Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini was an American World War II prisoner of war survivor, inspirational speaker, and Olympic distance runner. In 2010, Laura Hillenbrand wrote a best-selling book about his experiences, which was adapted into the film Unbroken in 2014. It is direc...
July 2, 2014, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Olean
Height
5 ft 8 in (1.75 m)
Weight
132 lbs (60 kg)
Profession
Motivational speaker, Runner, Military Officer
Education
Torrance High School, University of Southern California
Nationality
Italy
Spouse
Cynthia Applewhite (m. 1946–2001)
Children
Cissy Zamperini, Luke Zamperini
Parents
Louise Dossi, Anthony Zamperini
Siblings
Pete Zamperini, Sylvia Zamperini, Virginia Zamperini
Movies
Zamperini
Star Sign
Aquarius
#
Fact
1
He was to be the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Tournament of Roses Parade, held before the football playoff game in Pasadena, California. 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".
2
His wife Cynthia predeceased him. He was survived by his son, Luke Zamperini, his daughter, Cynthia Zamperini Garris, and a grandchild.
3
He was a first generation American, the son of two Italian immigrants.
4
University of Southern California's track & field stadium's entrance was named Louis Zamperini Plaza in 2004.
5
During his World War II military service, he was a B-24 bombardier in a plane nicknamed the Green Hornet. While flying a rescue mission May 27, 1943, the Green Hornet had a mechanical failure and fell into the ocean. 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.
6
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.
7
He attended Torrance High School, where he was a track star. In 1934, he set the national high school track record for the mile at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His record time of 4 minutes 21.2 seconds held for 20 years. His efforts earned him a scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC).
8
For his 81st birthday in January 1998, he returned to Japan to run a leg of the Olympic torch relay for the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano. He was also a torch bearer for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
9
Inducted to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago, Illinois, USA in October 2008.
10
The home football, soccer, and track stadium for Torrance High School has been named Zamperini Stadium in his honor.
11
Born in New York, his family moved to Torrence, California in 1920.
12
In the 1950s, Tony Curtis approached Zamperini, after the release of Zamperini's first book, about making a film with Curtis portraying Zamperini.
13
He is the subject of a 2010 biography by Laura Hillenbrand, "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption." A critical and popular success, it hit #1 on the New York Times best-seller list in 2010.
14
One of his fellow prisoner of war camp mates was Gregory H. 'Pappy' Boyington, writer of the book "Baa Baa Black Sheep," upon which "Black Sheep Squadron" (1976) (original title Black Sheep Squadron (1976)) was based.
15
The Torrance airport was renamed Zamperini Field on December 7, 1946.
16
Zamperini resided in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California at the time of his death.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
They Died with Their Boots On
1941
Soldier (uncredited)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1939
Street Urchin (uncredited)
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Unbroken
2014/I
biographical advisor
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Unbroken
2014/I
in memory of
Sworn to Secrecy: Secrets of War
1998
TV Series documentary special thanks to - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Today
2014
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Glickman
2013
TV Movie documentary
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2012
TV Series
Himself
Taking Flight: The History of Torrance Municipal Airport
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Sworn to Secrecy: Secrets of War
1998
TV Series documentary
Himself - POW in Japan, WWII
Zamperini: Still Carrying the Torch
1992
Video documentary short
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
On the Record w/ Brit Hume
2014
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Unbroken (2014) as Thanks
Glickman (2013) as Actor
Zamperini: Still Carrying the Torch (1992) as Actor
Taking Flight: The History of Torrance Municipal Airport (2005) as Himself
$1 Million
