Riccardo Cucciolla (5 September 1924 – 17 September 1999) was an Italian actor and voice actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1953 and 1999. He won the
Best Actor Award at the
1971 Cannes Film Festival
The 24th Cannes Film Festival was held from 12 to 27 May 1971. The Palme d'Or went to ''The Go-Between'' by Joseph Losey.
The festival opened with ''Gimme Shelter'', a documentary about English rock band The Rolling Stones directed by David Maysl ...
for the film ''
Sacco & Vanzetti''.
Biography
Born in
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy a ...
, in southern Italy, Cucciolla gained a degree in law, then made his stage debut in an
amateur production in his home city.
From 1946, he started working in radio as a voice actor and as the narrator of documentaries; at the same time, he started working in cinema, as a dubber and a voice actor.
Cucciolla made his film debut in 1953, in
Anton Giulio Majano
Anton Giulio Majano (5 July 1909 – 12 August 1994) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. His career spanned from 1937 to 1986.
Selected filmography Director and screenwriter
* '' The Eternal Chain'' (1952)
* '' Good Folk's Sund ...
's ''
Good Folk's Sunday
''Good Folk's Sunday'' ( it, La domenica della buona gente) is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Anton Giulio Majano.
Plot
Several destinies are displayed as the soccer teams of Rome and Naples meet, with Sophia Loren in one of the episo ...
''. After some minor roles, he had his first important role in ''
Italiani brava gente
"Italians, the good people" ( it, Italiani brava gente) is a phrase coined by historians to refer to Italian popular beliefs about the allegedly limited, even non-existent, participation of Fascist Italy and the Royal Italian Army in the Holocau ...
'' (1965), followed by a further significant role in
Giuliano Montaldo
Giuliano Montaldo (born 22 February 1930) is an Italian film director.
Biography
While he was still a young student, Montaldo was recruited by the director Carlo Lizzani for the role of leading actor in the film ''Achtung! Banditi!'' (1951). ...
's
''Grand Slam'' (1967).
Cucciolla came to national and international recognition with the
leading role
A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typic ...
in Montaldo's ''
Sacco e Vanzetti'', for which he was awarded best actor at
Cannes
Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions I ...
and won a
Silver Ribbon
The Nastro d'Argento, also known by its translated name Silver Ribbon, is an Italian film award awarded each year since 1946 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Italian: ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani ...
. In the wake of that sudden popularity, he intensively worked throughout the decade, alternating notable films with others of more modest quality and ambition.
Starting from eighties he thinned out his appearances, mainly focusing on dubbing and television roles.
As a dubber, he provided voice-overs for
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the third actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, playing the character in seven feature films between 19 ...
,
Claudio Villa
Claudio Villa (born Claudio Pica; 1 January 1926 – 7 February 1987) was an Italian singer and actor.
Biography
Tenor Claudio Villa was born Claudio Pica in the Trastevere quarter of Rome in 1926. He recorded over 3000 songs, sold 45 millio ...
,
Erland Josephson
Erland Josephson (; 15 June 1923 – 25 February 2012) was a Swedish actor and author. He was best known by international audiences for his work in films directed by Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky and Theodoros Angelopoulos.
Life and career ...
,
John Cazale
John Holland Cazale (; August 12, 1935 – March 13, 1978) was an American actor. He appeared in five films over seven years, all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: ''The Godfather'' (1972), '' The Conversation'' (19 ...
,
Jonathan Pryce
Sir Jonathan Pryce (born John Price; 1 June 1947) is a Welsh actor who is known for his performances on stage and in film and television. He has received numerous awards, including two Tony Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2021 he wa ...
,
Richard Egan,
James Caan
James Edmund Caan ( ; March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022) was an American actor. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in ''The Godfather'' (1972) – a performance which earned him Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award an ...
,
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career spans more than seven decades and he is considered one of the greatest American actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Gold ...
and more.
On 17 September 1999, Cucciolla died in Rome at the age of 75. He is survived by his wife, the poet Alida Sessa; their son Riccardo; and two children by his first wife, Francesco and Lietta.
Selected filmography
![Rascel-Fifi 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Rascel-Fifi_1.jpg)
* ''
Good Folk's Sunday
''Good Folk's Sunday'' ( it, La domenica della buona gente) is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Anton Giulio Majano.
Plot
Several destinies are displayed as the soccer teams of Rome and Naples meet, with Sophia Loren in one of the episo ...
'' (1953) - Cesco
* ''
I Vitelloni
''I vitelloni'' (, literally "The bullocks" - Romagnol slang for "The slackers" or "The layabouts") is a 1953 comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini from a screenplay written by himself, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli. It stars Franco ...
'' (1953) - Narrator (voice, uncredited)
* ''
Il seduttore
''Il seduttore'' (translation: ''The Seducer'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Franco Rossi. It was adapted from the play by Diego Fabbri.
Plot
Alberto is forced to face his wife and his two lovers at the same time.
Cast
* Alb ...
'' (1954) - Racca
* ''Il piccolo vetraio'' (1955) - (voice)
* ''
Rascel-Fifì
''Rascel-Fifì'' is a 1957 Italian crime-comedy film directed by . It is a parody of Jules Dassin's ''Rififi''. The film was a success at the Italian box office.
