Here are 15 famous actors from Italy were born in 1955:
Gene Gnocchi (March 1, 1955 Fidenza-) a.k.a. Eugenio Ghiozzi is an Italian comedian, presenter, football player and actor. His children are called Ercole Ghiozzi, Silvia Ghiozzi and Marcello Ghiozzi.
He began his career as a football player, but later switched to comedy, making his debut on television in the show "Drive In" in the 1980s. He became known for his satirical and irreverent style, often making fun of politicians and celebrities. He has hosted several television programs including "Zelig" and "Colorado" and has also acted in films and television series. In addition to his work in entertainment, he is also known for his philanthropy, supporting various charities and social causes. In 2020, he was awarded the honor of "Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic" for his contributions to Italian culture and society.
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Claudio Bigagli (December 8, 1955 Montale-) also known as Crostino is an Italian actor, film director and screenwriter.
He is best known for his leading roles in the films "Kaos" (1984) and "The Star Maker" (1995), both directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. Bigagli has also appeared in other notable films such as "Life Is Beautiful" (1997) and "Pinocchio" (2002). In addition to his acting career, he has directed documentaries and short films, as well as writing screenplays. He has won several awards for his work, including the Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actor for "The Star Maker". Outside of acting and filmmaking, Bigagli is an avid cyclist and has competed in several races.
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Diego Abatantuono (May 20, 1955 Milan-) a.k.a. Diego Abbatantuono is an Italian screenwriter, actor, comedian and presenter. He has three children, Marta Abatantuono, Marco Abatantuono and Matteo Abatantuono.
Abatantuono began his career as a comedian in the late 1970s, performing stand-up and appearing on television variety shows. He gained national fame in Italy through his regular appearances on the television show "Drive In," which featured a cast of young comedians and performers.
Abatantuono then began acting in films, often in comedy roles that showcased his talent for physical humor and improvisation. He starred in the popular 1982 comedy "Eccezzziunale veramente" and its sequel, "Eccezzziunale veramente - Capitolo secondo... me," as well as in numerous other films throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
In recent years, Abatantuono has focused more on television work, and has hosted several successful programs. He has also continued to act in films, with recent roles in "Prete moi ta main" and "A Boss in the Living Room."
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Roberto Citran (January 26, 1955 Padua-) is an Italian actor.
He is best known for his roles in Italian films and television shows. Citran started his acting career in the late 1970s and has appeared in over 80 films and TV programs. He has worked with some of the most prominent directors in Italy, including Dario Argento, Daniele Luchetti, and Paolo Sorrentino. Citran has received critical acclaim for his performances and has won several awards, including the David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "Aprile" by Nanni Moretti. In addition to his acting career, Citran is also a theater director and has directed productions in Italy and abroad.
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Antonello Grimaldi (August 14, 1955 Sassari-) also known as Antonio Luigi Grimaldi is an Italian screenwriter, film director, actor and television director.
Grimaldi is best known for his work in Italian cinema and has directed and written screenplays for several successful Italian films. He began his career in the film industry as a writer and director of documentaries before moving on to feature films. Grimaldi's directorial debut, "Black Holes," won several awards and was selected for the Venice Film Festival in 1995. He has since directed several other critically acclaimed films, including "The Nanny," "Waiting for the Messiah," and "Caos calmo." Grimaldi has also worked as an actor in both film and television, including a role in the popular Italian TV series "Don Matteo." In addition to his work in cinema, Grimaldi has also directed several TV commercials and music videos.
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Francesco Nuti (May 17, 1955 Prato-) is an Italian screenwriter, film director, actor and film producer. His child is called Ginevra Nuti.
Nuti first gained fame in the mid-1980s as one of the prominent figures of the "commedia all'italiana" genre, and later became a leading actor in Italian cinema. He has acted in and directed several successful films, including "The Pool Hustlers" (1982), "A Boy and a Girl" (1984), and "A.J.O.Z." (1989). Nuti has also been recognized with numerous awards for his work in film, including a David di Donatello award for Best Actor in "The Pool Hustlers" and a Nastro d'Argento for Best Director in "Caruso, Zero for Conduct" (1998). In recent years, Nuti has focused more on directing and producing, and has been involved in several successful television series and documentaries. Despite suffering a stroke in 2018 which left him in a coma for several months, Nuti has continued to work on his craft and remains an important figure in Italian cinema.
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Ricky Tognazzi (May 1, 1955 Milan-) also known as Riccardo Tognazzi, Riky Tognazzi, Riki Tognazzi or Rick Tognazzi is an Italian film director, actor, television director, screenwriter, voice actor and film producer. He has one child, Giulia Tognazzi.
Ricky Tognazzi started his career in the film industry in the early 1970s as an actor. He appeared in several successful Italian films such as "La terrazza" (1980), directed by Ettore Scola, and "Piccoli equivoci" (1989), directed by his brother, the late actor and director Ugo Tognazzi. In 1983, Ricky made his directorial debut with the film "Il tassinaro" (The Taxi Driver), which was well received by audiences and critics alike.
Over the years, Tognazzi has directed numerous successful films, including "Uomini & donne, amori & bugie" (Men & Women: A User's Manual) in 1995 and "La scorta" (The Escort) in 1993. In 1995, he won the Silver Ribbon award for Best Director for "La scorta". In addition to directing, Tognazzi has also worked as a screenwriter, producer and voice actor on various Italian films.
Aside from his work in film and television, Tognazzi has been involved in politics, serving on the City Council in his hometown of Milan as a member of the Democratic Party. He is also the founder and president of the CinemAvvenire Film Festival, dedicated to promoting young filmmakers in Italy.
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Mimmo Calopresti (January 4, 1955 Polistena-) is an Italian screenwriter, film director, film producer and actor.
