Gianni Agus (17 August 1917 – 4 March 1994) was an Italian actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1938. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1938 and 1991.

Life and career

Born in

Cagliari Cagliari (, also , , ; sc, Casteddu ; lat, Caralis) is an Italian municipality and the capital of the island of Sardinia, an autonomous region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name ''Casteddu'' means ''castle''. It has about 155,000 inhabitant ...

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label=Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after ...

, after his diploma in accounting Agus moved to Rome to enrol in the

Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia The Centro sperimentale di cinematografia (Experimental Film Centre or Italian National film school) was established in 1935 in Italy and aims to promote the art and technique of cinematography and film. The centre is the oldest film school in ...

, from which he graduated in 1938. The same year he made his screen debut in

Carmine Gallone Carmine Gallone (10 September 1885 – 11 March 1973) was an early Italian film director, screenwriter, and film producer, who was also controversial for his works of pro-Fascist propaganda and historical revisionism. Considered one of Itali ...

's '' The Life of Giuseppe Verdi'' and his stage debut with the Merlini- Cialente company. Agus' career took off in the post-war period, with his participation in numerous revues and musical comedies, often working with Wanda Osiris. His popularity in the general public increased thanks to the television, particularly with the hosting of the eight edition of the

Sanremo Music Festival The Sanremo Music Festival, officially the Italian Song Festival () and commonly known as just (), is the most popular Italian song contest and awards ceremony, held annually in the city of Sanremo, Liguria. It is the longest-running annual ...

, and later as the sidekick of comedians

Peppino De Filippo Peppino De Filippo (born Giuseppe De Filippo; 24 August 1903 – 27 January 1980) was an Italian actor. De Filippo was born in Naples, brother of actor and dramatist Eduardo De Filippo and of Titina De Filippo. He made his stage debut at th ...

and

Paolo Villaggio Paolo Villaggio (; 30 December 1932 – 3 July 2017) was an Italian actor, voice actor, writer, director and comedian. He is noted for the characters he created with paradoxical and grotesque characteristics: Professor Kranz, the ultra-timid G ...

on several TV-shows.

Partial filmography

* '' The Life of Giuseppe Verdi'' (1938) * ''Inventiamo l'amore'' (1938) - Un invitato alla festa * ''

The Sons of the Marquis Lucera ''The Sons of the Marquis Lucera'' (Italian: ''I figli del marchese Lucera'') is a 1939 Italian comedy film directed by Amleto Palermi and starring Armando Falconi, Caterina Boratto and Sergio Tofano. It is based on a play of the same name by Gh ...

'' (1939) * ''

Naples Will Never Die ''Naples Will Never Die'' (Italian: ''Napoli che non muore'') is a 1939 Italian comedy film directed by Amleto Palermi and starring Fosco Giachetti, Marie Glory and Paola Barbara.Liehm p.22 A young French tourist on holiday in Naples meets and fa ...

'' (1939) - Bebè * ''Io, suo padre'' (1939) * ''

His Young Wife ''His Young Wife'' ( it, Le miserie del signor Travet) is a 1945 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati. It was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Carlo Campanini - Monsù Ignazio Travet * Vera Carmi - Madama Rosa Travet ...

'' (1945) - Velan * ''

Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...

'' (1949) - Paride * ''Femmina incatenata'' (1949) - Gianni * ''

Figaro Here, Figaro There ''Figaro Here, Figaro There'' (Italian: ''Figaro qua, Figaro là'') is a 1950 Italian historical comedy film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia and starring Totò and Isa Barzizza. The title and the plot allude to ''The Barber of Seville''.Bìs ...

'' (1950) - Il conte di Almaviva * ''

The Enchanting Enemy ''The Enchanting Enemy'' (Italian: ''L'incantevole nemica'') is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Claudio Gora and starring Silvana Pampanini, Robert Lamoureux and Carlo Campanini.Gundle p.275 The film's sets were designed by the art direc ...

'' (1953) * ''

Funniest Show on Earth ''Funniest Show on Earth'' ( it, Il più comico spettacolo del mondo) is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring May Britt. It is the first Italian film in 3D. It was filmed with a three-dimensional shooting system pa ...

'' (1953) - Il signore dai capelli tinti di rosso (uncredited) * ''Ci troviamo in galleria'' (1953) - Il lettore di pubblicità * ''Verdi'' (1953) - (uncredited) * ''

It Takes Two to Sin in Love ''It Takes Two to Sin in Love'' (Italian: ''In amore si pecca in due'') is a 1954 Italian melodrama film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi and starring Giorgio De Lullo, Cosetta Greco and Alda Mangini.Moliterno p.94 The film's sets were designed b ...

