Luigi Visconti, better known by his stage name Fanfulla, (26 February 1913 – 5 January 1971) was an Italian actor and comedian.

Fanfulla
Born
Luigi Visconti

(1913-02-26)26 February 1913
Rome, Italy
Died5 January 1971(1971-01-05) (aged 57)
Bologna, Italy
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian

Life and career

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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]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Achille Valdata (6 January 1971). "E' morto Fanfulla, un "re" del varietà". La Stampa. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b Enrico Lancia. Dizionario del cinema italiano. Gli attori. Gremese Editore, 2003. ISBN 8884402131.
  3. ^ Tullio Kezich (2007). Federico Fellini: His Life and Work. Macmillan. p. 291. ISBN 9781429923255.
  4. ^ Enrico Lancia (1998). I premi del cinema. Gremese Editore, 1998. ISBN 8877422211.
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