Isa Barzizza

Isa Barzizza
Barzizza in the movie Era lui... sì! sì! (1951)
Born(1929-11-22)22 November 1929
Sanremo, Kingdom of Italy
Died28 May 2023(2023-05-28) (aged 93)
Palau, Sardinia, Italy
OccupationActress

Isa Barzizza (22 November 1929 – 28 May 2023) was an Italian actress whose career spanned over 60 years.

Life and career

Early life

Born in Sanremo, Barzizza was the daughter of the conductor and composer Pippo Barzizza.[1] She started working in amateur dramatics at very young age, and she made her professional debut while still being a high school student, notably working with the stage companies led by Ruggero Ruggeri, Elsa Merlini and by the brothers Eduardo, Peppino and Titina De Filippo.[1]

Breakout and success

Barzizza had her breakout in 1946, when during a visit to her father she was noted by Erminio Macario who chose her for the revue Follie d'Amleto.[1] In a few years she established herself as a star in the revue genre, working several times with Macario, Totò and Wanda Osiris.[1] Following her stage success, Barzizza also started a busy film career in the comedic genre, often teaming with Totò.[1] In 1955, she starred in Valentina, which is considered the first genuine stage musical comedy produced in Italy.[1]

Marriage and semi-retirement

In 1953 Barzizza married the screenwriter and director Carlo Alberto Chiesa, and following the birth of their daughter Carlotta she retired from showbusiness.[1] In 1960 the couple were involved in a car accident and Chiesa died shortly after under the knife.[1][2] Widowed, Barzizza ran a company of dubbing and production of television series.[1] Starting from the mid-1970s she made sporadic appearances in films and on television.[3]

Death

Barzizza died on 28 May 2023, at the age of 93.[4]

Selected filmography

Barzizza and Totò in Bluebeard's Six Wives (1948)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gianfranco Baldazzi. "Isa Barzizza". Gino Castaldo (edited by). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore, 1990.
  2. ^ a. n. (4 June 1960). "Il regista C. A. Chiesa marito di Isa Barzizza muore per l'incidente d'auto mentre viene operato". La Stampa. No. 134.
  3. ^ Adele Gallotti (13 February 1989). "Isa è sempre Barzizza e dice: «Mai dire mai»". La Stampa. No. 42.
  4. ^ "Morta Isa Barzizza, affascinante e ironica musa e spalla di Totò". La Repubblica. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.

Media related to Isa Barzizza at Wikimedia Commons