Mario Riva (26 January 1913 – 1 September 1960) was an Italian

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a " television personality") is a person who introduces, hosts television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. Nowadays, it is common for people who garne ...

and actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960.

Life and career

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 ...

as Mariuccio Bonavolontà, the son of a composer, Giuseppe (Joseph) Bonavolonta (b.1885) and his wife Teresa Chinzari. His father composed over 500 popular tunes including "Goodbye Nemi" and "Fiocca Snow". Mario attended St Joseph College in Piazza di Spagna in Rome. Riva debuted at young age as a dubber and a radio actor. His film debut was in 1941 in ''Due cuori sotto sequestro'' (''Two Hearts Seized''). He became first known as presenter of the stage show ''Clan'' (1942). After a long season of successes on stage (often in couple with

Riccardo Billi Riccardo Billi (22 April 1906 – 15 April 1982) was an Italian film actor and comedian. With Mario Riva he appeared as ''Billi & Riva'', one of the most popular Italian comic duos in the 1950s. He appeared in around 85 films between 1938 ...

) Riva reached the peak of his career with the

RAI RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...

variety television ''

Il Musichiere Il Musichiere was an Italian game show based upon Name That Tune. It ran from 1957 to 1960 and ended with untimely death of its host Mario Riva. It ran for 90 episodes, airing on Saturday evenings during prime-time. It was directed by Antonello F ...

'' (1957-1960) (the Italian version of

Name That Tune ''Name That Tune'' is an American television music game show. Originally created and produced by orchestra conductor Harry Salter and his wife Roberta Semple Salter, the series features contestants competing to correctly identify songs being p ...

). He also appeared on several films, usually in supporting roles. While he was presenting from the

Arena di Verona The Verona Arena ( it, Arena di Verona ) is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy built in 30 AD. It is still in use today and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the be ...

(a special event linked to the TV program), the Secondo Festival del Musichiere, he inadvertently fell into a hole in the stage covered with a tarpaulin and died from his injuries a few days later.

Selected filmography

* ''Due cuori sotto sequestro'' (1941) - Un cantante * ''Totò al giro d'Italia'' (1948) - Giovanni * ''

Baron Carlo Mazza ''Baron Carlo Mazza'' (Italian:''Il barone Carlo Mazza'') is a 1948 Italian musical comedy film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Nino Taranto, Silvana Pampanini and Enzo Turco.D'Amico p.65 The film's art direction was by Virgilio Marchi. ...

'' (1948) - Annunciatore * ''

The Firemen of Viggiù ''The Firemen of Viggiù'' ( it, I pompieri di Viggiù) is a 1949 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Nino Taranto. Plot In the village of Viggiù the men of the local volunteer fire brigade, believing their famous song ...

'' (1949) * ''

Yvonne of the Night ''Yvonne of the Night'' (Italian: ''Yvonne la Nuit'') is a 1949 Italian melodrama film directed by Giuseppe Amato and starring Totò, Olga Villi, and Frank Latimore. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The film's sets were designed by ...

'' (1949) - Il ragazzo delle sigarette * ''

Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...

'' (1949) - Il naufrago russo * '' Toto Looks For a House'' (1949) - Proprietario agenzia * ''Se fossi deputato'' (1949) - Giuseppino * ''Ho sognato il paradiso'' (1950) * ''

The Cadets of Gascony ''The Cadets of Gascony'' (Italian: ''I cadetti di Guascogna'') is a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Walter Chiari, Carlo Campanini and Mario Riva. It was shot at the Farnesina Studios in Rome, with sets designed b ...

'' (1950) - Mario Fantoni * '' Tomorrow Is Another Day'' (1951) - Pasquale * ''

Arrivano i nostri ''Arrivano i nostri'' is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Mario Riva. Cast * Mario Riva * Riccardo Billi as The showman playing Carmen Miranda * Franca Marzi as Gloria Chelli — Garlandi's lover * Lise ...