He is best known for his work in the Italian film industry, where he has received critical acclaim for his unique perspective and creativity. Calopresti began his career as an actor, appearing in several films and TV shows throughout the 1980s. In the 1990s, he transitioned to directing and produced a number of successful films, including "Notes of Love" and "The Second Time". Calopresti's films often explore complex social and political issues, with a particular focus on the lives of marginalized communities. In addition to his work in film, Calopresti has also written several books and plays, and has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the arts.
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Ennio Fantastichini (February 20, 1955 Gallese-) is an Italian actor and comedian.
He started his acting career in theater, but soon transitioned to film, where he became a very popular and sought-after actor. He has appeared in over 80 films and is best known for his roles in "Loose Cannons" (1990), "The Nanny" (1999) and "Don't Move" (2004). He has won numerous awards for his acting, including a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "La Seconda Volta Non Si Scorda Mai" (2008). In addition to his acting career, Fantastichini has also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films into Italian. Sadly, he passed away on November 2, 2018, at the age of 63 due to cancer.
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Alessandro D'Alatri (February 24, 1955 Rome-) is an Italian film director, actor, screenwriter and television director.
He is best known for his work in the Italian film industry where he has been involved in the production of several critically acclaimed films. D'Alatri started his career in the entertainment industry as an actor and later moved on to directing and writing. He has won several awards for his work in film including the Silver Ribbon Award for Best Screenplay at the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Awards. Some of his notable works as a director include "Senza pelle", "Viola bacia tutti", and "La Febbre". In addition to his work in film, D'Alatri has also directed several successful television series in Italy.
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Lorenzo Caccialanza (January 28, 1955 Cologno Monzese-) is an Italian actor and soccer player.
He began playing soccer at a young age and even played professionally before finding success as an actor. Caccialanza is best known for his work as a motion capture performer in video games, portraying characters such as Donatello in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game and the titular character in the game Primal Rage. He has also appeared in films such as The Toxic Avenger Part II and III and TV shows like Charmed and Walker, Texas Ranger. In addition to acting, Caccialanza has worked as a stuntman and fight choreographer in Hollywood.
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Antonino Paone (July 29, 1955 Bova Marina-) otherwise known as Tonino, Tony, Antonio Paone or Tony Paone is an Italian actor.
Born in Bova Marina, a small town in the southern region of Calabria, Italy, Antonino Paone began his acting career in the late 1970s. He gained attention for his versatile approach to acting, appearing in both theater productions and feature films. Over the course of his career, Paone has collaborated with some of the most notable directors in Italian cinema, including Dario Argento and Pupi Avati.
Paone's breakout role came in 1983 with the film "Nostalghia" directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, where he played the role of Domenico. He gained further international recognition for his role in "Lamerica" (1994) directed by Gianni Amelio, which won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Throughout his career, Paone has won critical acclaim for his performances and has received numerous accolades and awards.
Alongside his acting career, Paone has been actively involved in humanitarian work. He founded the ANFFAS-Calabria (National Association of Families of the Mentally Handicapped) and has worked to improve the lives of people with disabilities both in Italy and internationally. In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his contributions to the arts and humanitarianism.
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Willem Dafoe (July 22, 1955 Appleton-) a.k.a. William Dafoe, Jr., William J. Dafoe, Willem, Billy, William Dafoe or Willem DeFoe is an Italian actor, voice actor and model. His child is called Jack Dafoe.
Dafoe has appeared in over 100 movies and is best known for his roles in Platoon, Spider-Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, and The Florida Project. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including for his role in At Eternity's Gate as Vincent van Gogh, and has won numerous other awards throughout his career. Dafoe has also worked in theater, appearing on Broadway in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean and Death and the Maiden. In addition to his acting career, he has done voice-over work for video games and documentaries. Dafoe is known for his unconventional looks, often playing villainous characters. He has been married to Italian actress and filmmaker Giada Colagrande since 2005.
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Tomas Arana (April 3, 1955 Auburn-) a.k.a. Thomas Clifford Arana, Thomas Arana, Toma Arana or Tom Aaron is an Italian actor and theatrical producer.
He was born in Auburn, New York but spent a large part of his childhood in San Francisco. Arana attended college at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he studied theatre arts. After graduation, he moved to Italy and became fluent in Italian while working in Italian theatre.
Arana's breakthrough role was in the film "The Hunt for Red October" where he played the character Loginov. He has since appeared in numerous films such as "The Bodyguard", "Gladiator" and "The Bourne Supremacy". In addition to his film work, Arana has also worked in television, with appearances on shows like "CSI: Miami", "24" and "The Blacklist".
Arana has also produced and directed several theatre productions, including a production of "Hair" in Rome. He is considered to be one of Italy's foremost theatre producers, and has been honored with numerous awards for his work in theatre.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Arana is also involved in environmental activism and is a supporter of numerous charities. He currently resides in Italy with his family.
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Bruno Tonioli (November 25, 1955 Ferrara-) a.k.a. Bruno or Bruno Tunioli is an Italian choreographer, dancer, actor, tv personality and writer.
He is best known for his role as a judge on the hit TV shows Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing. Tonioli began his career as a choreographer in the 1980s, working on music videos for famous artists such as Elton John, Freddie Mercury, and Duran Duran.
He then transitioned into choreographing for stage productions and worked on several West End musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats. Tonioli's expertise in choreography led him to develop a successful career as a dancer, both on stage and on screen.
Aside from his accomplishments in the entertainment industry, Tonioli is also a published author. In 2012, he released his autobiography, "Bruno Tonioli: My Story," which chronicles his life from his childhood in Italy to becoming one of the most beloved and recognizable personalities in television.
Tonioli has been a staple of the entertainment industry for over three decades and continues to be a respected figure in the dance and choreography world.
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