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| Italian film producer Ponti dies | Italian film producer Ponti dies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Italian film producer Carlo Ponti, the husband of actress Sophia Loren, has died in Geneva at the age of 94. | Italian film producer Carlo Ponti, the husband of actress Sophia Loren, has died in Geneva at the age of 94. |
| He produced a number of classic films including Federico Fellini's La Strada, David Lean's Dr Zhivago and Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup. | He produced a number of classic films including Federico Fellini's La Strada, David Lean's Dr Zhivago and Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup. |
| Ponti was admitted to hospital about 10 days ago for pulmonary complications, the family said in a statement. | Ponti was admitted to hospital about 10 days ago for pulmonary complications, the family said in a statement. |
| Ponti married Loren in 1957 when she was just 22 but the marriage was later annulled. They remarried in 1966. | Ponti married Loren in 1957 when she was just 22 but the marriage was later annulled. They remarried in 1966. |
| "He died overnight," Loren's niece Alessandra Mussolini said. "It was a peaceful death, there was not a particular problem. | "He died overnight," Loren's niece Alessandra Mussolini said. "It was a peaceful death, there was not a particular problem. |
| "His wife and children were with him. Sophia has always been with him throughout." | "His wife and children were with him. Sophia has always been with him throughout." |
| Sophia Loren lived with her husband in GenevaThe producer spotted Loren when she took part in a beauty contest when she was just 15 and he was a 37-year-old judge. | |
| Ponti groomed her for stardom, arranging for her to study acting and take English lessons. | Ponti groomed her for stardom, arranging for her to study acting and take English lessons. |
| He changed her name and secured her roles in a number of low-budget Italian films. | He changed her name and secured her roles in a number of low-budget Italian films. |
| Their first marriage caused huge controversy in Italy because Ponti was still married to his first wife and the Catholic Church would not let them divorce. | Their first marriage caused huge controversy in Italy because Ponti was still married to his first wife and the Catholic Church would not let them divorce. |
| They were married by proxy in Mexico, with lawyers taking their places, but Ponti was charged with bigamy. | They were married by proxy in Mexico, with lawyers taking their places, but Ponti was charged with bigamy. |
| The couple moved to France and gained French citizenship, allowing Ponti to divorce and remarry Loren. | The couple moved to France and gained French citizenship, allowing Ponti to divorce and remarry Loren. |
| Oscar success | Oscar success |
| Around the same period, the couple were enjoying blossoming film careers. | Around the same period, the couple were enjoying blossoming film careers. |
| In 1962, Loren won the best actress Oscar for Two Women (La Ciociara), produced by Ponti. Four years on, he was nominated for an Oscar for Doctor Zhivago. | In 1962, Loren won the best actress Oscar for Two Women (La Ciociara), produced by Ponti. Four years on, he was nominated for an Oscar for Doctor Zhivago. |
| "If you find the right person to be with, you have to stick to it," Loren said two years ago. "He has been a pillar all of my life." | "If you find the right person to be with, you have to stick to it," Loren said two years ago. "He has been a pillar all of my life." |
| Ponti's other well-known films included The Cassandra Crossing, The Verdict and The Squeeze. | Ponti's other well-known films included The Cassandra Crossing, The Verdict and The Squeeze. |
| He and Loren had two sons, Carlo Ponti Jr, music director of the San Bernardino Symphony, and film director Edoardo Ponti. | He and Loren had two sons, Carlo Ponti Jr, music director of the San Bernardino Symphony, and film director Edoardo Ponti. |
| Ponti also had a son, producer Alex Ponti, with his first wife. | Ponti also had a son, producer Alex Ponti, with his first wife. |