Il Coronavirus took away another celebrity. Or it would be better to say one of the best known "voices" of cinema. Claudio Sorrentino, the famous voice actor of great actors such as Mel Gibson, but also John Travolta, Bruce Willis, died at the age of 75. The terrible virus took him away after a few weeks of hospitalization. He was in Villa Tiberia in Rome. He passed away on Tuesday night. A sad news because many admired his skill and versatility. In fact, Sorrentino was not only a great voice actor of the cinema, but also a famous author and a journalist.
Claudio Sorrentino and his thousand lives
After his early beginnings in the world of theater, Claudio Sorrentino has also worked for years in television, where he has lent his face in comic roles, but also entertainment programs and television dramas. Among the well-known programs "Blitz" and Tandem, a program dedicated to young people and the family of which he was the author and one of the presenters. But he was also an important journalist. In fact, he has made many television surveys on social issues.
Among the programs “Droga che fare?”, An issue dedicated to families and children with drug problems. Between 1995 and 2000, author and presenter of the radio show “The sounds of cinema”. He has also received many awards in the world of cinema, theater and TV, but also his social commitment which saw him among the founders of the Rai Social Action Department. Claudio Sorrentino was also an advisor to the minister for cultural heritage and activities, cinema and entertainment.
His career in dubbing
But the celebrity for Claudio Sorrentino was consolidated with the dubbing of many actors of American cinema. His intense voice and interpretation allowed him to lend his voice to Mel Gibson, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Russell Crowe, Mickey Rourk, Geoffrey Rush, Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Day-Lewis. The cry launched by Mel Gibson in “Braveheart” is very famous: the word “Li-be-rtà” shouted by the actor was Sorrentino's voice. He was one of the founders of the “Italian Actors and Dubbers” Association of which he has been president since 1994.
But it wasn't just the voice of big Hollywood stars. Claudio Sorrentino also voiced Rusty in Rin Tin Tin, then Rickie Cunningham, Ron Howard, of “Happy Days”. And even the official Italian voice of Mickey Mouse, our Mickey Mouse. And then again Sylvester Stallone's voice actor in "Cop Land", Willem Dafoe in "The Last Temptation of Christ", Ryan O'Neal in Love Story. Over the years Sorrentino has also become one of the most respected dubbing directors.
The memory of Luca Ward
And on social media there are many messages of memory and emotion from many Italian actors and voice actors. Among them that of one of the current most beautiful voices in Italian cinema and dubbing, Luca Ward who on his Facebook page shared some famous movie scenes with Sorrentino as a voice actor. And remembering the colleague he wrote "We lost Claudio Sorrentino. His professionalism, his irony are unforgettable. The voiceovers of Mel Gibson and John Travolta (among the countless) will remain in history. You are great Claudio!".
It's still "Pulp Fiction. We were together to produce a true masterpiece of one of the most difficult trades. Dubbing that movie was an impossible feat. Jokes came out of Claudio's strength that left me speechless. For young actors: go and listen to his interpretations again, he can help you understand what it means to "leave your mark" to become unique and immortal. I hug you tightly Claudio".
