Journalist and TV presenter Luca Giurato has passed away at the age of 84, struck by a sudden heart attack. “We were in Santa Marinella, enjoying the last glimpse of summer…”, says his wife Daniela Vergara, in tears.
Born in Rome in 1939, he was the son of a Sicilian diplomat who, after World War II, paid for his loyalty to the Fascist regime, serving in Porto Alegre in Brazil and Rosario in Argentina.
“We would see him during holidays,” Giurato recounted. “The marriage between mom and dad was not very successful. When I was 16, there was an attempt at reconciliation. We all left for Argentina, the two of them, us four siblings, and nanny Tonina,” but the attempt failed: “Four months later, my mother decided to return to Italy with two of my siblings. I stayed with my father.”
A cult face of TV
His first television appearance was in 1992-1993 on A tutta stampa, a news review segment within Tg Uno notte. In the fall of 1993, he began his adventure on Domenica in with Mara Venier. “A piece of life is leaving, a friend to whom I owe everything. He was the one who wanted me for the first time on Domenica In. Recently, he wanted to retire and was traveling around the world”, was Venier’s heartfelt comment.
In 1989 and 1995, he received the Premio simpatia and became one of the main presenters of Rai 1 – UnoMattina – until 2008; his colleagues included Livia Azzariti, Paola Saluzzi, and Antonella Clerici. In 2004-2005, he hosted Italia che vai together with Francesca Chillemi and Guido Barlozzetti on Saturday afternoons on Rai 1.
Luca Giurato (Contrasto)
After completing his classical high school diploma at the Virgilio High School in Rome, he joined Paese Sera as a reporter at the age of 20, becoming a professional journalist in 1965. He then moved to La Stampa, and in 1986, he was appointed director of GR1, Radio Rai’s news program, later becoming deputy director of TG1 until 1990. He returned to UnoMattina alongside Monica Maggioni and Eleonora Daniele. Since September 2008, he was an opinion commentator on the sixth edition of “L’isola dei famosi” alongside Mara Venier. He also served as a commentator on I raccomandati. During the 2009-2010 season, he ran a column within UnoMattina Week-End. He became famous for his numerous gaffes and lapsus linguae.
With his gaffes, he won the affection of Italians and inspired Gialappa’s and Striscia
Journalism, but not only. He garnered the affection of Italians due to some lapsus that over time became cult phrases and have gone viral in these hours following the news of his death, serving as a final farewell from many Italians on social media. A small gesture of affection, a testament to the strong bond he created with the public.
The gaffes, in some cases, the presenter himself later admitted to having made deliberately. Gaffes that inspired the Gialappa’s Band in the program ‘Mai dire gol’ and ‘Striscia la notizia’, in a segment called ‘Ci avrei Giurato’ and in a special episode titled Luca Giurato Show. His appearances as a guest and commentator on shows like ‘Quelli che il Calcio’, ‘L’Isola dei Famosi’, and ‘I Raccomandati’ are also worth mentioning. In 2010, he also participated as a contestant on ‘Let’s Dance’ on Canale 5.
Two years ago, his brother Blasco passed away in Rome on December 26; he was a director of photography. In 2017, he made his last television appearance when he decided to dedicate himself solely to private life.
Funeral tomorrow at the Church of Artists in Rome
Relatives, friends, and colleagues will be able to give their final farewell to the late Luca Giurato tomorrow. The funeral for the journalist and TV presenter will be held tomorrow, Friday, September 13, at 2:30 PM at the Church of Artists in Piazza del Popolo in Rome.
Luca Giurato (Morena Brengola/Getty Images)
Rai: unmistakable style, remains a precious asset
“The passing of Luca Giurato deeply saddens the entire company, which affectionately embraces his wife Daniela and all his loved ones, with a feeling of profound gratitude. Because Luca Giurato was a journalist who best embodied – let’s just remember Unomattina, but not only – being the face and voice of public service, entering the homes of Italians almost as if he were ‘one of the family’, with an unmistakable, friendly and ‘welcoming’ style, accompanied by equally unmistakable sympathy, lightness, and irony. These human and professional qualities remain a precious legacy of public service.” This is how Rai’s executives expressed their condolences in a statement.
Meloni: he entered the homes of Italians with affection
“Luca Giurato accompanied the days of millions of Italians for years, virtually entering their homes as a journalist and TV presenter, with expertise, kindness, genuineness, and also with the rare and precious virtue of self-irony. I am sure that, besides your profession, your audience will remember you as a friend. May the earth be light upon you.” This is how Giorgia Meloni, the President of the Council, expressed her sentiments in a post on X.