Marina Malfatti (25 April 1933 – 8 June 2016) was an Italian actress whose career spanned stage, film and television. Born in Florence, she became associated with a string of atmospheric Italian genre films in the late 1960s and 1970s while also maintaining a presence in theatre and on Italian television. Her screen work, particularly in horror and giallo productions, brought her recognition both in Italy and among international fans of the genres.

Career and screen persona

Malfatti frequently appeared in films characterized by suspense, gothic imagery and psychological tension. She was known for portraying figures who combined poise with an underlying emotional intensity, qualities that suited prevailing trends in Italian horror and crime cinema of the era. While she is often cited for a few high-profile pictures, her body of work includes a range of supporting and leading parts across different media.

Notable films

  • The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave — one of the titles most commonly linked to her screen legacy.
  • The Red Queen Kills Seven Times — an example of her participation in giallo, a popular Italian thriller subgenre.
  • Black Killer — another genre entry from the period that contributed to her filmography.

These films are frequently discussed in surveys of Italian genre cinema and continue to be referenced by enthusiasts of 1970s horror and mystery movies. In addition to those titles, Malfatti worked steadily in television dramas and in theatrical productions, a mix of activity common among Italian actors of her generation.

Origins, later life and legacy

Born in Florence, Malfatti's career reflects the cultural pathways available to Italian performers in the postwar decades, moving between stage roles, television work and feature films. She died in Rome on 8 June 2016 at the age of 83. Obituaries and retrospectives following her death highlighted her contributions to genre cinema and her long-standing presence in Italian performing arts.

For more information about her birthplace and the city that was central to her early life, see Florence. Details of her later life and passing are associated with Rome, where she spent part of her career and where she died.