Patrizia De Blanck, a familiar face on Italian television, has died at the age of 85. Known as “the blue-blooded showgirl,” De Blanck passed away after a private battle with an illness. Her daughter, Giada, confirmed the news.
Patrizia De Blanck’s Daughter, Giada, Announces Her Mother’s Passing
“With immense sadness, I announce the passing of my mother, Countess Patrizia De Blanck,” Giada De Blanck wrote on Instagram – “My mother was an iconic figure who represented an era of elegance, romance, and authenticity. With her passing, an irreplaceable chapter of my life, and of an entire era, comes to a close. Her courage, strength, and light will live on forever in me. I thank those who loved her. Rest in peace, Mom, forever in my heart.” The news came as a shock to many.
“With great difficulty, I’m writing this message, I don’t even have the strength to speak,” she continued, “Anyone who knows me knows that my mother was everything to me. We had a wonderful relationship: she was my best friend, my point of reference, my life.”
“I dedicated my life to her with love, care, determination, and devotion, and many times we managed to win together, and often I was able to save her… This time, despite doing everything possible and fighting with all my strength, it wasn’t enough.”
“I hoped, as we have other times, that we – as the warriors we’ve always been – would win this battle with the power of love. I faced a very demanding and painful journey without collapsing, for both of us, trying to instill strength and love in her until the very finish.”
Giada De Blanck explained that she chose to maintain complete privacy during this most difficult time: “By choice, I lived through everything in silence and confidentiality, in an extremely delicate and terrible moment for both of us, protecting her from everything, from her devastating illness and facing the pain away from everyone. I am deeply marked by this difficult and painful journey and torn by a suffering that cannot be explained: a part of me has gone with her. I will live for two, that is my promise. I will live for her, who lives within me and in my heart forever. Not even death can divide us.”
Who Was Patrizia De Blanck?
Patrizia De Blanck was born in Rome on November 9, 1940, and was the daughter of Lloyd Dario. She was the last descendant of the Venetian family that once owned the Palazzo Ca’ Dario, and of the Cuban ambassador H.E. Guillermo De Blanck y Menocal, grandson of Mario García Menocal (third president of Cuba) and Secretary of State during his presidency.
Her childhood is closely linked to the history of the country. When communist revolutionaries, led by Fidel Castro, seized power, they nationalized all of her family’s property, including villas and sugar and tobacco plantations. Her entire family was exiled from Cuba.
She entered the world of entertainment early, at the age of 18. In 1958, she became one of the two hostesses on the television program Il Musichiere, hosted by Mario Riva. After 40 years away from the small screen, she returned to television in 2002, appearing as a regular guest on Chiambretti c’è on Rai 2 with Piero Chiambretti, and the following year as a regular guest on Domenica In hosted by Paolo Bonolis.
Subsequently, in 2005, she participated as a contestant in the reality present Il ristorante on Rai 1, while from 2006 she participated in Igor Righetti’s radio program Il ComuniCattivo on Radio 1 with the segment La classe non è acqua, trasgredire con bon ton.
In 2008, she became a contestant on the sixth edition of L’isola dei famosi, being eliminated in the semi-final with 38% of the votes. In the same year, she published her autobiography, A letto col diavolo. In 2011, she played herself, along with her daughter Giada, in the comedy film Vacanze di Natale a Cortina.
In subsequent years, she participated as a recurring commentator on programs hosted by Barbara D’Urso: Pomeriggio Cinque and Domenica Live. Finally, in September 2020, she participated as a contestant in the fifth edition of Grande Fratello VIP, being eliminated in the episode of November 23, 2020.
