Antonio Sabàto Sr.

Italian actor (1943–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Antonio Sabàto Sr. (2 April 1943 – 10 January 2021)[1] was an Italian actor, best known for his starring roles in Spaghetti Western and poliziotteschi films. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor for his performance in Grand Prix (1966).[2]

Born(1943-04-02)April 2, 1943
DiedJanuary 10, 2021(2021-01-10) (aged 77)
OccupationActor
Yearsactive1966–2006
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Antonio Sabàto Sr.
Sabàto in Gang War in Milan (1973)
Born(1943-04-02)April 2, 1943
DiedJanuary 10, 2021(2021-01-10) (aged 77)
OccupationActor
Years active1966–2006
Children5, including Antonio Jr.
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Life and career

Sabàto was born in Montelepre, Sicily on April 2, 1943. He made his film debut at the age of 23 in the 1966 film Lo scandolo, with Anouk Aimée and Philippe Leroy.

That same year, Sabàto had his breakout role in the John Frankenheimer-directed Formula One racing drama Grand Prix, playing the hotshot Italian driver Nino Barlini. The film was both a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1966 and winning three Academy Awards. Sabàto was nominated for New Star of the Year – Actor at the 24th Golden Globe Awards.[2]

Sabato subsequently starred in a string of Spaghetti Westerns. He was cast in a supporting role in the sci-fi film Barbarella (1968), but during filming he was recast with David Hemmings and all his scenes reshot.[3] Production stills of Sabato in the role still exist.[4]

During the 1970s, Sabàto starred in numerous poliziotteschi films.

In 1985, Sabàto moved to the United States and retired to Southern California. He appeared opposite his son, actor Antonio Sabàto Jr., in the 1997 film High Voltage and on seven episodes of the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

Personal life

Sabàto married a Czech Jewish woman, Yvonne, in 1971. She was born in Prague (then part of Czechoslovakia) and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. They had two children together, a son, Antonio Jr, and a daughter, Simonne.[5] They divorced sometime before 1997, when she remarried to California-based businessman George F. Kabouchy.[6][7]

He became a naturalized United States citizen after moving to California in the 1980s.

Death

Sabàto died from complications of COVID-19 at a hospice in Hemet, California, on January 10, 2021 at age 77.[8][9]

Selected filmography

References

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