Plot
Renato and Gideone team up in business and open a Night in one of the worst ...
'' (1957) - Undici
* ''
Silver Spoon Set
''Silver Spoon Set'' ( it, I Delfini, also known as ''The Dauphins'') is a 1960 in film, 1960 Italy, Italian and France, French drama film directed and written by Francesco Maselli. The film stars Claudia Cardinale. Shot in Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
...
'' (1960) - Anselmo Foresi (voice, uncredited)
* ''
Love in Rome
''Un amore a Roma'' (internationally released as ''Love in Rome'') is a 1960 Italian romantic drama film directed by Dino Risi.Paolo D'Agostini, ''Dino Risi'', Editrice Il castoro, 1995
Plot
Marcello (Baldwin), a young writer, loves Anna (Demonge ...
'' (1960) - Narrator (uncredited)
* ''
Primitive Love
''Primitive Love'' is the ninth studio album and second English-language record by the Miami Sound Machine, released in August 1985, by Epic Records.
A 2CD remastered version of the album was scheduled for March 31, 2017 by Vibe on Records, bu ...
'' (1964) - Narrator (uncredited)
* ''
Attack and Retreat
''Attack and Retreat'' ( it, Italiani brava gente, russian: Они шли на Восток, Oni shli na Vostok) is a Soviet-Italian war drama film directed by Giuseppe De Santis and Dmitri Vasilyev in 1964. The movie follows the steps of Itali ...
'' (1964) - Sanna
* ''
La bugiarda'' (1965)
* ''
Grand Slam
Grand Slam most often refers to:
* Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves
Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to:
Games and sports
* Grand slam, winning category te ...
'' (1967) - Agostino Rossi
* ''
The Seven Cervi Brothers
'' The Seven Cervi Brothers'' ( it, I sette fratelli Cervi) is a 1968 Italian drama film directed by Gianni Puccini. The film recounts the last days of life during the resistance of the anti-fascist Cervi Brothers. The director Puccini died a few ...
'' (1968) -
Gelindo Cervi
* ''
Bandits in Rome'' (1968) - Vice Commissioner Pascuttini
* ''La rivoluzione sessuale'' (1968) - Emilio Missiroli
* ''
Una sull'altra
''One on Top of the Other'' (Italian language, Italian: ''Una sull'altra''), also known as ''Perversion Story'', is a 1969 Italian giallo film directed by Lucio Fulci. Written by Fulci and Roberto Gianviti, the film stars Jean Sorel, Marisa Mell, ...
'' (1969) - Benjamin Wormser
* ''
Giacomo Casanova: Childhood and Adolescence'' (1969) - Narratore (voice, uncredited)
* ''
Sacco e Vanzetti'' (1971) -
Nicola Sacco
Nicola Sacco (; April 22, 1891 – August 23, 1927) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (; June 11, 1888 – August 23, 1927) were Italian immigrant anarchists who were controversially accused of murdering Alessandro Berardelli and Frederick Parmenter, a ...
* ''
The Case Is Closed, Forget It
''L'istruttoria è chiusa: dimentichi '' (internationally released as ''The Case Is Closed, Forget It'') is a List of Italian films of 1971, 1971 Cinema of Italy, Italian crime drama film directed by Damiano Damiani.
It is based on the novel ''Tan ...
'' (1971) - Pesenti
* ''
We Are All in Temporary Liberty'' (1971) - Mario De Rossi
* ''
The Sicilian Checkmate
''The Sicilian Checkmate'' ( it, La violenza: quinto potere) is a 1972 Cinema of Italy, Italian crime film, crime-drama film directed by Florestano Vancini.
Plot
The construction of a dam in Sicily triggers unspeakable interests and appetites th ...
'' (1972) - Professor Salemi
* ''
Un apprezzato professionista di sicuro avvenire'' (1972) - Nicola Perella
* ''
Un flic
''Un flic'' ( en, A Cop; also known as ''Dirty Money'') is a 1972 French crime film, the last directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. It stars Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve and Richard Crenna.
Delon had previously worked with Melville on '' Le Samoura ...
'' (1972) - Paul Weber
* ''Incensurato provata disonestà carriera assicurata cercasi'' (1972) - Commissario
* ''
The Assassination of Matteotti
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'' (1973) -
Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Francesco Gramsci ( , , ; 22 January 1891 – 27 April 1937) was an Italian Marxist philosopher, journalist, linguist, writer, and politician. He wrote on philosophy, political theory, sociology, history, and linguistics. He was a ...
* ''
No, The Case Is Happily Resolved'' (1973) - Professor Eduardo Ranieri
* ''
Paolo il caldo
''Paolo il caldo'' ( in English: ''Hot Paolo'') is a novel by Vitaliano Brancati, and also of a 1974 Italian film based on that novel.
Novel
The novel is set in Catania and in Rome around the time of the Second World War. It tells the story of a ...
