# 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
* House of 1000 Pleasures (1973) - 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