Franco Latini (September 12, 1927 – February 2, 1991) was an Italian actor and voice actor.[1] He was considered to be one of the top voice dubbers for many animated films and cartoons for audiences across Italy.[2]
Franco Latini | |
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![]() Latini in The Black Maid (1976) | |
Born | (1927-09-12)September 12, 1927 Pomezia, Italy |
Died | February 2, 1991(1991-02-02) (aged 63) Rome, Italy |
Occupation | Actor, voice actor, dubbing director |
Years active | 1953–1991 |
Children | Laura Latini Fabrizio Vidale Ilaria Latini |
Born in Pomezia, which is in Rome, Latini started out working as a singer in nightclubs in the early 1950s, then he went on to work in the theatre and star in the 1953 film The World Condemns Them. Among Latini's most popular filmography includes the 1966 musical-comedy film Mondo pazzo... gente matta! starring Silvana Pampanini and the 1976 film The Black Maid starring Carla Brait.
Despite Latini's popularity working as an actor, he was also heavily active as a voice actor.[3] He dubbed Stan Laurel in several redubs of Laurel and Hardy shorts and films in which he was paired up with Carlo Croccolo.[4] He also dubbed characters in many animated productions. He was the first voice of Skeletor in Masters of the Universe and from 1983 until 1988, he was the primary Italian voice of Donald Duck and he even dubbed Tom from Tom & Jerry and various characters from Looney Tunes and The Muppet Show.
Latini founded his own dubbing company in the late 1970s, which was active until some point during the 1980s. In 1981, he lost one of his legs in an accident, which rendered him unable to perform on screen. After that, he devoted himself exclusively to dubbing.[5]
Latini had three children, daughters Laura and Ilaria from his marriage with dialogue writer Maria Pinto and son Fabrizio from his relationship with actress Piera Vidale. All three followed in Latini's footsteps.
Latini died of a stroke at the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome around the evening of February 2, 1991 at the age of 63.[6] He was later interred at Campo Verano.
Media related to Franco Latini at Wikimedia Commons