Diego Abatantuono
Diego Abatantuono | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 20, 1955 Milan, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Known for | Portrayal of "Terrunciello", Eccezzziunale... veramente, Mediterraneo |
Diego Abatantuono (born 20 May 1955) is a distinguished Italian actor, comedian, and screenwriter active in both cinema and theatre, honored three times with the Nastro d'Argento award.
Biography and career
Hailing from Milan, Abatantuono was born to a father with roots in Apulia and a mother from Como. His career began at the Milan cabaret venue Derby, where he initially worked in lighting before advancing to artistic director and performer. His first film appearance was connected to the comedic ensemble I Gatti di Vicolo Miracoli, which led to a role in Romolo Guerrieri's Young, Violent, Dangerous. Early comedic works in his filmography include Saxofone and Fantozzi contro tutti. Television presenter Renzo Arbore discovered him, resulting in a part in the 1980 movie Il Pap'occhio.
Abatantuono gained widespread recognition with his portrayal of "Terrunciello," a character depicting a southern Italian immigrant living in Milan, co-created alongside . Actress Monica Vitti played a pivotal role by casting him as the lead in Il tango della gelosia. This achievement caught the attention of producer Carlo Vanzina, who supported the film Eccezzziunale... veramente, which Abatantuono also co-wrote. In this cult classic, he portrayed three ardent supporters of Italy’s major football teams—A.C. Milan, Internazionale, and Juventus. He revisited these characters in the 2006 follow-up Eccezzziunale...veramente - Capitolo secondo... me, featuring guest appearances by notable Milan football stars such as Paolo Maldini and Andriy Shevchenko.
During the mid-1980s, Abatantuono shifted his focus toward theater before being cast by Pupi Avati in the dramatic two-part film Christmas Present (1986), earning him a Nastro d'Argento Best supporting Actor. He continued his collaboration with Avati in the sequel Christmas Rematch. In Luigi Comencini's A Boy from Calabria (1987), he took on the role of a hardworking farmer striving to fund his son's education.
Abatantuono established Colorado Film, his own production company, which enhanced his influence within Italian cinema through partnerships with directors Giuseppe Bertolucci and Gabriele Salvatores. His prominent works include Marrakech Express (1989), the Academy Award-winning Mediterraneo (1991), Puerto Escondido (1992), Nirvana (1997), I'm Not Scared (2003), and Volare (2019).
Abatantuono remains a well-known presence on Italian television and is a devoted supporter of A.C. Milan.
His upcoming project, Life Goes This Way, is slated to open the 20th Rome Film Festival on 15 October 2025.
Actor
- Young, Violent, Dangerous (1976)
- Saxofone (1978)
- Prestami tua moglie (1980)
- Arrivano i gatti (1980)
- In the Pope's Eye (1980)
- Fantozzi contro tutti (1980)
- Prickly Pears (1980)
- Una vacanza bestiale (1981)
- I fichissimi (1981)
- Il tango della gelosia (1981)
- I carabbinieri (1981)
- Viuuulentemente mia (1982)
- An Ideal Adventure (1982)
- Eccezzziunale... veramente (1982)
- Scusa se è poco (1982)
- Grand Hotel Excelsior (1982)
- Attila flagello di Dio (1982)
- Arrivano i miei (1982)
- Il ras del quartiere (1983)
- Tranches de vie (1985)
- Christmas Present (1986)
- A Boy from Calabria (1987)
- The Last Minute (1987)
- The Strangeness of Life (1987)
- Kamikazen: Last Night in Milan (1987)
- The Camels (1988)
- Marrakech Express (1989)
- On Tour (Turnè) (1989)
- Vacanze di Natale '90 (1990)
- Mediterraneo (1991)
- Puerto Escondido (1992)
- Nel continente nero (1992)
- The Storm Is Coming (1992)
- For Love, Only for Love (1993)
- The Bull (1994)
- Viva San Isidro! (1995)
- Camerieri (1995)
- The Barber of Rio (1996)
- Nirvana (1997)
- Bedrooms (1997)
- Children of Hannibal (1998)
- Paparazzi (1998)
- Marriages(1998)
- The Best Man(1998)
- Tifosi(1999)
- Nightwatchman(2000)
- Unfair Competition(2000)
- Our Tropical Island(2000)
- Amnèsia(2001)
- Momo(2001)
- Christmas Rematch(2003)
- I'm Not Scared(2003)
- Really SSSupercool: Chapter Two(2006)
- A Dinner for Them to Meet (2007)
- 2061: An Exceptional Year(2007)
- L'abbuffata(2007)
- I mostri oggi(2009)
- The Friends at the Margherita Cafe(2009)
- Things from Another World(2011)
- Buona giornata(2012)
- Ti stimo fratello(2012)
- The Worst Christmas of My Life(2012)
- Guess Who's Coming for Christmas?(2013)
- People Who Are Well(2014)
- Soap Opera(2014)
- Belli di papà(2015)
- I babysitter(2016)
- Mr. Happiness(2017)
- My Big Gay Italian Wedding(2018)
- Volare(2019)
- La mia banda suona il pop (2020)
- ''When Mom Is Away... With the Family'' 2020
- ''Il mammone'' 2022
- ''Improvvisamente Natale'' 2022
- ''Improvvisamente a Natale mi sposo'' 2023
- ''Life Goes This Way'' 2025
Screenwriting Credits
- Eccezzziunale... veramente (1982)
- Il ras del quartiere (1983)
- Puerto Escondido (1992)
- In barca a vela contromano (1997)
- Figli di Annibale (1998)
Honors and Recognitions
- 1987: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Christmas Present
- 1991: Nominated for Best Actor for Mediterraneo
- 1994: Nominated for Best Actor for For Love, Only for Love
- 1997: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Nirvana
- 2004: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for I'm Not Scared
- 2021: Recipient of the David Special Award
- 1987: Awarded Best Supporting Actor for Christmas Present
- 1991: Nominated for Best Actor for Turné
- 1992: Nominated for Best Actor for Mediterraneo
- 1993: Honored as Best Actor for Puerto Escondido
- 2001: Nominated for Best Actor for Unfair Competition
- 2004: Awarded Best Supporting Actor for I'm Not Scared
- 2007: Nominated for Best Actor for A Dinner for Them to Meet
- 2001: Italian Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in Unfair Competition
- 1991: Best Actor award for Mediterraneo
- 2003: Best Supporting Actor award for I'm Not Scared