Sergio Tòfano (20 August 1886 – 28 October 1973) was an Italian

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), l ...

, director,

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

, scene designer and

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

. Tofano was born in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined

Virgilio Talli Virgilio, the Italian and Spanish form of Virgil may refer to: *Virgilio, Lombardy, a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Borgo Virgilio in the Italian province of Mantua *Virgilio.it, a website People with the given name * Virgilio Barco Vargas (19 ...

's company (1913–23). He soon specialized as a comic actor, giving his role a new elegance and complexity. He worked with other famous actors and directors:

Dario Niccodemi Dario Niccodemi (Livorno, Italy, 27 January 1874 – Rome, Italy, 24 September 1934) was a novelist and a playwright who was born in Italy. Life and career He spent his youth in Buenos Aires; he met the French actress ''Rejane'' in 1900, became ...

(1924–27); Luigi Almirante and Giuditta Rissone (1927–30), Elsa Merlini,

Vittorio De Sica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: '' Sciuscià'' and '' Bicycle Thieves'' (honorar ...

, Evi Maltagliati, Gino Cervi etc. During those years, he made his famous performances as Doctor Knock in

Jules Romains Jules Romains (born Louis Henri Jean Farigoule; 26 August 1885 – 14 August 1972) was a French poet and writer and the founder of the Unanimism literary movement. His works include the play ''Knock ou le Triomphe de la médecine'', and a cycle ...

' play, and as Professor Toti in

Luigi Pirandello Luigi Pirandello (; 28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power ...

's ''Pensaci, Giacomino!''. He also led important theatrical firms. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, he worked with the most important directors, like

Luchino Visconti Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, stage director, and screenwriter. A major figure of Italian art and culture in the mid-20th century, Visconti was one of the fat ...

and Giorgio Strehler. In 1917 Tofano invented, for a children's magazine, ''

Il Corriere dei Piccoli The ''Corriere dei Piccoli'' ( Italian for "Courier of the Little Ones"), later nicknamed ''Corrierino'' ("Little Courier"), was a weekly magazine for children published in Italy from 1908 to 1995. It was the first Italian periodical to make a ...

'', a famous character,

Signor Bonaventura ''Signor Bonaventura'' is an Italian comic strip created in 1917 by actor and playwright Sergio Tofano. It is considered among the most famous and successful comic strips ever created in Italy. The character made his first appearance on October ...

, whose adventures lasted for more than forty years. He used to sign as ''Sto''. He wrote and illustrated several children's books and illustrated ''The Chess Set in the Mirror'' by

Massimo Bontempelli Massimo Bontempelli (12 May 1878 – 21 July 1960) was an Italian poet, playwright, novelist and composer. He was influential in developing and promoting the literary style known as magical realism. Life Massimo Bontempelli was born in Como ...

.
Modernism and the Avant-garde Body in Spain and Italy
' edited by Nicolas Fernandez-Medina and Maria Truglio, Taylor & Francis, 2016, Chapter 2: "But Who Is Playing This Game?" by Maria Truglio.

Partial filmography

*''Tigrana'' (1916, dir. by Edouard Micheroux de Dillon) *'' The Private Secretary'' (1931, dir. by Goffredo Alessandrini) - Otello, l'usciere *'' Your Money or Your Life'' (1932, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia) - Daniele *'' The Telephone Operator'' (1932, dir. by Nunzio Malasomma) - Bàttigo - the tenor *''

Paprika Paprika ( US , ; UK , ) is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers. It is traditionally made from '' Capsicum annuum'' varietals in the Longum group, which also includes chili peppers, but the peppers used for paprika tend to be milder ...

'' (1933, dir. by

Carl Boese Carl Eduard Hermann Boese (; 26 August 1887 – 6 July 1958) was a German film director, screenwriter, and producer. He directed 158 films between 1917 and 1957. Selected filmography * ''Farmer Borchardt'' (1917) * ''Donna Lucia'' (1918) * ''T ...

) - Checco *''

The Girl with the Bruise ''The Girl with the Bruise'' ( it, La ragazza dal livido azzurro) is a 1933 German-Italian comedy film directed by E. W. Emo and starring Hilda Springher, Sergio Tofano, and Renato Cialente Renato Cialente (2 February 1897 – 25 Novembe ...

'' (1933, dir. by E. W. Emo) *'' Seconda B'' (1934, dir. by Goffredo Alessandrini) - Professore Monti *''

Lohengrin Lohengrin () is a character in German Arthurian literature. The son of Parzival (Percival), he is a knight of the Holy Grail sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden who can never ask his identity. His story, which first appears in Wolf ...

'' (1936, dir. by Nunzio Malasomma) - Giulio *'' The Two Misanthropists'' (1937, dir. by

Amleto Palermi Amleto Palermi (11 July 1889 – 20 April 1941) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 70 films between 1914 and 1942. He directed ''The Old Lady'', which starred Vittorio De Sica in his first sound film. Sele ...

