| Isa Barzizza | |
| Birth Date: | 22 November 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Sanremo, Kingdom of Italy |
| Death Place: | Palau, Sardinia, Italy |
| Occupation: | Actress |
Isa Barzizza (22 November 1929 – 28 May 2023) was an Italian actress whose career spanned over 60 years.
Born in Sanremo, Barzizza was the daughter of the conductor and composer Pippo Barzizza.[1] She started working in amateur dramatics at very young age, and she made her professional debut while still being a high school student, notably working with the stage companies led by Ruggero Ruggeri, Elsa Merlini and by the brothers Eduardo, Peppino and Titina De Filippo.[2]
Barzizza had her breakout in 1946, when during a visit to her father she was noted by Erminio Macario who chose her for the revue Follie d'Amleto.[3] In a few years she established herself as a star in the revue genre, working several times with Macario, Totò and Wanda Osiris.[4] Following her stage success, Barzizza also started a busy film career in the comedic genre, often teaming with Totò.[5] In 1955, she starred in Valentina, which is considered the first genuine stage musical comedy produced in Italy.[6]
In 1953 Barzizza married the screenwriter and director Carlo Alberto Chiesa, and following the birth of their daughter Carlotta she retired from showbusiness.[7] In 1960 the couple were involved in a car accident and Chiesa died shortly after under the knife.[8] [9] Widowed, Barzizza ran a company of dubbing and production of television series.[10] Starting from the mid-1970s she made sporadic appearances in films and on television.[11]
Barzizza died on 28 May 2023, at the age of 93.[12]