Claudia Cardinale, Italian Screen Icon, Dies at 87

PARIS — Claudia Cardinale, the legendary Italian actress celebrated for her powerful screen presence and roles in classics such as The Leopard and 8½, died on Tuesday at the age of 87.

Her agent confirmed she passed away in Nemours, near Paris, in the presence of her children. Details of her burial have not yet been announced.

Laurent Savry, her agent, said: “She leaves us the legacy of a free and inspired woman both as a woman and as an artiste.” Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described Cardinale as “one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time,” adding that she embodied “Italian grace.”

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Global Screen Siren

With her husky voice and striking beauty, Cardinale became a muse to directors Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. She starred opposite many leading men of her era, including Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Peter Sellers, and Henry Fonda.

Cardinale rose to global fame in the 1960s, starring in Fellini’s 8½ and Visconti’s The Leopard in the same year, 1963. She also found international success with Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther and Henry Hathaway’s Circus World.

David Niven, her co-star in The Pink Panther, once famously told her: “Claudia, along with spaghetti, you’re Italy’s greatest invention.”

A Reluctant Beginning

Born on April 15, 1938, in La Goulette near Tunis to Sicilian parents, Cardinale’s entry into cinema began unexpectedly. At 16, she won a beauty contest that took her to the Venice Film Festival. Though reluctant at first, she was persuaded to try acting.

Her early years were marked by hardship. As a teenager, she was raped by a film producer and gave birth to her son Patrick in secrecy. For years, the child was publicly identified as her younger brother until she revealed the truth.

Despite this difficult beginning, she went on to appear in more than 175 films over her decades-long career.

Career and Legacy

Cardinale became a symbol of postwar European glamour, admired for her authenticity and refusal to undergo cosmetic surgery. She worked into her 80s, including stage performances in Naples.

Her personal life was closely tied to director Pasquale Squitieri, whom she called her “only love.” Together, they had a daughter, Claudia, and collaborated on multiple films until Squitieri’s death in 2017.

Internationally recognized, Cardinale received honorary awards from the Venice and Berlin film festivals. In 2000, she was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for her advocacy of women’s rights.

In 2017, her image appeared on the official Cannes Film Festival poster, sparking debate after it was digitally altered to slim her figure.

Cardinale continued acting and remained a strong voice for women in cinema. Reflecting on her career, she once said: “I’ve had a lot of luck. This job has given me a multitude of lives, and the possibility of putting my fame at the service of many causes.”

Her passing marks the end of an era for Italian and international cinema.

Claudia Cardinale’s funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. Tributes continue to pour in from across the world celebrating her life and legacy.