Franco Latini Explained
Franco Latini (12 September 1927 – 2 February 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]
Biography
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 act in radio comedies and theatre plays. In 1953 he starred in the film The World Condemns Them. Latini's filmography includes comedies such as the 1966 musical film Mondo pazzo... gente matta! starring Silvana Pampanini, the 1976 film The Black Maid starring Carla Brait and spaghetti westerns such as Blue Summer and Johnny Hamlet.
Latini was 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 Italian voice of Skeletor and other characters in the first season of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and from 1983 until 1988 he was the primary Italian voice of Donald Duck.[5] Latini voiced most of the characters in the Italian editions of the Looney Tunes, various Muppets in The Muppet Show and Tom from Tom & Jerry.
Latini founded his own dubbing company in the late 1970s, which was active until the end of the '80s. 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.[6]
Personal life
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.
Death
Latini died of a stroke at the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome around the evening of 2 February 1991, at the age of 63, it was also the 21st birthday of his son Fabrizio Vidale.[5] He was later interred at Campo Verano.
Filmography
Cinema
Television
- - TV miniseries, 6th episode (1969)[7]
- Qui squadra mobile (1973) - Padrone
- L'avventura di un povero cristiano - TV play (1974) - Cerbicca[8]
Voice work
Miscellaneous
Dubbing
Animation
- Various characters in Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July, Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie, , Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island, The Flintstones, Kimba the White Lion
- Pete (1981-1988), Donald Duck (1983-1988) and Goofy (1984-1988) in Disney Productions
- Top Cat in Top Cat, Yogi's Treasure Hunt, Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats
- Daffy Duck in The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie, Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special,[10] Bugs Bunny's Valentine (first Italian dub)[11]
- Muttley in Wacky Races, Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
- Sylvester the Cat in Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special, Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies[12]
- Popeye, Poopdeck Pappy, Lizzie and the Sea Hag in Popeye and Son
- Skeletor, Orko, Battle Cat/Cringer and King Randor in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (season 1)
- Bobo and Rock Slag in The Man Called Flintstone
- Grape Ape and Beegle Beagle in The Great Grape Ape Show
- Gus Holiday and Brutus the Lion in The Roman Holidays
- Luke in The Rescuers
- Tom in Tom & Jerry
- Mr. Jinks in Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
- Speedy Gonzales in Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special
- Porky Pig in Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies (first Italian dub)
- Pepé Le Pew in Bugs Bunny's Valentine (first Italian dub)
- Ataru's Father in Urusei Yatsura (1st voice)
- Spider Monster in Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf
- Hair Bear in Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
- Punkin' Puss in Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse
Live action
- Stan Laurel in Laurel and Hardy (1968-1970 redubs)
- Gonzo, Scooter, Zoot, Floyd Pepper, Statler, Beaker, Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Dr. Julius Strangepork, and Pops in The Muppet Show
- Herr Schmidt and Alpino in Pappa e ciccia (a.k.a. Two of a Kind)
- Archie Bunker in All in the Family
- Moe Gelly in Once Upon a Time in America
- Benjy Benjamin in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
- El Nebuloso in Yellowbeard
- Tushin in War and Peace
- Albert C. Provo in The Green Berets
- Second Griner in Deliverance
- Photographer in Little Fauss and Big Halsy
- Eugene in Honky Tonk Freeway
- Lucius in The Beauty Jungle
Notes and References
- Web site: Franco Latini's dubbing contributions. Antoniogenna.net . 18 September 2018.
- Web site: Franco Latini . MYmovies . 31 July 2019.
- https://www.antoniogenna.net/doppiaggio/speciali/cronologia.htm Cronologia fondamentale dell'epoca d'oro del doppiaggio italiano Dagli albori agli anni 1970
- News: STORIA DEL DOPPIAGGIO IN ITALIA (DI LORENZO BASSI). laurel-e-hardy.it. it. 15 April 2020. 8 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200808091120/https://www.laurel-e-hardy.it/storia-del-doppiaggio-in-italia-di-lorenzo-bassi/. dead.
- News: Morto Latini, voce di Paperino. Stampa Sera. 4 February 1991. 18 September 2018.
- Web site: Franco Latini – Mille voci nell'ombra . looneyverse.altervisita.org . 11 April 2019.
- Web site: Radiocorriere 1968 53.
- Web site: Teatro 1974-1975. teche.rai.it.
- Web site: SuperGulp. Il mondo dei doppiatori, antoniogenna.net.
- Web site: Bugs Bunny e la festa di Halloween. Il mondo dei doppiatori, antoniogenna.net. it.
- Web site: Carote, amore e fantasia. Il mondo dei doppiatori, antoniogenna.net.
- Web site: Cercasi il coniglio pasquale. Il mondo dei doppiatori, antoniogenna.net.