Raffaella Carrà was an Italian pop star best known in the U.S. for co-starring with Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) in the 1965 film “Von Ryan’s Express.”
- Died: July 5, 2021 (Who else died on July 5?)
- Details of death: Died after an illness at the age of 78.
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Legendary in Europe
Carrà began acting in films when she was a child, and she attended Italy’s national film school. As she was becoming a popular ingenue in Italian films, she moved to the U.S. and co-starred with Sinatra in the World War II escape film “Von Ryan’s Express.” Carrà guest starred in an episode of “I Spy” before returning to Italy, where she became a major star as she hosted the 1970s variety show “Canzonissima.” She became known for daring moves like baring her midriff on TV, the first Italian woman to do so, and singing the 1976 hit song “A Far l’Amore Comincia Tu” (“Be the One Initiating Sex”), advocating for women to make their wishes known to their lovers. Carrà’s other popular songs include “Tuca Tuca” and “Tanti Auguri” (“Best Wishes”). In later years, she began recording songs in Spanish and moved to Buenos Aires, where she became a star of the Spanish-language audience.
Tributes to Raffaella Carrà
Full obituary: Variety
