Description
PAOLO BONACELLI BIOGRAPHY:
Paolo Bonacelli (28 February 1937 – 8 October 2025) was an Italian stage and film actor. Bonacelli graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome. After debuting on stage in Vittorio Gassman’s Questa sera si recita a soggetto, he had his first film role in Corpse for the Lady (1964). He appears (as the Duke) in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s final film, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), in Alan Parker’s Midnight Express (1978), Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979), and in Tinto Brass’ Caligula (1979). In addition, he worked for directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni, Roberto Rossellini, Elio Petri, and Liliana Cavani. In 1992, Bonacelli received the Nastro d’Argento for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Roberto Benigni’s Johnny Stecchino. In the 2003, he appeared in the Tom Cruise film Mission: Impossible III and in 2010 The American with George Clooney.
Paolo Bonacelli (28 February 1937 – 8 October 2025) was an Italian stage and film actor. Bonacelli graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome. After debuting on stage in Vittorio Gassman’s Questa sera si recita a soggetto, he had his first film role in Corpse for the Lady (1964). He appears (as the Duke) in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s final film, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), in Alan Parker’s Midnight Express (1978), Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979), and in Tinto Brass’ Caligula (1979). In addition, he worked for directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni, Roberto Rossellini, Elio Petri, and Liliana Cavani. In 1992, Bonacelli received the Nastro d’Argento for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Roberto Benigni’s Johnny Stecchino. In the 2003, he appeared in the Tom Cruise film Mission: Impossible III and in 2010 The American with George Clooney.
MICHELE PLACIDO BIOGRAPHY :
Michele Placido (born 19 May 1946) is an Italian actor and director. He is best known for the role of Corrado Cattani in the TV series La piovra.
Life and career
Placido was born at Ascoli Satriano, into a poor family from Rionero in Vulture, Basilicata; he is a descendant of the known brigand Carmine Crocco. Placido had a number of jobs since his youth. He studied acting at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, and with Silvio D’Amico at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his debut as an actor in the play Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1969. Two years later he started film work under directors such as Luigi Comencini, Mario Monicelli, Salvatore Samperi, Damiano Damiani, Pasquale Squitieri, Francesco Rosi, Walerian Borowczyk, Marco Bellocchio, Paolo Cavara and Carlo Lizzani. His first success came with the role of soldier Paolo Passeri in Marcia trionfale (1976, directed by Bellocchio), for which he won a David di Donatello. Two years later he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor award at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival for his role of the homosexual worker in ironical melodrama Ernesto (1978, by Samperi). He appeared in several TV movies in the 1970s, but 1983 marked the beginning of his greatest television popularity when he played the lead as a police inspector investigating the Mafia in Damiano Damiani’s TV series La piovra. He went on to play the same part in the subsequent three series, until his character’s assassination. Afterwards he would appear as a law enforcement official in a number of other films and TV productions dealing with organized crime, including a semi-biographical movie about Giovanni Falcone, where he acted as the titular judge. In 2008, in a reversal of roles, he portrayed longtime Mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano in the TV movie L’ultimo padrino. A recognizable role to US audiences is that of an Italian businessman in the 1988 comedy Big Business. Until a divorce in 1994, he was married to actress Simonetta Stefanelli. Their daughter Violante Placido is also an actress. In 2012 he married actress Federica Vincenti (born 8 November 1983) after over 10 years of dating. The couple divorced in December 2017.
Life and career
Placido was born at Ascoli Satriano, into a poor family from Rionero in Vulture, Basilicata; he is a descendant of the known brigand Carmine Crocco. Placido had a number of jobs since his youth. He studied acting at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, and with Silvio D’Amico at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his debut as an actor in the play Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1969. Two years later he started film work under directors such as Luigi Comencini, Mario Monicelli, Salvatore Samperi, Damiano Damiani, Pasquale Squitieri, Francesco Rosi, Walerian Borowczyk, Marco Bellocchio, Paolo Cavara and Carlo Lizzani. His first success came with the role of soldier Paolo Passeri in Marcia trionfale (1976, directed by Bellocchio), for which he won a David di Donatello. Two years later he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor award at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival for his role of the homosexual worker in ironical melodrama Ernesto (1978, by Samperi). He appeared in several TV movies in the 1970s, but 1983 marked the beginning of his greatest television popularity when he played the lead as a police inspector investigating the Mafia in Damiano Damiani’s TV series La piovra. He went on to play the same part in the subsequent three series, until his character’s assassination. Afterwards he would appear as a law enforcement official in a number of other films and TV productions dealing with organized crime, including a semi-biographical movie about Giovanni Falcone, where he acted as the titular judge. In 2008, in a reversal of roles, he portrayed longtime Mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano in the TV movie L’ultimo padrino. A recognizable role to US audiences is that of an Italian businessman in the 1988 comedy Big Business. Until a divorce in 1994, he was married to actress Simonetta Stefanelli. Their daughter Violante Placido is also an actress. In 2012 he married actress Federica Vincenti (born 8 November 1983) after over 10 years of dating. The couple divorced in December 2017.
ORNELLA MUTI BIOGRAPHY :
Ornella Muti (born Francesca Romana Rivelli; 9 March 1955) is an Italian actress. She made her film debut as Francesca Cimarosa in the 1970 film La moglie più bella.