) - Cosimo Bertelet *''

Tonight at Eleven ''Tonight at Eleven'' (Italian: ''Stasera alle undici'') is a 1938 Italian " white-telephones" mystery film directed by Oreste Biancoli and starring John Lodge, Francesca Braggiotti and Ivana Claar.Chiti & Poppi p.430. It was shot at the Cineci ...

'' (1938, dir. by Oreste Biancoli) - Il colonnello Muffon *''

Jeanne Doré Jeanne may refer to: Places * Jeanne (crater), on Venus People * Jeanne (given name) * Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc, 1412–1431) * Joanna of Flanders (1295–1374) * Joan, Duchess of Brittany (1319–1384) * Ruth Stuber Jeanne (1910–2004), Americ ...

'' (1938, dir. by

Mario Bonnard Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director. Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made before World ...

) - Fanard *'' Inventiamo l'amore'' (1938, dir. by

Camillo Mastrocinque Camillo Mastrocinque (11 May 1901 – 23 April 1969) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 60 films between 1937 and 1968, and is known to horror film fans for directing '' Terror in the Crypt'' (1964) starring ...

) - Borghetti *'' The Sons of the Marquis Lucera'' (1939, dir. by

) - Vigna *'' Eravamo sette sorelle'' (1939, dir. by

Mario Mattoli Mario Mattoli (; 30 November 1898 – 26 February 1980) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 86 films between 1934 and 1966. His 1939 film ''Defendant, Stand Up!'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy ...

) - Antonio, il maggiordomo *'' Le sorprese del divorzio'' (1939, dir. by Guido Brignone) - Fernand Corbulon *'' Father For a Night'' (1939, dir. by

) - Edmondo Fontages *'' Follie del secolo'' (1939, dir. by

) - Il barone Giorgio *'' The Silent Partner'' (1939) - L'affaristo in borsa *'' Validità giorni dieci'' (1940, dir. by

) - Maurizio *'' Giù il sipario'' (1940, dir. by Raffaello Matarazzo) - Il capocomico *'' La granduchessa si diverte'' (1940, dir. by Giacomo Gentilomo) - Il principe *'' Una famiglia impossibile'' (1940, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia) - Il maggiordomo *''

Idyll in Budapest ''Idyll in Budapest'' (Italian: ''Idillio a Budapest'') is a 1941 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Ansoldi and Gabriele Varriale and starring Germaine Aussey, Osvaldo Valenti and Sergio Tofano.Chiti & Poppi p.177 It was shot at the Pisorn ...

'' (1941, dir. by Giorgio Ansoldi) - Altezza *'' Il signore a doppio petto'' (1941, dir. by

Flavio Calzavara Flavio Calzavara (21 February 1900 – 10 March 1981) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 21 films between 1939 and 1956. Filmography * '' Canzone proibita'' (1956) * '' Gli occhi senza luce'' (1956) * ''Napoli piang ...

) - Il signore Bisaccia *'' Cenerentola e il signor Bonaventura'' (1941, anche soggetto e regia) - Il dottore (uncredited) *''

Se io fossi onesto SE, Se, or Sé may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Sé'' (album), by Lúnasa, 2006 * Se (instrument), a traditional Chinese musical instrument Businesses and organizations * Sea Ltd (NYSE: SE), tech conglomerate headquartered in Singapor ...

'' (1942, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia) - Vittorio, il maggiordomo *'' Disturbance'' (1942, dir. by Guido Brignone) - Antonio, padre di Silvia * '' Souls in Turmoil'' (1942, dir. by

Giulio Del Torre Giulio () is an Italian given name. Notable people with the name include: * Giulio Alberoni (1664–1752), Italian cardinal and statesman * Giulio Alenio (1582–1649), Italian Jesuit missionary and scholar * Giulio Alfieri (1924–2002), Italian a ...

) - Perego *'' La guardia del corpo'' (1942, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia) - L'avvocato Paolo, suo marito *''

Quarta pagina ''Fourth Page'' (Italian: ''Quarta pagina'') is a 1942 Italian mystery film directed by Nicola Manzari and starring Claudio Gora, Valentina Cortese and Paola Barbara.Curti p.39 It was shot at the FERT Studios in Turin. The film's sets were design ...

'' (1943, dir. by Nicola Manzari) - Il professore naturalista *''

Gian Burrasca ''Il Giornalino di Gian Burrasca'' is an Italian novel by Vamba (aka Luigi Bertelli). It was first published, between 1907 and 1908, in Serial (literature), sequential installments in the children's magazine ''Il giornalino della Domenica'', and ...

'' (1943, anche regia) - Il maestro di pianoforte *'' Il fidanzato di mia moglie'' (1943, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia) - Il giudice Ernesto Torriani *'' La maschera e il volto'' (1943, dir. by

) - Cirillo *'' Il cavaliere del sogno'' (1947, dir. by

Camillo Mmastrocinque Camillo is an Italian masculine given name, descended from Latin Camillus. Its Slavic cognate is Kamil. People with the name include: *Camillo Agrippa, Italian Renaissance fencer, architect, engineer and mathematician *Camillo Almici (1714–17 ...

