War Hero. One of his fellow prisoner-of-war camp mates was. He was an actor, known for Unbroken (2014), This Is Your Life (1950) and Today (1952). What brought Zamperini back from the brink was hearing a Billy Graham sermon in Los Angeles in 1949, a sermon that inspired Zamperini and began the healing process. Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini (born 1917 in New York, died 2014) was a middle distance runner from the USA who competed in the 1936 Olympic Games as a 19 year old in the 5000m and finished 8th. Yet it is truly his passion for life and mental vitality that continues to impress people around the world. For his military service and time as a prisoner of war, he received the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the World War II Prisoner of War Medal. Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917 in Olean, New York, to Anthony Zamperini and Louise Dossi, both native to Verona in northern Italy. Yet Zamperini, as a former Olympic athlete, was seen as a propaganda tool by the Japanese, a scenario that likely saved him from execution. He ended up a bombardier on the B-24 Liberator, and in May 1943, Zamperini and a crew went out on a flight mission to search for a pilot whose plane had gone down. His life has been an inspiration to many and a number of books, documentaries and feature films have been based upon his life story. Louis Zamperini was an Olympic athlete and a US prisoner of war survivor (World War II), who later became a Christian evangelist. He was a star quarterback. In response to Zamperini's July 2, 2014 death, the Tournament of Roses committee announced they are "committed to honoring him as the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Rose Parade". His mother is English, and worked at British Midland, and his father was Irish (from County Kerry), and worked on the railways for Bombardier. His wife Cynthia predeceased him. Cyclist Major Taylor was the second Black athlete to hold a world championship in any sport. Zamperini was released only after the war ended in 1945, and he returned to the United States. Held on Randall’s Island, the race pitted Zamperini against Don Lash, the world record holder in the event. Most Popular #16506. Early life Louis Zamperini was born January 26, 1917 in Olean, New York, to Anthony and Louise Zamperini. He was raised in a strict Catholic household. Louis Zamperini, the World War II prisoner of war survivor chosen to be the grand marshal for the 2015 Rose Parade died Wednesday at the age of 97, according to a news release from Universal Pictures. He died in January 1972 at age 61. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Unbroken is a biography of World War II hero Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who survived a plane crash in the Pacific theater, spent 47 days drifting on a raft, and then survived more than two and a half years as a prisoner of war (POW) in three … The starting gun went off as he began his stride to the middle of the surrounding runners. Out over the Pacific Ocean, Zamperini’s plane suffered mechanical failure and crashed into the ocean. In 1919, his family moved to Torrance, California, United States. Upon his return to the United States, he began his career as a Christian evangelist. In 1998, Zamperini returned to Japan once again to carry the torch at the Nagano Winter Games. Zamperini also went on to become a prominent inspirational speaker, and he wrote two memoirs, both titled Devil at My Heels (1956 and 2003). He finished 8th in the 5000 meter race at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin Germany. Portrait of American former bombardier Lt Louis Zamperini as he poses at home, Los Angeles, California, June 13, 1985. With the outbreak of World War II, the 1940 Olympics were canceled, and Zamperini enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Zamperini passed away in July of 2014; he was 97 years old. Zamperini died at age 97 of pneumonia on July 2, 2014. Birthplace Olean, NY . His experiences were detailed in the best-selling 2010 biography Unbroken, which was adapted as a major motion picture under the same name in 2014. Later in his childhood, his brother Pete was the one who encoura… His efforts earned him a scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC). He had an older brother […] Louis Zamperini was a World War II veteran and Olympic distance runner. Official Sites. Zamperini resided in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California at the time of his death. Death and Legacy Louis Zamperini died of pneumonia at his home in Los Angeles in 2014 at the age of 97. Scarred by his ordeal, upon his return home, Zamperini suffered from alcoholism, and he and his wife, Cynthia, came close to divorce. His record time of 4 minutes 21.2 seconds held for 20 years. Jul 3, 2014 (age 97) Birth Sign Aquarius. Birthday January Jan 26, 1917. During the overwhelming pageant that is the Olympics, the 19-year-old stood near Adolf Hitler’s box with his fellow athletes, seeking a photo of the Nazi leader. Louis Zamperini walked limply to the starting line as he was at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, moments away from taking