Rodolfo Gucci (16 July 1912 – 15 May 1983), also known by his stage name Maurizio D'Ancora, was an Italian actor and entrepreneur, who appeared in more than 40 films between 1929 and 1946. He was a member of the Gucci family. His only child, Maurizio Gucci, was named after his stage name.
Biography Rodolfo Gucci was born in 1912 in Florence, Italy to Aida Calvelli and Guccio Gucci. He was one of five sons and one daughter.
He was spotted by the director Alfred Lind who gave him his film debut in 1929. The same year he appeared in Mario Camerini's Rails, which launched his career. He used Maurizio D'Ancora as his screen name. While filming Together in the Dark, he met his future wife. He was married in 1944 in Venice, Italy to the actress Sandra Ravel. Their only child was born in 1948, Maurizio, named after his father's stage name.
Member of the Gucci Family He was one of the five sons of Guccio Gucci, founder of the eponymous fashion house. In January 1953, D'Ancora left acting and returned to the family business after the death of his father. In 1952, Rodolfo and his brothers Aldo and Vasco traveled to New York City. They opened the first Gucci store outside of Italy in New York City, only two weeks before their father's death. In 1967, he created the Gucci Flora scarf for Grace Kelly.
After their brother Vasco Gucci died in 1974, Rodolfo and Aldo divided the business among themselves 50/50. However, Aldo's sons felt that Rodolfo had not contributed enough to the growth of the business. In an attempt to increase his profits, Aldo set up a perfume subsidiary and held 80 percent of its ownership for himself and his three sons. This rivalry eventually spiralled into family warfare.
Death and legacy Rodolfo Gucci died in 1983 in Milan. After his death, his son Maurizio Gucci inherited his majority stake in the company and became the majority shareholder. After a nearly six-year legal battle for control over Gucci against Aldo Gucci, in 1989 Maurizio Gucci was made chairman of the Gucci group. Maurizio did not have a background in business, and by 1993 the business was in dire economic and creative straits. That year Maurizio Gucci resigned and sold his remaining interest to Investcorp, ending the Gucci family's association with the company. In 1995, Maurizio Gucci was gunned down by a hired hit man. In 1998, his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani was convicted of arranging the killing.
In popular culture In the film House of Gucci (2021), Rodolfo Gucci is played by English actor Jeremy Irons.
Selected filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1929RailsGiorgioOriginally made as a silent film.1929Girls Do Not Joke1931Figaro and His Great DayAsdrubale Chiodini1932VenusIl giovane Italo-Americano1932The Old Lady Fausto1932Five to Nil1933Together in the Dark 1933Tourist Train1934The Canal of the Angels1935Those Two1935Golden Arrow 1935Territorial Militia1935Ginevra degli Almieri 1936The Ambassador 1936 Beggar's Wedding Umberto Tappi1938Nonna Felicità1938The Ancestor1939No Man's Land 1939 Heartbeat Yves 1939 The Boarders at Saint-Cyr Renato Marchand1939The Document L'ingegnere Pezzini detto 'Pallino' 1939 The Hotel of the Absent Il giovanetto galante1939The Night of TricksFilippo1940Don Pasquale ErnestoFilm is loosely based on Giovanni Ruffini's libretto for Gaetano Donizetti's opera buffa Don Pasquale. 1940 One Hundred Thousand Dollars Paolo 1942 Alone at Last Giulio De Ritis1943Annabella's Adventure Roberto1943Charley's Aunt Guidobaldo1943 Special CorrespondentsGalletti1946 Biraghin Paolo
References
Further reading Landy, Marcia. The Folklore of Consensus: Theatricality in the Italian Cinema, 1930–1943. SUNY Press, 1998.
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