'' (1954) * ''

Cardinal Lambertini Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758. Pope Be ...

'' (1954) - Count Pepoli * ''Giove in doppiopetto'' (1954) * ''

Susanna Whipped Cream ''Susanna Whipped Cream'' ( it, Susanna tutta panna, es, Susana, pura nata) is a 1957 Italian-Spanish romantic comedy film directed by Steno. Cast *Marisa Allasio: Susanna *Germán Cobos: Alberto *Mario Carotenuto: Alfredo Libotti *Memmo Caro ...

'' (1957) - Trombetti * ''Femmine tre volte'' (1957) - Marchese De Blasi * ''La cento chilometri'' (1959) - Corsetti's Friend with a Bow Tie * ''

The Fascist ''The Fascist'' ( it, Il federale) is a 1961 Italian film directed by Luciano Salce. It was coproduced with France. It was also the first feature film scored by Ennio Morricone. Plot The movie takes place in 1944, when Italy was divided bet ...

'' (1961) - Capo del fascio di Cremona * ''Pesci d'oro e bikini d'argento'' (1961) * ''

The Two Marshals ''The Two Marshals'' ( it, I due marescialli) is a 1961 Italian comedy film written and directed by Sergio Corbucci. The film was a hit at the Italian box office, with 2.765.531 spectators and a total gross of 536.513.000 lire.Matilde Amorosi, Al ...

'' (1961) - Podestà Pennica * ''2 samurai per 100 geishe'' (1962) - Avv. Sciabica * ''

I motorizzati ''I motorizzati'' is a 1962 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque, consisting of five segments all sharing cars as main theme. Cast *Ugo Tognazzi as Achille Pestani *Nino Manfredi as Nino Borsetti * Franco Franchi a ...

'' (1962) - Mario * ''

Sexy Toto ''Sexy Toto'' (Italian: ''Totòsexy'') is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Amendola and starring Totò and Erminio Macario. It consisted of a mere montage of scenes discarded from ''Toto's First Night ''Toto's First Night'' (Italian: ' ...

'' (1963) - Ispettore di dogana * ''Uno strano tipo'' (1963) - Gastone * ''

Toto vs. the Four ''Totò contro i quattro'', internationally released as ''Toto vs. the Four'', is a List of Italian films of 1963, 1963 Cinema of Italy, Italian comedy film directed by Stefano Vanzina, Steno. Despite its title, it was not a true fusion between To ...

'' (1963) - Dottor Cavallo (uncredited) * ''Divorzio alla siciliana'' (1963) - L'avvocato * ''

Le motorizzate ''Le motorizzate'' ("The motorized women") is a 1963 Italian anthology comedy film written and directed by Marino Girolami. Plot Five segments. The collision between a van of religious, supporters of the Christian Democrats, and a Fiat 600 wit ...

'' (1963) - The Prosecutor (segment "Il Vigile Ignoto") * ''

Toto and Cleopatra ''Toto and Cleopatra'' ( it, Totò e Cleopatra) is a 1963 Italian adventure-comedy film written and directed by Fernando Cerchio. Plot Mark Antony has a brother-lookalike, Totonno, a sinister slave trader. Totonno secretly replaces Mark Antony ...

'' (1963) - Ottavio * ''Europa: Operazione Strip-tease'' (1964) * ''

L'immorale ''L'immorale'' is a 1967 Italian comedy film directed by Pietro Germi. It was entered into the 1967 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Ugo Tognazzi as Sergio Masini * Stefania Sandrelli as Marisa Malagugini * Renée Longarini as Giulia Masini * Mari ...

'' (1980) - Un presentatore televisivo * '' The Long, the Short, the Cat'' (1967) - Il conte * ''

Soldati e capelloni ''Soldati e capelloni'' is a 1967 Italian "musicarello" comedy film directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti, written by Augusto Caminito and Giovanni Grimaldi, produced by Franco Cittadini and Stenio Fiorentini and starred by Franco Lantieri, Brizio ...

'' (1967) - Colonello Ortega * '' Peggio per me... meglio per te'' (1967) - Barone Marcianò * ''

The Most Beautiful Couple in the World ''The Most Beautiful Couple in the World'' (Italian: ''La più bella coppia del mondo'') is a 1968 Italian "musicarello" comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque and starring Walter Chiari, Paola Quattrini and Aldo Giuffrè.Cowie, p. 330 Cast ...

