Alessandra Panaro (14 December 1939 – 1 May 2019) was an Italian film actress of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Panaro is best known for her films in the early 1960s, notably Luchino Visconti's crime drama Rocco e i suoi fratelli in 1960.

Life and career

Born in Rome into a wealthy family, Panaro studied acting under Teresa Franchini. She made her film debut at 16 years old, and got a large success in 1956 thanks to the Dino Risi's comedy film Poor, But Handsome, then specializing in romantic comedies.

In 1957–8, together with her Poor, But Handsomeco-star Lorella De Luca, she assisted Mario Riva in presenting the popular RAI game show Il Musichiere.

Personal life

Panaro was first married to the Italian-Egyptian banker Jean-Pierre Sabet. Widowed, in 1992 she married the actor Giancarlo Sbragia.

She died on 1 May 2019 in his home in Geneva at the age of 79.

Selected filmography

• Wild Love (1955)
• Poveri ma belli (1957)
• Belle ma povere (1957)
• Love and Chatter (1957)
• Lazzarella (1957)
• La trovatella di Pompei (1957)
• Toto, Peppino and the Fanatics (1958)
• Poveri milionari (1958)
• Cerasella (1959)
• Il raccomandato di ferro (1959)
• Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild Women (1959)
• Rocco and His Brothers (1960)
• The Bacchantes (1961)
• The Son of Captain Blood (1962)
• The Secret Mark of D'Artagnan (1962)
• The Executioner of Venice (1963)
• Temple of the White Elephant (1964)
• Hercules vs. Moloch (1963)
• 30 Winchester per El Diablo (1965)
• Die Pyramide des Sonnengottes (1965)
• Der Schatz der Azteken (1965)
• Sexycop (1976)