'' (1973) - Paolo's Father
* ''24 ore... non un minuto di più'' (1973) - Minister Handras
* ''
The Sensual Man
''The Sensual Man'' ( it, Paolo il caldo, also known as ''The Sensuous Sicilian'') is a 1974 Italian comedy film written and directed by Marco Vicario.
It is loosely based on Paolo il caldo, the novel of the same name written by Vitaliano Brancati ...
'' (1974) - Celio D'Altamura
* ''Le Hasard et la Violence'' (1974) - Dr. Puget (uncredited)
* ''
The Visitor'' (1974)
* ''
Borsalino & Co.'' (1974) - Volpone
* ''
Rabid Dogs
''Rabid Dogs'' ( it, Cani arrabbiati) is an italian thriller- noir film directed by Mario Bava, starring Riccardo Cucciolla, Don Backy, Lea Lander, Maurice Poli, George Eastman and Erika Dario. Taking place largely in real time, the film foll ...
'' (1974) - Riccardo
* ''
The Last Day of School Before Christmas'' (1975) - Ambro
* ''
C.I.A. Secret Story'' (1975) -
Giuseppe Pinelli
Giuseppe "Pino" Pinelli (21 October 1928 – 15 December 1969) was an Italian railroad worker and anarchist, who died while being detained by Italian police in 1969. Pinelli was a member of the Milan-based anarchist association named Ponte ...
* ' (1975) - Olivares
* ''Il fratello'' (1975)
* ''La linea del fiume'' (1976) - Dr. Roder
* ''
Take All of Me
''Take All of Me'' ( it, Dedicato a una stella/ ''Dedicated to a Star'') is an Italian melodrama film written and directed by Luigi Cozzi.
Plot
A young woman named Stella is dying in a hospital of leukemia. A man named Richard Lansky who arrives ...
'' (1976) - Padre di Stella
* ''
Meet Him and Die
''Meet Him and Die'' ( it, Pronto ad uccidere) is a 1976 film directed by Franco Prosperi and starring Ray Lovelock, Martin Balsam and Elke Sommer.
Cast
* Ray Lovelock - Massimo Torlani
* Martin Balsam - Giulianelli
* Elke Sommer - Secretary
...
'' (1976) - Commissioner Sacchi
* ''
Antonio Gramsci: The Days of Prison'' (1977) - Antonio Gramsci
* ''
Turi and the Paladins'' (1979) - Don Saverio
* ''Il ragazzo di Ebalus'' (1984) - Old farmer
* ''
The Assisi Underground
''The Assisi Underground: The Priests Who Rescued Jews'' is a 1978 novel written by Alexander Ramati based on a true-life account, told by Father Rufino Niccacci, of events surrounding the Assisi Network, an effort to hide 300 Jews in the town of ...
'' (1985) - Luigi Brizzi
* ''Una casa in bilico'' (1986) - Teodoro detto Teo
* ''
Il coraggio di parlare'' (1987) - Don Carmelo Fiorillo
* ''Remake'' (1987) - Himself
* ''
32 dicembre'' (1988) - Anselmi, lo spasimante (segment "La gialla farfalla")
* ''Il segreto dell'uomo solitario'' (1988)
* ''Vanille fraise'' (1989) - Andreani
* ' (1991) - Massimo Serboli
* ''In Calabria'' (1993) - Narrator (voice)
* ''L'Affaire'' (1994) - Van Doude
* ''
La voce del cuore'' (1995, TV Mini-Series) - Antonio
* ''Lucky Punch'' (1996) - Zipolino
* ' (1997) - The Monk
Dubbing roles
Live action
*
Fredo Corleone
Frederico "Fredo" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel ''The Godfather''. Fredo is portrayed by American actor John Cazale in the Francis Ford Coppola 1972 film adaptation and in the 1974 sequel, ''The Godfather Part II ...
in ''
The Godfather
''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, ...
''
*Fredo Corleone in ''
The Godfather Part II
''The Godfather Part II'' is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is partially based on the 1969 novel ''The Godfather'' by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. ''Part II'' s ...
''
*Alexander in ''
The Sacrifice''
*Judge Cancedda in ''
I Am Afraid
''I Am Afraid'' ( it, Io ho paura, link=no) is an Italian crime film directed by Damiano Damiani.
Cast
* Gian Maria Volonté as Brigadeer Lodovico Graziano
*Mario Adorf as Judge Moser
*Erland Josephson as Judge Cancedda
*Angelica Ippolit ...
''
*Elliot Carver in ''
Tomorrow Never Dies
''Tomorrow Never Dies'' is a 1997 spy film, the eighteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode from a screenplay by ...
''
*Lee Stegler in ''
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is scheduled to occur. NASA commonly employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and eve ...
''
*Mr. Hillyer in ''
Rambling Rose''
References
Further reading
* Vito Attolini, Alfonso Marrese. ''Riccardo Cucciolla. Ritratto di attore''. Edizioni Dal Sud, 1990. .
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cucciolla, Riccardo
1924 births
1999 deaths
People from Bari
Italian male film actors
Italian male television actors
Italian male voice actors
Italian male stage actors
Italian male radio actors
Italian voice directors
Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor winners
Nastro d'Argento winners
20th-century Italian male actors