Giovanni Frezza (born 8 September 1972) is an Italian former child actor, diver, martial artist and product developer who appeared in a number of films throughout the 1980s. Frezza is possibly best recalled for his roles in several horror films.[1]
Giovanni Frezza | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 September 1972 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor (former), Dive Master, Martial Arts trainer & Product Development Director |
| Years active | 1980–1985 |
Early life
editGiovanni Frezza was born in Potenza, Basilicata, Italy.
Career
editHe made his film debut with a minor role the 1980 Marco Bellocchio-directed comedy-drama Salto nel vuoto (English title: A Leap in the Dark). Frezza then went on to play a variety of juvenile roles, most often in horror films. In 1981 he had a starring role in the gory, supernatural-themed Lucio Fulci-directed The House by the Cemetery as Bob Boyle, an imperiled child living in a sinister New England house.[2] He worked with Fulci a second time in 1982's Manhattan Baby as the brother of a little girl possessed by a supernatural amulet. In 1982 he appeared in Enzo G. Castellari-directed post-apocalyptic Italian action film I Nuovi barbari (English: The New Barbarians).[3]
Frezza would continue appearing in films until 1985. His last role was as Kirk in the 1985 Dario Argento-penned and Lamberto Bava-directed thriller Dèmoni (English: Demons). After retiring from films at age thirteen, Frezza concentrated on his studies.
Giovanni is currently working as a Director-Product Development at Molex LLC.
Personal life
editAccording to his official MySpace page, he currently resides in Chicago and is a married father of three children who works as a Director for a multinational technology company.[4]
Filmography
edit- A Leap in the Dark (1980) (Italian title: Salto nel vuoto, also known as Leap into the Void)
- The House by the Cemetery (1981) (Italian title: Quella villa accanto al cimitero)
- Heads I Win, Tails You Lose (1982) (Italian title: Testa o croce)
- The New Barbarians (1982) (Italian title: I Nuovi barbari, also known as Warriors of the Wasteland)[3]
- Cuando calienta el sol... vamos a la playa (1982)
- Manhattan Baby (1982) (Italian title: L' Occhio del male)[5]
- Mani di fata (1983)[6]
- A Blade in the Dark (1983) (Italian title: La Casa con la scala nel buio)[7]
- Demons (1985) (Italian title: Dèmoni)[8]
References
edit- ^ Register Horror Express: "Giovanni Frezza, a creepy kid icon of 80’s Italian exploitation cinema thanks to Lucio Fulci’s "House by the Cemetery" and Enzo Castellari’s "The New Barbarians"
- ^ Lucio Fulci's A House by the Cemetery
- ^ a b "B-Notes". Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
- ^ Giovanni Frezza's Official MySpace page
- ^ New York Times Movies
- ^ "Vacanze di Natale (in [[Italian language|Italian]])". Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
- ^ Monster Hunter
- ^ Darkside"In case you were wondering, the lad with the shotgun in the white jeep at the films ending was indeed young Giovanni Frezza, who also played the young lad in Lucio Fulci's "House by the Cemetery".