Raffaele "Lello" Arena (born 1 November 1953) is an Italian actor and comics writer. He was also an occasional film director and screenwriter.
Lello Arena | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Raffaele Arena 1 November 1953 |
| Occupation | Actor & Comics writer |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Spouse |
Francesca Taviani (m. 2006) |
| Children | 1 son |
Life and career
editBorn in Naples as Raffaele Arena, he was the son of two workers in a tobacco factory.[1] In 1969, at a very young age, Arena formed the cabaret ensemble "La Smorfia" together with Massimo Troisi and Enzo Decaro.[2] In 1978 and 1979, the group appeared in two RAI variety shows (Non stop and Luna Park) obtaining a great success.[2][3] The group disbanded in 1980 and for some time Arena kept on collaborating with his friend Troisi, starring in his three first films.[2][3] He won a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Troisi's Scusate il ritardo.[4]
Later Arena focused his career on television, appearing in a large number of variety shows; he occasionally came back to cinema, even making his debut as a director in 1989 with Chiari di luna. He is also active on stage.[2][3]
Arena also worked as a comics writer, notably for Lupo Alberto and Topolino.[3]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | I'm Starting from Three | Raffaele 'Rafè' Sodano, aka Lello | |
| 1982 | No Thanks, Coffee Makes Me Nervous | Michele Giuffrida | |
| 1983 | Scusate il ritardo | Tonino | |
| 1984 | Cuori nella tormenta | Raffaele Cuoco | |
| 1984 | Bertoldo, Bertoldino e Cacasenno | King Alboino | |
| 1987 | Il coraggio di parlare | Don Angelo | |
| 1988 | Chiari di luna | Davide Ruffo | |
| 1995 | Facciamo paradiso | Calabrone | |
| 1998 | You Laugh | Rocco | (segment "Due sequestri") |
| 2003 | Totò Sapore e la magica storia della pizza | Pulcinella | Voice |
| 2008 | Ho ammazzato Berlusconi | ||
| 2011 | Rien Va | Custode | |
| 2014 | La scuola più bella del mondo | Arturo Moscariello | |
| 2015 | Wondrous Boccaccio | Duca Tancredi | |
| 2017 | Veleni | Melograno | |
| 2018 | Quando sarò bambino |
References
edit- ^ Alessandro Ferrucci (21 October 2013). "Lello Arena: "I miei sessant'anni tra Troisi, manganelli, comunisti e mezze aragoste"". Il Fatto Quotidiano. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d Roberto Chiti, Roberto Poppi. Dizionario del cinema italiano. Gli attori. Gremese Editore, 2003. ISBN 8884402131.
- ^ a b c d Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. Catalogo dei viventi. Marsilio, 2009. ISBN 978-88-317-9599-9.
- ^ Enrico Lancia (1998). I premi del cinema. Gremese Editore, 1998. ISBN 8877422211.
External links
edit- Lello Arena at IMDb