Fanfulla | |
---|---|
Born | Luigi Visconti 26 February 1913
Rome, Italy |
Died | 5 January 1971
Bologna, Italy | (aged 57)
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Luigi Visconti, better known by his stage name Fanfulla, (26 February 1913 – 5 January 1971) was an Italian actor and comedian.
Born in Rome, Visconti debuted at very young age on stage alongside his mother, the actress Mercedes Menolesi (best known as "Diavolina"). [1] [2]
From the mid-forties to the late fifties, he adopted the stage name Fanfulla and was a popular comedian of cabaret and avanspettacolo shows, acclaimed for his brilliant style, referred to as "The King of Avanspettacolo" [2] and even paired with Ettore Petrolini. [1]
His career was relaunched by Federico Fellini, who chose him for the role of Vernacchio in Fellini Satyricon, [3] a role that gave Fanfulla a Nastro d'Argento for best supporting actor. [1] [4] In 1970, Fellini gave him a main role in The Clowns. [1]
In 1971, Fanfulla died from a heart attack in a hotel in Bologna, while he was on tour with his avanspettacolo company. [1]