Ivan De Battista

He is married to Simone De Battista (2000) and has one child, Ryan Mark. Ferrer died of colon cancer in Coral Gables, Florida at the age of 80. Recently, he has achieved the Professional Performer’s Certificate in Acting from the Trinity College of London. Ferrer is the uncle of actor George Clooney and the father-in-law of singer Debby Boone. Besides, he is a member of the Ghaqda Poeti Maltin, Akkademja tal-Malti and International Arts & Artists. At the time of his death, Ferrer was married to Stella Magee, whom he married in 1992. He is currently the President of the Ghaqda Letterarja Maltija - Society of Maltese Literature and Honorary Treasurer of the European Council of Artists (Malta). Ferrer had previously been married to Uta Hagen (1938-1948) and Phyllis Hill (1948-1953).

Besides, in 1999, he published his first poetry book ‘Irwiefen’ Hurricanes. The two were married in 1953, divorced in 1961, and remarried in 1964, only to be divorced again in 1967. As a script-writer, Ivan wrote the futuristic social-drama ‘Celloli fic-Cellel’ and three unpublished film synopses. Clooney was Ferrer's third wife. He also directed ‘L-Ahhar Cena’ The Last Supper for the Gzira Pageant Group, John Drinkwater's masterpiece 'A Man's House'for Atturi Salesjani and co-directed the psychological drama ‘Il-Bniedem li ma Kienx’ The Man that never was! . Ferrer had five children with singer-actress Rosemary Clooney: Miguel was born in 1955, Maria in 1956, Gabriel in 1957, Monsita in 1958, and Rafael in 1960. He also wrote the orignal theme score for L-Ittra. in the 1980s.

Dilemma won a High Merit Award whilst Is-Siggu tar-Roti, achieved third place in Best Production. Ferrer also had a recurring role as Julia Duffy's wealthy father on the popular Newhart television sitcom in the U.S. As a director and co-founder of Imaginarts Entertainment Productions, he directed three short films, ‘L-Ittra’ The Letter (2002), ‘Dilemma’ (2003) and ‘Is-Siggu tar-Roti’ The Wheelchair (2004) to participate for the Malta Golden Knight Film Festival. His other notable films include Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, The Greatest Story Ever Told in 1965, Ship of Fools also in 1965, Woody Allen's A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy in 1982, Dune in 1984. He also interpreted several roles in local TV dramatic/sitcoms and adverts. Ferrer also directed, but did not appear in, Return to Peyton Place in 1961 and the re-make of State Fair in 1962. As an actor, Ivan performed many major roles in productions with Curtain Raiser Theatre Troupe, Atturi Salesjani, Bronk Productions, Kumpannija Teatrali Irtokki and Kumpannija Teatru Rjal of which some of them are ‘Wicc imb’ Wicc’ Face 2 Face, Divorzju bi Prova' Divorce by Trial, Goldoni’s La Bottega del Cafe, Agatha Christie’s masterpiece ‘The Mousetrap’ and 'And then, there were none...', and Beauty and the Beast - the pantomime…. In 1958 Ferrer appeared in I Accuse! and The High Cost of Loving.

His early theatre performances were held at the De Porres Theatre, situated in Sliema with the Young Deporrians. The Cockleshell Heroes followed a year later, along with The Great Man. He has been involved in the theatre and musical scene since he was 6. In 1955 Ferrer directed himself in The Shrike. Ivan De Battista (September 13, 1977 - ), is a Maltese Film and Theatre Actor. He appeared in 1953's Miss Sadie Thompson opposite Rita Hayworth, in 1954's The Caine Mutiny and the MGM musical Deep in My Heart. Also in 1952, Ferrer portrayed French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in John Huston's Moulin Rouge (Oscar nominated).

In 1952 Ferrer won three Tony Awards for directing three plays during the same season (The Shrike, Stalag 17, The Fourposter) and earned another Tony for also acting in The Shrike. He played Cyrano yet again in the French movie, Cyrano et D'Artagnan. He played the same role on stage in 1946 (winning a Tony Award), and on TV in 1949 and 1955. In 1950 Ferrer won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Cyrano de Bergerac in the 1950 film of that name.

Ferrer made his film debut with Ingrid Bergman in Joan of Arc in 1948, for which he received his first Academy Award nomination for "Best Supporting Actor". José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintron, known as José Ferrer (January 8, 1912-January 26, 1992), was an actor and director, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Jose Ferrer profile, NNDB (http://www.nndb.com/people/311/000026233/).