Skip to main content

Actor Roberto Ciufoli - Four Decades of Comedy


With Roberto Ciufoli at the 2015 Festa del Cinema in Rome
Born in Rome in 1960, Roberto Ciufoli has earned a reputation as a diverse comedy actor that goes from big screen to small screen to stage. He rose to fame in the late 80’s as a member of the 20-year-long comedy quartet, La Premiata Ditta. The group was made up of two actors and two actresses- Roberto Ciufoli, Pino Insegno, Tiziana Foschi e Francesca Draghetti. La Premiata Ditta became a household name while regularly appearing on a number of television shows including RAI’s "Pronto, chi gioca?" and "Pronto, è la Rai?." Through the 90’s, the group kept up their pace and even made a film titled, "L'assassino è quello con le scarpe gialle." Then in 2000, they struck gold with the sitcom, "Finché c'è ditta c'è speranza." La Premiata Ditta parted ways in 2006 but reunited on stage for a theater production called, "Abbiamo fatto 30...Facciamo 31."


When not appearing on camera or on stage, Ciufoli is the voice of many adored Italian characters. He's done voice-overs for several children's animation shows such as the Italian cartoon, "La gabbianella e il gatto" and the American films "Galline in fuga" (Chicken Run) and "L'era glaciale 4 - Continenti alla deriva" (Ice Age: Continental Drift) plus the Korean cartoon "Pucca."

In a 2013 interview for La Prima Pagina, he didn’t have a positive outlook on contemporary Italian cinema, saying that he feels the themes and players are usualy the same and don’t grow. For example, there is still too much focus of themes of organized crime. He feels that Italian filmmakers should move on and write about something else. That was 2 years ago. With the release of two huge films this year that focus on organized crime- "Suburra" and "Non essere cattivo," I doubt his viewpoint has not changed. In 2015, Ciufoli's focus has been on theater with some television appearances here and there including the popular RAI 2 variety show, "Stasera tutto è possibile" and an interview spot for Nuovo IMAIE during the Festa de Cinema in Rome. From what I could see of 2016, it looks like Ciufoli will continue with his focus on theater. If you’re in Italy and able to attend any of his performances, I’d highly recommend it. His television work is hilarious and most likely, he carries that gift for comic timing over to the stage. To find out about his upcoming stage productions, follow him on Twitter.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait  “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann.  Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Nostalgia and landscape blend in Delpero's award-winning 'Vermiglio'

A scene from "Vermiglio" (Photo:  Cinecittà) Inspired by childhood nostalgia and memories of her father, Maura Delpero’s “Vermiglio” is a heartfelt story of one family’s experience during the final days of World War II. Awarded the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival where it premiered, the film is set in the picturesque Alpine mountain village of Vermiglio during the mid-1940s. It follows a schoolmaster’s family of 10 as they navigate life on the bare essentials while grappling with the consequences after a Sicilian soldier, played by Giuseppe De Domenico, deserts the army and seeks refuge with them. The soldier’s romance with the family’s eldest daughter, Lucia, portrayed by Martina Scrinzi, unfolds against the backdrop of a provincial family caught in the traditions of a fading era.   The film begins with an intimate portrayal of the Graziadei family as they wake up to the cold light of the wintertime sun. The scene opens with three sisters sleepi...

The Timeless Talent of Stefania Sandrelli

On screen since the tender age of 14, she has captivated audiences for more than 50 years with a compelling combination of strength and vulnerability. She achieved stardom at just 14 years old playing the angelic cousin of a love-struck Marcello Mastroianni in Pietro Germi’s “Divorce Italian Style.” More than half a century later, she is still going strong and remains one of Italy’s most esteemed actors. Stefania Sandrelli was born on June 5, 1946, in Viareggio in the province of Lucca in northern Italy. As a child, she studied music and dance. Then in 1960, she won a beauty pageant and was featured on the cover of Le Ore magazine. Her purity captivated the country and shortly thereafter, movie offers began pouring in. Just one year later, she made her cinema debut in three feature films: Mario Sequi’s Gioventù di notte , Luciano Salce’s The Fascist, and Pietro Germi’s Divorce Italian Style . She instantly became a star and before long was a key figure in Italy’s legend...

Gianfranco Rosi to premiere 'Sotto le nuvole' at Venice Film Fest, exploring Naples' history

Documentary filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi will premiere his much-anticipated latest film at the upcoming 82nd Venice International Film Festival , which runs August 27 - Sept. 6. "Sotto le nuvole" (Below the Clouds)  takes a deep dive into the rich history and culture of Naples and the area surrounding Mount Vesuvius. There has not been much information revealed but so far, we know that the film will focus on themes similar to those explored by Rosi in his previous works, such as the examination of Roman culture in "Sacro GRA" (2013) and Lampedusa's refugee crisis in "Fuocoammare" (2016).  The film's synopsis reads, “The land around Vesuvius is a vast palimpsest. On the surface, underground and even beneath the sea of the modern city of Naples and its surroundings, the memory of history is etched into tunnels, walls and fissures, the remains of women, children and men — statues, buried cities. Only thin layers separate contemporary and ancient life, an...

Iconic scenes from 'Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina' highlight Italy's North-South divide

If you’re in the mood for a quintessential old-school Italian comedy, look no further than “Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina.” Directed in the mid-1950s by Camillo Mastrocinque, the film has stood the test of time. Starring two of Italy’s most beloved comic actors, Totò (Antonio De Curtis) and Peppino De Filippo, it is widely regarded as one of the country’s most iconic comedies, showcasing mid-century Neapolitan humor. The film also features a young Nino Manfredi at the beginning of his prolific six-decade career. “Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina” is the story of two simple, old-fashioned brothers from Naples, Antonio and Peppino Caponi (Totò and De Filippo respectively), who embark on a trip up north to check on their young nephew Gianni. Gianni has moved to Milan and fallen for a seductive nightclub dancer named Marisa (Maria Luisa Mangini, aka Dorian Gray), whom they refer to as a “malafemmina,” meaning a “bad woman” or femme fatale. Believing she is corrupting him, Totò and Peppino ...