: "Roma"
1981 L'onorevole con l'amante sotto il letto Battistoni's waitress
Bollenti spiriti Lily
1982 W la foca Andrea
La gorilla Ruby
1983 "FF.SS." – Cioè: "...che mi hai portato a fare sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più bene?" Herself Cameo appearance
1985 La donna giusta Woman in Rome Uncredited
2006 Vita Smeralda Herself Cameo appearance
2013 The Night Club None Short film; director

Television

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1975 Festivalbar 1975 Herself / Co-host Annual music festival
1980 Miss Universe 1980 Herself / Contestant Beauty contest
1981 Tagli, ritagli e frattaglie Herself / Co-host Variety show
1982 Morto Troisi, viva Troisi! Herself Television film
1983–1988 Drive In Various Sketch comedy
2000 Ciao Darwin Herself / Contestant Game show (season 3)
2005 L'isola dei famosi Herself / Contestant Reality show (season 3)
2006 Herself / Opinionist Reality show (season 4)
Saturday Night Live from Milano Herself / Host Episode: "Lory Del Santo"
2009 La Fattoria Herself / Contestant Reality show (season 4)
2010–2011 Missione seduzione Herself / Host Docu-reality
2014–2015 My Bodyguard Herself / Judge Reality show
2014–2017 The Lady None Creator, director and writer; 37 episodes
2014–2023 Pomeriggio Cinque Herself / Opinionist Talk show
2016 Pechino Express Herself / Contestant Reality show (season 5)
2017–2021 Domenica Live Herself / Opinionist Talk show
2018 Grande Fratello VIP Herself / Contestant Reality show (season 3)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bruno Ventavoli (13 August 2007). "La vendetta sexy della perfida Lory". La Stampa. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Grasso, Aldo; Scaglioni, Massimo (1996 – 2003). "Del Santo, Loredana detta Lory". Enciclopedia della Televisione. Garzanti, Milano. pp.187-8. ISBN 881150466X.
  3. ^ "Lory Del Santo: "Sembro svampita, ma penso. Clapton era una mummia"". Leggo. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  4. ^ Lancia, Enrico; Poppi, Roberto (2003). "Del Santo, Lory". Le attrici: dal 1930 ai giorni nostri (in Italian). Gremese Editore. p. 104. ISBN 978-88-8440-214-1.
  5. ^ West, Donald (ed.). "Miss Universe 1980". Pageantopolis.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Clapton's ex reveals lost love song". The Times. 9 July 2006.
  7. ^ "Eric Clapton's Son Killed in a 49-Story Fall". The New York Times. 21 March 1991. Retrieved 19 June 2023.