part in a 5,000-meter race at the impressive age of nineteen. Laura Hillenbrand wrote a book about his life and it was adapted into a 2014 film called Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie. Movie Actress. Born in January 1917, Louis Silvie Zamperini was a World War II prisoner of war, an outstanding Olympic athlete and an inspirational figure who touched multitudes of crowds with his life experience and as a writer. War Hero #7. He attended Torrance High School, where he was a track star. Some received Zamperini’s forgiveness in person in 1950, when he visited a Tokyo prison where they were serving war-crime sentences. Zamperini trained for only a few weeks in the 5,000 meters, and although he ran well (he finished his last lap in only 56 seconds), he didn’t medal, coming in eighth (to Lash’s 13th). He then earned a Purple Heart medal after being held as a prisoner of war in Ofuna, Japan during World War II. Other Works Zamperini graduated from USC in 1940, a year that would have been the speedster’s next shot at Olympic gold, but World War II intervened. Growing up in Torrance, California, Zamperini ran track at Torrance High School and discovered that he had a talent for long-distance running. To survive, they collected rainwater and killed birds that happened to land on the raft. He went on to found a camp for troubled youth called Victory Boys Camp and forgave his Japanese tormenters. He died on July 2, 2014 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was married to Cynthia Applewhite. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Louis Silvie Zamperini was born in 1917 in Olean, New York, United States to Anthony Zamperini and Louise Dossi. Louis Silvie " Louie " Zamperini (January 26, 1917 – July 2, 2014) was an American World War II prisoner of war survivor, motivational speaker and track and field athlete. The month and a half at sea proved harrowing for the survivors, as they were subjected to the unrelenting sun, strafing runs by Japanese bombers, circling sharks and little drinking water. Publicity Listings https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-louis-zamperini The Bird (Miyavi), left, torments Louis Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) in "Unbroken," an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Zamperini who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII — only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. Louis Zamperini Family, Childhood, Life Achievements, Facts, Wiki and Bio of 2017. The book has also become the subject of a 2014 film, directed and produced by actress Angelina Jolie. Today Louis Zamperini would be 103 years old. He was 97 years old at that time. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Growing up in Torrance, California, … Track and field star Alice Coachman made history at the 1948 Olympic Games, becoming the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Louis Zamperini was born January 26, 1917 in Olean, New York, to Anthony and Louise Zamperini. His track prowess also caught the attention of the University of Southern California, which he earned a scholarship to attend. Let's check, How Rich is Louis Zamperini in 2020-2021? He stated his intention to forgive the Bird, Mutsuhiro Watanabe, but Watanabe refused to meet with him. He died on July 2, 2014 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Zamperini competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and was set to compete again in the 1940 games in Tokyo, which were canceled when World War II broke out. During his World War II military service, he was a B-24 bombardier in a plane nicknamed the Green Hornet. The story was made into a popular movie titled Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie. Louis Zamperini, an Olympian and a war hero, has died at the age of 97. Louis Enlists in the Army. He was a first generation American, the son of two Italian immigrants. The captivity lasted for more than two years, during which time Zamperini was officially pronounced dead by the U.S. military. Douglas MacArthur was an American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Louis Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917 in Olean, New York, USA as Louis Silvie Zamperini. Of the 11 men on board, only Zamperini and two other airmen survived the crash, but help was nowhere to be found, and the men were stranded on a raft together for 47 days. They found themselves on a Pacific island 2,000 miles from the crash site and in enemy Japanese territory. Boom! He struggled with bullies and supposedly almost died twice, once due to a house fire, and another from having fallen into an oil rig and almost drowning. American auto executive Lee Iacocca became a national celebrity for steering the Chrysler Corporation away from bankruptcy toward record profits in the 1980s. Jack O'Connell was born in Alvaston, Derby, England, to Alison J. In 1934, he set the national high school track record for the mile at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Louis Zamperini : biography 26 January 1917 – Louis Silvie Zamperini (born January 26, 1917) is a World War II prisoner of war survivor, inspirational speaker, and former American Olympic distance runner. They were beaten and starved, and Zamperini was singled out and abused repeatedly by a camp sergeant called the Bird, who would tear into fits of psychotic violence. Looking back on the event, Zamperini said, “I was pretty naïve about world politics, and I thought he looked funny, like something out of a Laurel and Hardy film.”