Overview

• Lea Massari passed away on June 23 in her Rome home at the age of 91 following health complications from a recent fall.
• Her funeral on June 24 took place privately in Sutri’s cathedral with only close family in attendance and prompted colleagues to celebrate her understated elegance.
• She earned acclaim for roles in Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’avventura, Dino Risi’s Una vita difficile and films by Sergio Leone and Valerio Zurlini.
• After retiring from acting in 1990, Massari lived in Sardinia and later Rome where she dedicated herself to animal welfare and vegetarianism.
• Born Anna Maria Massatani, she adopted the stage name Lea in memory of her fiancé Leo and was married to Alitalia pilot Carlo Bianchini from 1963 until their 2004 divorce.