**Massimo Girotti (1918 – 2003)** was an Italian actor known for his great charisma and longevity, starring in over 100 films. Initially renowned for his classic good looks and imposing physique, he often embodied the masculine, virile, and noble ideal in adventure films and melodramas.

His career took a significant turn with Luchino Visconti's *Ossessione* (1943), a precursor to Neorealism, where he displayed a deeper and more tormented performance, far removed from purely heroic roles. He demonstrated remarkable versatility by portraying complex and often ambiguous characters in works by directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni (*Cronaca di un amore*, 1950) and Pier Paolo Pasolini (*Teorema*, 1968).

His most memorable performances also include *La corona di ferro* (1941) by Alessandro Blasetti and *Il deserto dei Tartari* (1976) by Valerio Zurlini. His style, always elegant and restrained, combined dramatic intensity with refined understatement, making him an iconic figure of Italian cinema.