Born September 18, 1916, in Bologna, Italy; died December 24, 1994, in Rome,Italy. Actor and director. Rossano Brazzi is best remembered by American audiences for his starring role opposite Mary Martin in the 1958 film version ofRodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. He had, however, established a Hollywood career before he played French planter Emile De Becque to Martin's NurseNellie Forbush. Brazzi was a native of Bologna and studied law in Florence before World War II. He lost both parents to the Fascist Italian government and, according to some sources, was active in the Resistance during the war. Atthe same time he began a career in Italian film as a romantic lead. Brazzi made his U.S. screen debut as Professor Bhaer, Jo's love-interest, in Mervyn LeRoy's version of Little Women (1949). He attracted more public attention forhis role as Georgio in 1954's Three Coins in the Fountain, and for his roleas Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini opposite Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart in The Barefoot Contessa the same year. Brazzi returned to Italy and continued acting, appearing in over 200 films, according to some sources. In 1984, he was charged in an Italian government scandal involving arms and drug smuggling, butthe charges against him were later dropped. Among Brazzi's last roles was that of the Rana of Bhitbor in the HBO miniseries The Far Pavilions.
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