Gigi Ballista

Gigi Ballista (1 December 1918 – 2 August 1980) was an Italian film and television actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1961 and 1980.

Life and career
Born in Florence, Ballista graduated in law, then he started working as a PR consultant in the field of advertising and industrial documentaries. He debuted as an actor at a mature age in the early 1960s with some minor roles, but his breakout came in 1966 with a role of weight in Pietro Germi's The Birds, the Bees and the Italians.

Following the critical and commercial success of the film, Ballista decided to pursue a professional career as an actor, and he became, mainly thanks to his characteristic hoarse and dysphonic voice, one of the most recognizable character actors in Italian cinema and television.

Selected filmography

 * A Day for Lionhearts (1961) - Il frate
 * I maniaci (1964) - Count at the party (segment "l'hobby") (uncredited)
 * The Dreamer (1965) - Medico
 * The Birds, the Bees and the Italians (1966) - Giacinto Castellan
 * How I Learned to Love Women (1966) - Sir Archibald
 * Pleasant Nights (1966) - Luca di Montemerlo
 * Sex Quartet (1966) - The Priest (segment "Fata Marta")
 * The Seventh Floor (1967) - Dr. Claretta
 * L'immorale (1967) - Don Michele
 * L'Homme qui trahit la mafia (1967) - Aldo
 * Galileo (1968) - Trial Judge
 * Torture Me But Kill Me with Kisses (1968) - Engineer
 * Emma Hamilton (1968) - Le cardinal Ruffo
 * Colpo di sole (1968)
 * Fellini Satyricon (1969) - (uncredited)
 * The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969) - Padre Polenta
 * Una storia d'amore (1970) - Borgognini
 * Kill the Fatted Calf and Roast It (1970) - Il medico
 * La califfa (1970) - Il principe industriale
 * The Blonde in the Blue Movie (1971) - Commendatore Silvio Borellon
 * Roma Bene (1971) - Vitozzi
 * Trastevere (1971) - Il conte
 * Non commettere atti impuri (1971) - Padre Spiridone
 * Snow Job (1972)
 * Beati i ricchi (1972) - Commendatore
 * Black Turin (1972) - Marinotti
 * Finalmente... le mille e una notte (1972) - Genie in lamp
 * Giovannona Long-Thigh (1973) - Commendatore La Noce
 * Crescete e moltiplicatevi (1973) - Dottore
 * Blume in Love (1973) - Older Man
 * La signora è stata violentata! (1973) - Carini
 * Stregoni di città (1973)
 * Brigitte, Laura, Ursula, Monica, Raquel, Litz, Florinda, Barbara, Claudia, e Sofia le chiamo tutte... anima mia (1974)
 * Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia (1974) - Dottore
 * Fischia il sesso (1974) - Mr. Lewis
 * Claretta and Ben (1974) - Gino's Friend
 * Stavisky (1974) - Gaston Henriet
 * Sesso in testa (1974) - Father of Carletto
 * Poker in Bed (1974) - Il commendator Gervasio Caminata
 * Policewoman (1974) - L'avvocato
 * Piange... il telefono (1975)
 * The Family Vice (1975) - The Count
 * The Sunday Woman (1975) - Vollero
 * Mala, amore e morte (1975) - avv. Carlo Alberto Giorgi
 * La banca di Monate (1975) - The Bishop
 * Il giustiziere di mezzogiorno (1975) - Direttore Rossetti
 * Il fratello (1975)
 * La madama (1976) - Il Veneziano
 * Confessions of a Lady Cop (1976) - Questore Moretti
 * Salon Kitty (1976) - General
 * La dottoressa sotto il lenzuolo (1976) - Prof. Ciotti
 * Febbre da cavallo (1976) - Conte Dallara
 * Un amore targato Forlì (1976)
 * Cassiodoro il più duro del pretorio (1976)
 * La compagna di banco (1977) - Girardi
 * Midnight Express (1978) - Chief Judge
 * Liquirizia (1979) - Bartolozzi
 * I Hate Blondes (1980) - Psychiatrist
 * L'assistente sociale tutto pepe (1981) - Bishop