'' (1968) - Gianni * ''La vuole lui... lo vuole lei'' (1968) * ''Franco e Ciccio... Ladro e Guardia'' (1969) - Naked man in airport * ''Lisa dagli occhi blu'' (1970) - Centro Spaziale Engineer * ''Il gatto di Brooklyn aspirante detective'' (1973) - Aldemiro Arcangelo Gabriele De Porcaris * '' Ku-Fu? Dalla Sicilia con furore'' (1973) - Kon Ki Lay * '' Dirty Weekend'' (1973) - Sergio * ''4 marmittoni alle grandi manovre'' (1974) - Il colonnello * ''Il colonnello Buttiglione diventa generale'' (1974) - Generale La Tanica * ''

Il trafficone ''Il trafficone'' is a 1974 Italian commedia sexy all'italiana written and directed by Bruno Corbucci and starring Carlo Giuffré. Plot A Neapolitan Vincenzo LoRusso that lives of expedients in Rome, as he tries to sell at an intersection a faux ...

'' (1974) - on. Rivolta * ''

The Balloon Vendor ''The Balloon Vendor'' ( it, Il venditore di palloncini, also released as ''Last Moments'' and ''The Last Circus Show'') is a 1974 Italian drama film directed by Mario Gariazzo and starring James Whitmore. Cast * Renato Cestiè as Giacomino * ...

'' (1974) - Circus Manager * ''Buttiglione diventa capo del servizio segreto'' (1975) - Generale La Tanica * ''

Due sul pianerottolo ''Due sul pianerottolo'' is a 1976 Italian comedy film written and directed by Mario Amendola. It is based on a successful comedy play with the same name starred by the same cast. Cast * Erminio Macario: Prof. Luigi Savoia * Rita Pavone: Gug ...

'' (1976) - Dott. Gianni Tagliolini * '' My Sister in Law'' (1976) - Angelo Scotti * ''Orazi e curiazi 3-2'' (1977) - Mezio * ''

Fracchia la belva umana ''Fracchia la belva umana'' (''Fracchia the fanatic'' or ''Fracchia The Human Beast)'' is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Neri Parenti. The film is loosely inspired by The Whole Town's Talking. It was screened at the 67th Venice Internat ...

'' (1981) - Dott. Orimbelli * ''

Culo e camicia ''Culo e camicia'' is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile, consisting in two segments, respectively starred by Enrico Montesano and Renato Pozzetto. Cast ;Il televeggente * Enrico Montesano as Rick Antuono * Daniela ...

'' (1981) - Annibale Panebianco * ''

I carabbimatti ''I carabbimatti'' is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Giuliano Carnimeo and starring Andy Luotto. Plot Cast * Andy Luotto – matto paranoico * Giorgio Ariani – primario di Villa Verde * Daniele Formica – Carabiniere Ceci * Licin ...

'' (1981) - Giuseppe Marrone * ''

Camera d'albergo ''Camera d'albergo'' is a 1981 Italian comedy film written and directed by Mario Monicelli. Ida Di Benedetto won the David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress and Ruggero Mastroianni won the David di Donatello for Best Editing. Cast * Vitto ...

'' (1981) - Himself * ''Sbirulino'' (1982) - Brescioni * ''Cuando calienta el sol... vamos a la playa'' (1982) * ''

Questo e Quello ''Questo e Quello'' () is a 1983 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci. Plot First segment: the life of a comic book artist in a creative crisis is revolutionised by the casual encounter with a beautiful stranger. Second segment: a wri ...

'' (1983) - Editor (segment "Questo... amore impossibile") * ''Matilda'' (1990) - Matilda's Father

TV

* ''Il conte di Montecristo'' (1966) *''La granduchessa e i camerieri'', dir.

Gino Landi Luigi Gregori (2 August 1933 – 17 January 2023), popularly known as Gino Landi, was an Italian choreographer, and stage and television director. Biography Gino Landi was born on 2 August 1933 in Milan on the stage of the Teatro Dal Verme ...

(1977) *''Bambole non c'è una lira'', dir. Antonello Falqui (1977) * ''Giochiamo al varieté'' (1980) * ''Tamburi nella notte'', dir.

Gabriele Lavia Gabriele Lavia (born 10 October 1942) is an Italian actor, film director and theatre director. Biography Lavia was born in Milan, Lombardy. Since 1970 he has had roles in nearly thirty films and television programs. He is known for his appear ...

(1982) * ''Senator'', dir.

Gianfrancesco Lazotti Gianfrancesco Lazotti (born 2 March 1957) is an Italian film screenwriter and director. Born in Rome, Lazotti studied at DAMS in Bologna and apprenticed as assistant director to many well-known Italian directors, including Ettore Scola and D ...

(1992)

References

External links

* 1917 births 1994 deaths Italian male film actors 20th-century Italian male actors Italian male stage actors Italian male television actors Italian television presenters Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia alumni Actors from Sardinia {{Italy-actor-stub