Letícia Román (née Novarese; August 12, 1941 – June 26, 2025) was an Italian-born film actress.

Letícia Román
Román in 1961
Born
Letizia Novarese

(1941-08-12)August 12, 1941
Rome, Italy
DiedJune 26, 2025(2025-06-26) (aged 83)
OccupationActress
Years active1960–1966
Spouse
Peter Anthony Gelles
(m. 1970)
Children1
Parent(s)Vittorio Nino Novarese
Giuliana Gianni

Early life

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Román was born Letizia Novarese in Rome on August 12, 1941.[1] She was the daughter of stage actress Giuliana Gianni and screenwriter/costume designer Nino Novarese.[2]

Taught by tutors, Roman received the equivalent of an American high school education. She was fluent in five languages.[3]

Roman said that her parents did not want her to be an actress, but after arriving in Hollywood, she began studying acting under Sandy Meisner.[4] She studied with Gladys Vogeler to diminish her accent.[5]

Career

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Román in The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963)

Román started her film career with a small part in the Elvis Presley film G.I. Blues, where she plays Tina.[6][7] Román had her first leading role in the film The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963), where she plays Nora Davis, a mystery obsessed woman who believes she has witnessed a murder.[8] After completing the film, Román went to Germany, where she made several films, including Russ Meyer's Fanny Hill.[9]

Later life and death

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Román retired from acting after getting married in 1966 to Peter Anthony Gelles, by whom she had one child.[10] According to actor John Saxon, Román later worked in the real estate business in Los Angeles briefly.[10]

Román died in Fort Myers, Florida on June 26, 2025, at the age of 83.[11]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. Lucas, Tim (2014). Commentary by Tim Lucas (Blu ray (Disc 1)). Arrow Films. Event occurs at 0:33:46. FCD1023.
  2. Lucas, Tim (2014). Commentary by Tim Lucas (Blu ray (Disc 1)). Arrow Films. Event occurs at 0:33:55. FCD1023.
  3. "Starlet Breaks Tradition – Goes Brunette". Valley News. Van Nuys, California. 16 September 1960. p. 24. Retrieved 28 January 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. Scott, Vernon (11 August 1960). "Young Leticia Roman Breaks Hollywood's Studio Barriers". Simpson's Leader-Times. Kittanning, Pennsylvania. United Press International. p. 23. Retrieved 28 January 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. Thomas, Bob (16 June 1960). "Teen-Age Actress Won't Date Elvis". The Amarillo Globe-Times. Amarillo, Texas. Associated Press. p. 44. Retrieved 28 January 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. Lucas, Tim (2014). Commentary by Tim Lucas (Blu ray (Disc 1)). Arrow Films. Event occurs at 0:34:30. FCD1023.
  7. "G.I. Blues". American Film Institute. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  8. Lucas, Tim (2014). Commentary by Tim Lucas (Blu ray (Disc 1)). Arrow Films. Event occurs at 0:34:56. FCD1023.
  9. Lucas, Tim (2014). Commentary by Tim Lucas (Blu ray (Disc 1)). Arrow Films. Event occurs at 0:35:21. FCD1023.
  10. 1 2 Lucas, Tim (2014). Commentary by Tim Lucas (Blu ray). Arrow Films. Event occurs at 0:35:46. FCD1023.
  11. "Leticia Roman - The Private Life and Times of Leticia Roman. Leticia Roman Pictures". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
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