Scilla Gabel


Scilla Gabel is an Italian film, television, and stage actress. She appeared in 50 films and multiple television programs between 1954 and 1988.

Career

Born in Rimini as one of five children, Gabel entered the cinema industry as Sophia Loren's body double. Between 1957 and 1967, she appeared often as the female lead actress in dozens of films but failed to emerge because of the stereotyped roles. Starting from late 1960s, she focused her activity on stage and television, in which she found most significant roles and critical appreciation.

Personal life

Gabel married Piero Schivazappa in 1968; they had one child.

Father's murder

On 8 May 1999, Gabel's 87 year-old father Giuseppe Gabellini was murdered. He was landlord to a number of tenants at his villa on the via Campi di Torre Flavia two blocks from Ladispoli's beach, about 35 km west of Rome. One tenant, 65 year old Elisa Santilli owed Gabellini Lit. 900,000 for several months rent, which she refused to pay. Santilli had also refused a Lit. 3,000,000 buyout from Gabellini to leave the apartment voluntarily.
At 10:15 on the morning of Friday, 8 May Gabellini returned to via Campi di Torre Flavi to reason with Santilli one last time before informing her that he had scheduled her eviction by carabiniere for 25 May. After a brief argument at the threshold, during which she accepted the buyout, Santilli returned to her kitchen where she retrieved a large kitchen knife. She sprang at the elderly man and stabbed him in the chest without a word. After Gabellini fell to the floor of the corridor she pounced on his stricken body. There she stabbed him fourteen more times, stopping only after she broke off the tip of her knife in one of her landlord's vertebrae. She then stood back, apparently to watch Gabellini die.
Gabel's father died at the scene in his daughter's arms. Santilli moved out of the apartment one week later, after being placed on house arrest awaiting trial. She moved 70 km northwest, to Pescia Romana.

Partial filmography

Tua per la vita - La sartina dell' AtelierDue sosia in allegria Gente felice - GinaGirls of the Night - LolaLegs of Gold - GiannaThe White Warrior - Princess Maria VorontsovaTarzan's Greatest Adventure - ToniLes canailles - GinaGenitori in blue-jeans - ColetteTough Guys - JosetteCall Girls of Rome - PatriziaQueen of the Pirates - Isabella, the Duke's DaughterMill of the Stone Women - Elfie WahlLa grande vallata Les filles sèment le vent - KissaThe Festival Girls - NadjaMara Three Faces of Sin - Rossana StromboliRomulus and the Sabines - DusiaVillage of Daughters - Angelina VimercatiNo Man's Land - WomanColossus of the Arena - ThalimaSodom and Gomorrah - TamarLa salamandre d'or - BéatriceThe Two Colonels - IrideKnights of Terror - CristinaI diavoli di Spartivento Outlaws of Love - WilmaSeven Slaves Against the World - ClaudiaCorpse for the Lady - RenataLa vendetta di Spartacus - CinziaUna storia di notte - A German touristIl figlio di Cleopatra - LiviaCon rispetto parlando Modesty Blaise - MelinaDjurado - Barbara DonovanTarget for Killing - La TigraHow to Seduce a Playboy - Anita BiondaZärtliche Haie - Zeezee - Molly PinkBastard, Go and Kill - Susanna