) - Il maestro Zingarelli *'' Fabiola'' (1949, dir. by Alessandro Blasetti) - Luciano *'' Abbiamo vinto!'' (1951, dir. by Robert A. Stemmle) - Temistocle Leoni *'' Napoleon'' (1951, dir. by Carlo Borghesio) - Vignon *'' Altri tempi'' (1952, dir. by Alessandro Blasetti) - Nonno di Guido (segment "L'idillio") *''

La Fiammata ''The Flame'' (Italian: ''La Fiammata'') is a 1952 Italian historical melodrama film directed by Alessandro Blasetti and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Eleonora Rossi Drago and Elisa Cegani. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The film ...

'' (1952, dir. by Alessandro Blasetti) - Belmont * ''

Guilt Is Not Mine ''Guilt Is Not Mine'' or ''Unjust Condemnation'' (French: ''L'injuste condamnation'', Italian: ''L'ingiusta condanna'') is a 1952 French-Italian melodrama film co-written and directed by Giuseppe Masini and starring Rossano Brazzi, Gaby André and ...

'' (1952, dir. by Giuseppe Masini) - Prof. Valli *''

Puccini Giacomo Puccini (Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long li ...

'' (1953, dir. by

Carmine Gallone Carmine Gallone (10 September 1885 – 11 March 1973) was an early Italian film director, screenwriter, and film producer, who was also controversial for his works of pro-Fascist propaganda and historical revisionism. Considered one of Ital ...

) - Giulio Ricordi *'' The Country of the Campanelli'' (1954, dir. by Jean Boyer) - Dott. Pott *'' House of Ricordi'' (1954, dir. by

) - Cesarini Sforza * ''

Cardinal Lambertini Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758. Pope B ...

'' (1954, dir. by Giorgio Pastina) - Canonico Peggi *'' La bella di Roma'' (1955, dir. by

Luigi Comencini Luigi Comencini (; 8 June 1916 – 6 April 2007)
''The Guardian'' was an Italian

) - Agostino *'' Andrea Chenier'' (1955, dir. by

Clemente Fracassi Clemente Fracassi (5 March 1917 – 2 February 1993) was an Italian film producer, director and screenwriter. His career spanned from 1939 to 1967. Selected filmography * ''To Live in Peace'' (1947 - producer) * ''Senza pietà'' (1948 - pro ...

) - Luigi Chénier *'' Porta un bacione a Firenze'' (1956, dir. by

) - Giovanni *''Io, Caterina'' (1957) *''La vita degli altri'' (1957) - Linari *'' Dreams in a Drawer'' (1957, dir. by Renato Castellani) - Lucia's Father *''Il bacio del sole (Don Vesuvio)'' (1958) *''

Il re di Poggioreale ''Il re di Poggioreale'' (internationally released as ''Black City'' and ''The King of Poggioreale'') is a 1961 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Duilio Coletti. It is based on real life events of camorra criminal Peppino Navarra. It stars ...

'' (1961, dir. by

Duilio Coletti Duilio Coletti (28 December 1906 – 22 May 1999) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 29 films between 1934 and 1977. Career Born in Penne, Abruzzo, he took a degree in medicine and surgery and practiced the profess ...

) - Il contente Pignatelli *'' La costanza della ragione'' (1964, dir. by

Pasquale Festa Campanile Pasquale Festa Campanile (28 July 1927 – 25 February 1986) was an Italian screenwriter, film director and novelist, best known as a prominent exponent of the commedia all'italiana genre. Life and career Born at Melfi, in the province o ...

) - Don Bonifazi *''Napoleone a Firenze'' (1964) *'' Il padre di famiglia'' (1967, dir. by

Nanni Loy Nanni Loy (born Giovanni Loi; 23 October 1925 – 21 August 1995) was an Italian film, theatre and TV director. Specifically, Nanni Loy was Sardinian, and one of several notable Sardinian film makers, including Franco Solinas. Biography L ...

) - General *'' Partner'' (1968, dir. by

Bernardo Bertolucci Bernardo Bertolucci (; 16 March 1941 – 26 November 2018) was an Italian film director and screenwriter with a career that spanned 50 years. Considered one of the greatest directors in Italian cinema, Bertolucci's work achieved international ...

) - Professor Petrushka *'' Toh, è morta la nonna!'' (1969, dir. by

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter and one of the masters of the ''Commedia all'Italiana'' (Comedy Italian style). He was nominated six times for an Oscar, and was aw ...

) - The Grandfather *'' Contestazone generale'' (1970, dir. by Luigi Zampa) - Bishop *''

La colonna infame ''The Infamous Column'' ( it, La colonna infame, also known as ''Pillar of Shame'') is a 1973 Italian historical drama film directed by Nelo Risi. Plot It is 1630, and a devastating plague has descended upon the city of Milan. Guglielmo Piazza a ...

'' (1973, dir. by Nelo Risi) - Il presidente del senato *'' Rugantino'' (1973, dir. by

) - Marchese Michele Sacconi

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tofano, Sergio 1880s births 1973 deaths Italian male stage actors Italian male film actors Italian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Italian male actors 20th-century Italian dramatists and playwrights Italian children's book illustrators