Rossano Brazzi was a famous Italian actor who starred in many Hollywood and British films in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best remembered for his roles in Three Coins in the Fountain, The Barefoot Contessa, Summertime, and South Pacific. He died on December 24, 1994, at the age of 78, from a rare and mysterious neural virus that affected his nervous system. What was this virus and how did it kill him? Here is what we know.
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What is a Neural Virus?
A neural virus is a type of virus that infects the cells of the nervous system, such as the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Neural viruses can cause various symptoms, such as fever, headache, confusion, seizures, paralysis, and coma. Some examples of neural viruses are rabies, polio, herpes simplex encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
Neural viruses are usually transmitted through contact with infected animals or insects, or through contaminated food or water. They can also spread from person to person through respiratory droplets or bodily fluids. Neural viruses are difficult to diagnose and treat, as they often evade the immune system and cause irreversible damage to the nerve cells.
What was Rossano Brazzi’s Neural Virus?
The exact nature and origin of Rossano Brazzi’s neural virus are unknown. According to some sources, he contracted the virus while filming in Africa in 1993. He started to experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite. He was initially diagnosed with malaria and treated with antibiotics, but his condition did not improve.
He was then transferred to a hospital in Rome, where he underwent several tests and scans. The doctors discovered that he had a severe infection in his brain and spinal cord, caused by an unidentified virus. They tried to treat him with antiviral drugs and steroids, but they were ineffective. He slipped into a coma and died on Christmas Eve 1994.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the virus that killed Brazzi was “undisclosed” and “very rare”. It was not related to any known neural virus at the time. The doctors speculated that it might have been a new strain or mutation of an existing virus, or a virus that had crossed over from another species to humans.
How Did Rossano Brazzi’s Death Affect His Family and Fans?
Rossano Brazzi’s death was a shock and a tragedy for his family and fans. He was survived by his second wife Ilse Fischer, whom he married in 1984 after the death of his first wife Lydia Bertolini in 1981. He also had a son George Brazzi from his first marriage, who became an actor and producer.
Brazzi’s fans mourned the loss of one of the most handsome and charming actors of his generation. He was known for his romantic roles opposite some of the most beautiful actresses of Hollywood, such as Ava Gardner, Joan Fontaine, June Allyson, Mitzi Gaynor, and Katharine Hepburn. He was also admired for his versatility and talent in different genres, such as drama, comedy, musicals, adventure, and historical epics.
Brazzi’s legacy lives on through his films and his contributions to the Italian cinema industry. He was honored with several awards and recognitions during his career, such as the David di Donatello Award for Best Actor in 1957 for The Story of Esther Costello. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.
Rossano Brazzi’s cause of death remains a mystery to this day. He was one of the victims of a rare and deadly neural virus that took his life at the peak of his fame. He will always be remembered as one of the most charismatic and elegant stars of the silver screen.
