Actor Pino Colizzi, died in Rome on Sunday (February 15) at the age of 88. Alongside his own screen career, which saw him co-star opposite the likes of Maggie Smith, Cher and Robert Powell, the actor also lent his voice to huge blockbusters including The Godfatherin which he dubbed James Caan's voice as Sonny Corleone, as well as Vito (Marlon Brando) and Sonny Corleone in The Godfather Part II. He also voiced Christoper Reeve's titular character in Superman.
No cause of death has been revealed but the news was confirmed by his friend and former co-star actor Tony Palazzo. Sharing images of the star on Facebook he wrote: "Today dear Pino Colizzi left us. Great voice actor and good actor with whom I worked twice. The first was in the theater play 'The Reverend' for the Verghiate in 1987 where Pino was the main character... Three years later we found ourselves in the cast of the movie 'I wanted pants'... I like to remember him...as a person, as an actor and for his very pleasant and brilliant voice. Rest in peace."
Tributes flooded in for the star as the news became public. Writing on Facebook one friend lamented: "This hurts. A masterful artist, a generous, kind, and sincere friend. I will forever owe you a debt of gratitude. Safe travels, Pino."
"One loss after another, pieces of life that are gone, wonderful artists who have brought me to this point and who will leave unfillable voids!" another added including cying emoji's in their tribute.
A third chimed in: "One of the most beautiful, elegant and fascinating voices in prose and cinema." A fourth shared: "Another great man leaves us. Condolences to the family. RIP."
A fifth wrote: "A great actor and voice actor, polite and kind. I'm sorry. I'll always have fond memories of him." Meanwhile a sixth penned: "Great actor. Amazing voice! Condolences to the family. R.I.P."
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Pino began his career in theatre at the age of 17 years old. He got his first major role, in 1960 playing the title character in an Italian TV adaptation of Tom Jones. Throughout the 1970s and the early 1980s, when he starred in a number of successful TV series and genre films.
Outside of Italy he came to huge prominence in 1977 when he was cast as Jobab in Franco Zeffirelli's TV series Jesus of Nazareth. He also dubbed Robert Powel's Jesus in the Italian version.
He regularly dubbed the voices of Jack Nicholson, James Caan, Richard Dreyfuss, Omar Sharif and Franco Nero.
One of his best know and most high profile voice acting jobs was the titular character in the Italian versions of the first three films in the Superman franchise. He also voiced Hopper in Steven Speilberg's blockbuster Jaws.
As a screen actor he performed alongside Maggie Smith, Cher, and Judi Dench in Tea with Mussolini, in 1999, portraying Dino Grandi. He continued to act until the 2010s, before deciding to focus his writing career.
