Bernardo Bertolucci

Bertolucci in 2008, photo by Prphotos.com

Date of Birth: 16 March, 1940/1941

Place of Birth: Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Date of Death: 26 November, 2018

Place of Death: Rome, Lazio, Italy

Ethnicity:
*75% Italian
*25% Irish

Bernardo Bertolucci was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Last Emperor (1987). He also directed the films La Commare Secca, Before the Revolution, Partner (1968), a segment of Love and Anger; The Conformist, The Spider’s Stratagem, Last Tango in Paris, 1900, La Luna, Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man, The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha, Stealing Beauty, Besieged, a segment of Ten Minutes Older; The Dreamers, and Me and You. He wrote his The Conformist and Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man; and co-wrote all of his other films except for Little Buddha, Stealing Beauty, and The Dreamers. He also co-wrote the film The Triumph of Love.

Bernardo was the son of Evelina “Ninetta” (Giovanardi) and Attilio Bertolucci, who was a poet, art historian, anthologist, and film critic. His brother was theatre director and playwright Giuseppe Bertolucci, and he was a cousin of film producer Giovanni Bertolucci. Bernardo was married to British screenwriter and filmmaker Clare Peploe, until his death. Clare’s brother, Mark Peploe, co-wrote several films with Bernard.

Bernardo had said:

My mother was born in Australia, in Sydney, and that is why I think I have a quarter of my blood which is Australian Irish. My grandmother was called Mulligan and I am very proud of it. I say always I am Italian/Irish. And she [my mother] came to Italy and her father was Italian. She came to Italy when she was very little in fact, six. She is a kind of silent reassuring muse for my father, who was a very good Italian poet; always being next to him, with the candle shade, but of course with a great power with him. They were the most amazing couple…

Bernardo’s paternal grandfather was named Bernardo Bertolucci.

Bernardo’s paternal grandmother was named Maria Rossetti.

Bernardo’s maternal grandfather was named Giuseppe Giovanardi.

Bernardo’s maternal grandmother was named Evelyn Mulligan.