Claudia Cardinale, Iconic Italian Actress, Dies at 87

Claudia Cardinale, the renowned Italian actress best known for her roles in ‘The Pink Panther’ and ‘Once Upon A Time in the West’, has passed away at the age of 87, as reported by French media. She died in Nemours, France, surrounded by her children. Cardinale was born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents and initially had plans to become a schoolteacher before winning a beauty contest at the age of 17. This contest led her to the Venice Film Festival, where her acting career began. Her rise to fame came in 1963 with roles in Federico Fellini’s ‘8-1/2’ and the epic film ‘The Leopard’. She later starred in major films such as ‘The Pink Panther’ (1968) and Sergio Leone’s ‘Once Upon A Time in the West’ (1968). Cardinale considered her role in the 1966 film ‘The Professionals’ to be her best Hollywood performance. In 2002, she was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival and reflected on her career, stating that acting had allowed her to live over 150 different lives. Aside from her acting career, Cardinale was also appointed as a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO, advocating for women’s rights. She is survived by her two children.