. After 47 days floating in a rubber life-raft at sea with two other crew members (one of the others died after 33 days), he and the plane's co-pilot were rescued/captured by the Japanese, and he spent almost two years, frequently tortured, in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp. Louis Zamperini was a World War II prisoner of war and an Olympic athlete who became an inspirational figure and writer. After his release, Zamperini became an inspirational figure, and his life served as the basis for the 2014 biography Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. |  Inducted to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago, Illinois, USA in October 2008. Legendary 1936 Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini  Photo: Peter Weber / Shutterstock.com. (They stayed married, though, for 54 years, until her death in 2001.) Louis Zamperini was a man of accomplishment: He was an athlete. Louis Zamperini during dedication ceremony of plaza in his name at USC track stadium. In 2009, Zamperini made a friend with Matt Barkley. While flying a rescue mission May 27, 1943, the Green Hornet had a mechanical failure and fell into the ocean. The theatrical release, unfortunately, came a few months after Zamperini died at the age of 97, one of the oldest-known NCAA champions. Louis Zamperini Starts Running. Born in New York, his family moved to Torrence, California in 1920. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Say Goodbye: 2014 Deaths - May 1 - August 31. Louis Silvie Zamperini was born to Italian immigrant parents on January 26, 1917, in the town of Olean, New York. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption is a 2010 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand. Louis Zamperini was released after the war ended two years later. Louis Armstrong was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader and singer known for songs like "What a Wonderful World,” “Hello, Dolly,” ”Star Dust” and "La Vie En Rose.”, James Garner was an actor known for his lead roles in the TV shows "Maverick, "The Rockford Files" and for films including "The Notebook.". The Torrance airport was renamed Zamperini Field on December 7, 1946. ... Louis Zamperini Fans Also Viewed . In 2014, Louis Zamperini died of pneumonia at his house in Los Angeles. War Hero. Louis Places 8th in the Olympics. Throughout his life Zamperini physically pushed his body to the limit. Facts about Louis Zamperini 9: Matt Barkey. His life has inspired a recent biography as well, Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. He was raised in a strict Catholic household. In 1938, Zamperini was back setting records at the collegiate level, this time breaking the mile record of 4:08.3, a new mark that held for 15 years. His life has inspired a recent biography as well, Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Louis Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917 in Olean, New York, USA as Louis Silvie Zamperini. https://www.biography.com/military-figure/louis-zamperini. Jay Zeamer Jr. War Hero. Italian-American middle distance runner – Louis Zamperini was born in Olean (city in New York, USA) on January 26th, 1917 and died in Los Angeles (county seat of Los Angeles County, California; second largest city in the United States by population) on July 6th, 2014 at the age of 97. The 103-year-old war hero was born in Olean, NY. Angelina Jolie. The race ended in a dead heat between the two runners, and the finish was enough to qualify Zamperini for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, while he was still a teenager. A bombardier in the Army Air Corps, Zamperini was in a plane that went down, and when he arrived on shore in Japan 47 days later, he was taken as a prisoner of war and tortured for two years. Jack O'Connell, Actor: Unbroken. |  Louis Zamperini died at age 97 of pneumonia on July 2, 2014. The home football, soccer, and track stadium for Torrance High School has been named Zamperini Stadium in his honor. University of Southern California's track & field stadium's entrance was named Louis Zamperini Plaza in 2004. Laura Hillenbrand’s biography Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption tells the extraordinary story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner-turned-war-hero. Doris Miller. In captivity across a series of prison camps, Zamperini and Phillips were separated and subjected to torture, both physical and psychological. He was survived by his son. He had an older brother named Pete and two younger sisters, Virginia and Sylvia. Louis Zamperini’s age is 103. Tokyo Rose, whose real name was Iva Toguri, was an American-born Japanese woman who hosted a Japanese propaganda radio program aimed at U.S. troops during World War II. 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