Career Highlights: Fabiola, Anni Ruggenti, Aquila Nera
First Major Screen Credit: Patria, Amore, e Dovere (1937)
Biography
Actor Gino Cervi appeared in his first play in 1924, and his first film eight years later. On stage, Cervi revelled in such extrovert roles as Othello and Falstaff. In films, Cervi endeared himself to audiences all over the continent in three prewar films directed by Alessandro Blassetti: Aldebaran (1935), Ettore Fieramosca (1939) and Un 'avventura di Salvatora Rosa (1939). His biggest hits of the 1940s, The Iron Crown (1940) and Four Steps in the Clouds (1942), were likewise made by Blassetti. After the war, Cervi was seen as the communist mayor in the Don Camillo films, and as Inspector Maigret in a long-running series of TV films based on the works of Georges Simenon. He was also the principal Italian voice-dubber for Sir Laurence Olivier's film appearances. Gino Cervi was the father of producer/director Tonino Cervi and the son of Italian theatre critic Antonio Cervi. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Gino Cervi (3 May 1901 - 3 January 1974) was an Italian actor of international fame.
Cervi was born in Bologna. His father was the theatre critic Antonio Cervi. In 1928, he married Nini Gordini (one of his partners) and they had a son, Tonino Cervi. Gino Cervi later became the grandfather of actress Valentina Cervi and producer Antonio Levesi Cervi.
Cervi was best known for his role of Giuseppe Bottazzi ("Peppone"), the Communist mayor in the Don Camillo movies of the 1950s and the 1960s. He shared great complicity and friendship with co-star Fernandel during the 15 years playing their respective roles in Don Camillo movies.
At the end of his career, he played Commissioner Maigret for six years in the Italian version of those murder stories, which ended with a movie Maigret in Pigalle (Mario Landi, 1966), produced by his son Antonio Cervi.