Vittorio Gassman (Il Mattatore) (September 1, 1922 - June 29, 2000) was a distinguished Italian actor and director known for his contributions to both theatre and film.
Born in Genoa to a wealthy family of German descent, Gassman earned a reputation as one of Italy's finest actors. Renowned for his professionalism, versatility, and magnetic presence, his extensive career encompassed a range of significant productions as well as numerous divertissements that enhanced his popularity. At a young age, he relocated to Rome, where he studied at the Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica, sharing the institution with notable figures in Italian theatre and cinema, including Paolo Stoppa, Rina Morelli, Adolfo Celi, and later, Nino Manfredi, Monica Vitti, and many others.
Gassman's stage debut occurred in Milan in 1942, performing alongside Alda Borelli in Niccodemi's Nemica. He subsequently moved to Rome, joining the Teatro Eliseo, where he collaborated with Tino Carraro and Ernesto Calindri. This partnership became well-known, as they showcased a range of works from bourgeois comedies to sophisticated intellectual theatre, demonstrating Gassman's adaptability.
His foray into film began in 1946 with Preludio d'amore, and by 1947, he appeared in five additional films. His celebrated role in Riso Amaro in 1948 highlighted his passion for cinema and his ability to excel in both film and theatre. Gassman reached new heights in his career through his association with Luchino Visconti's company, performing alongside Stoppa, Rina Morelli, and Paola Borboni. He portrayed a robust Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' Un tram che si chiama desiderio, and delivered powerful performances in Shakespeare's Rosalinda and Vittorio Alfieri's Oreste. He later joined the Teatro Nazionale, featuring in a successful production of Ibsen's Peer Gynt alongside Tommaso Salvini and Massimo Girotti.
In 1952, Gassman co-founded and co-directed the Teatro d'Arte Italiano with Luigi Squarzina, producing Italy's first complete version of Hamlet as well as less conventional works like Seneca's Tieste and Aeschylus' The Persians. A pivotal year in his career, 1956 saw him deliver a memorable Othello, alternating roles with prominent actor Salvo Randone. Shortly thereafter, he gained unexpected acclaim through the television series Il Mattatore, which earned him the nickname that would follow him throughout his life. That same year, he directed and starred in a cinematic adaptation of Kean, a tribute to the theatre.
A dedicated perfectionist, Gassman was known for his insistence on impeccable diction and his ability to master various Italian dialects. He boldly undertook the direction of Adelchi, a lesser-known work by Alessandro Manzoni, touring with his Teatro Popolare Itinerante and reaching half a million spectators across Italy.
Gassman's theatrical productions featured works by many renowned 20th-century authors, with continual returns to the classics of Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and the ancient Greeks. He also established a theatre school in Florence, nurturing many talented actors of subsequent generations. His film career included international projects, including a marriage to actress Shelley Winters during a period spent in Hollywood.
Despite his cinematic success, Gassman remained devoted to the stage. In the latter part of his career, he incorporated poetry into his repertoire, introducing foreign works to Italian audiences. His personal life was marked by relationships with actresses, including Nora Ricci, with whom he had a daughter, Paola, who is also an actress, and later with Shelley Winters, Juliette Maynel, and Diletta D'Andrea.
Gassman was known for his intense emotions and intellectual honesty, complemented by a notable sense of humor and self-irony. In the 1990s, he participated in a popular television show where he recited mundane documents, such as utility bills, with the same commitment that characterized his performances of Dante's Commedia. While he received widespread acclaim as an actor, his private life, including his divorces and evolving personal beliefs, garnered public scrutiny. In later years, he faced challenges with depression and ultimately passed away from a heart attack in his home in Rome.
