Raffaella Carrà, Beloved Italian Superstar Singer & Actor, Dies at 78

Raffaella Carrà has sadly died.

The Italian singer, dancer and actor passed away on Monday (July 5) at the age of 78, her longtime partner Sergio Iapino confirmed in a statement to ANSA, via Deadline.

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“Raffaella has left us. She has gone to a better world, where her humanity, her unmistakable laugh and her extraordinary talent will shine forever,” he said in the statement.

A cause of death was not revealed, but she was reportedly battling an unnamed illness for some time.

Raffaella Carrà is widely considered a gay icon, and is known for her work in movies like Fury of the Pagans and Atlas in the Land of the Cyclops in the ’60s, as well as starring with Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan’s Express.

She went on to become a singer of hits like “Tucu Tucu” and a dancer on variety shows, and became known as the first TV personality to show her belly button on camera.

Her first international hit was “A Far l’Amore Comincia Tu” (Be the One Initiating Sex), and the English version reached No. 9 on the UK singles chart. She would later be a judge on The Voice Italy, and most recently starred in My Heart Goes Boom! and The Man Without Gravity.

Our thoughts are with Raffaella Carrà‘s loved ones at this difficult time. We have sadly lost all these stars in 2021.