For a generation of movie fans, Mastroianni was the classic Italian lover--but he played the part with a comic weariness. A minor success as an actor in post-war Rome, Federico Fellini made him an international star in 1960 as the lead in La Dolce Vita. He starred in the director's films (including 8 1/2 and The Women) for another 25 years.
In more than 120 features, Mastroianni chased (and was chased by) Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau and Ursula Andress. But Sophia Loren was his steady date, starting in 1964 with Marriage, Italian Style, a follow-up to his hugely successful Divorce Italian Style. They made 11 movies together.
Mastroianni made more than 120 films in all. His latest, Three Lives and Only One Death was recently released in the U.S. and co-stars Chiara.
The actor created a scandal in 1972 after leaving his wife of 22 years, Flora, to live with Deneuve. The couple separated a few years later.
Mastroianni always brushed off film-buff attempts to cast his work as high art. "I don't understand why these Americans have to suffer so much to identify with their characters," he once said. "Me, I just get up there and act. It's great fun."