Paolo Villaggio at the 2015 Festa del Cinema in Rome He writes, acts and directs. He’s one of the most beloved comedians and personalities of his time. His name is Paolo Villaggio. Having achieved legendary status in Italy, he worked his way out of poverty to become a household name in his country. Born in Genoa in 1932, Villaggio grew up poor as his family felt the financial strains of World War II. He held several odd jobs throughout his teenage years and into his 20’s, but it was a television talk show host who ended up changing the course of Villaggio’s life. In 1967, he was discovered by Maurizio Costanzo. Costanzo urged Villaggio to join a cabaret in Rome. Shortly thereafter, he moved on to the small screen and delighted television audiences across Italy with his part in the TV show, Bonita Loro . After his experience in television, he began writing short stories for L’Espresso and L’Europeo, two popular magazines in It...
100+ YEARS OF THE GREAT ITALIAN MOVIEMAKERS