Italian actress Elsa Martinelli has died. She died July 8, 2017 in Rome at the age of 82 as a result of cancer.
Before becoming an actress, Martinelli was a model who graced the covers of “Vogue” and Life” Magazines.
She made her film debut in 1953 with “Se vincessi cento millioni”. It would be two more years before U.S. Audiences were introduced to Martinelli when she appeard as Onahti in “The Indian Fighter” with Kirk Douglas. She went on to appear in dozens of productions including “Four Girls in Town”, “Costa Azzurra”, “Blood and Roses”, “Love in Rome”, “The Rogues”, “The Oldest Profession”, “If it’s Tuesday, This Must be Belguim”, “The Lion’s Share”, “Return of The Saint”, “Once Upon a Crime”, and her final final role in 2005 in “Orgoglio”.
She also worked alongside Anthony Perkins, Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor.
She was born Elsa Tia January 30, 1935 in Tuscany, Italy, one of eight children.
Predeceased by her second husband Willy Rizzo in 2013, Martinelli is survived by her daughter Christina, siblings, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
feature photo credit: By NBC Television – eBay itemphoto frontphoto back, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19863058