Daria Nicolodi, the Italian-born actress who starred in “Inferno” and the cult classic “Deep Red” and also co-write “Suspiria,” died Thanksgiving Day. She was 70 years old. The cause of death has not been released.
Her daughter, actress Asia Argento, posted a heartfelt tribute to her mother along with several family photos on Instagram in announcing the death.
“Rest in peace beloved mother,” the caption written in Italian but translated into English, read. “Now you can fly free with your great spirit and you won’t have to suffer anymore. I will try to go on for your beloved grandchildren and especially for you who would never want to see me so grieved. Even if without you I miss the ground under my feet, and I feel I have lost my only true point of reference. I am close to all those who have known and loved her. I will always be your Aria, Daria.”
Nicolodi appeared in several films directed by Asia’s father, Dario Argento, between 1975 and 1987, including “Deep Red,” “Inferno,” “Tenebrae,” “Phenomena” and “Opera.”
Although her relationship with Argento ended in 1985, she went on to star with Asia in his “The Mother of Tears,” the final installment of his supernatural horror trilogy “The Three Mothers.”
Others joined Argento in memorializing Nicolodi.
Horror screenwriter Michael Varrati wrote on Twitter, “I’m thankful for the work of Daria Nicolodi. Her legacy shall continue to live on in all the vibrant, vicious hyper-colored majesty of the cinema. A true creator and one of Giallo’s greatest grand dames.”
Writer and director Jamie Righetti called the death “gutting” and said, “Daria Nicolodi co-wrote SUSPIRIA and contributed so much to giallo as a whole. The Argento films we adore wouldn’t be the same without her influence. What a huge loss for cinema.”