'' (1951) - Mario, il signore * ''

Accidents to the Taxes!! ''Accidents to the Taxes!!'' ( it, Accidenti alle tasse!!) is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by and written by Mario Mattoli. Cast * Riccardo Billi as Gaetano Pellecchia * Mario Riva as Mario * Dorian Gray as Margot * Aroldo Tieri as I ...

'' (1951) - Mario * ''

The Steamship Owner ''The Steamship Owner'' (Italian: ''Il padrone del vapore'') is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Walter Chiari, Delia Scala and Carlo Campanini.Aprà p.101 The film's sets were designed by the art director Albert ...

'' (1951) - Mario * '' My Heart Sings'' (1951) - Mario * ''

Porca miseria ''Porca Miseria'' is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Bianchi. Plot Two friends, Giacomino and Carletto, have no job and no money and are looking for a job, or any device that will help them to meet expenses and especially will gi ...

'' (1951) - Count Cerri * ''Ha fatto 13'' (1951) - Himself * '' Sardinian Vendetta'' (1952) - Mario * ''

Abracadabra ''Abracadabra'' is a magic word, historically used as an incantation on amulets and common today in stage magic. Etymology ''Abracadabra'' is of unknown origin, but according to the '' Oxford English Dictionary'', its first known occurrence ...

'' (1952) - Amleto * ''

In Olden Days ''In Olden Days'' ( it, Altri tempi, link=no, also known as ''Times Gone By'' and ''Infidelity'') is a 1952 Italian anthology film. Plot The cart of old books A good-natured peddler of old books shows his customers some works from the past ...

'' (1952) - Cliente Schizzinoso (segment "Il carrettino dei libri vecchi") * ''

Giovinezza "Giovinezza" ( – ) is the official hymn of the Italian National Fascist Party, regime, and army, and was an unofficial national anthem of the Kingdom of Italy between 1924 and 1943.Farrell, Nicholas. 2005. ''Mussolini: a New Life''. Sterling Pub ...

'' (1952) - Venditore ambulante * ''

Beauties on Motor Scooters ''Beauties on Motor Scooters'' (Italian: ''Bellezze in moto-scooter'') is a 1952 Italian comedy film by Carlo Campogalliani and starring Isa Barzizza, Virginia Belmont and Fulvia Franco.Gennari p.185 Partial cast * Isa Barzizza as Laura * Virgin ...

'' (1952) * ''

Easy Years ''Easy Years'' ( it, Anni facili) is a 1953 drama film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring Nino Taranto. Cast *Nino Taranto as Professor Luigi De Francesco *Clelia Matania as Rosina, his wife *Giovanna Ralli as Teresa, his daughter *Gino Buz ...

'' (1953) - Mario Paolella * ''Siamo tutti Milanesi'' (1953) * ''

The Country of the Campanelli ''The Country of the Campanelli'' ( it, Il paese dei campanelli, french: Ces voyous d'hommes, also known as ''Town of Bells'') is a 1954 Italian-French comedy film directed by Jean Boyer and starring Sophia Loren. It is loosely based on the ope ...

'' (1954) - Mago Tarquinio * ''

It Happened at the Police Station ''It Happened at the Police Station'' (Italian: ''Accadde al commissariato'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring Nino Taranto, Alberto Sordi and Walter Chiari.Lanzoni p.18 Cast * Nino Taranto as Police Commis ...

'' (1954) - 2nd tram driver * ''

Tripoli, Beautiful Land of Love ''Tripoli, Beautiful Land of Love'' (Italian: ''Tripoli, bel suol d'amore'') is a 1954 Italian comedy war film directed by Ferruccio Cerio and starring Alberto Sordi, Lyla Rocco and Fulvia Franco.Chiti & Poppi p.376 It takes its title from a trad ...

'' (1954) - Giulio Cesare * ''

Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! ''Laugh! Laugh! Laugh!'' (Italian: ''Ridere! Ridere! Ridere!'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Edoardo Anton and starring Tino Scotti, Ugo Tognazzi and Carlo Dapporto. The film's sets were designed by the art director Beni Montresor. ...

'' (1954) - Otello Spinotti * ''Scuola elementare'' (1955) - Pilade Mucci - School Caretaker * ''Accadde al penitenziario'' (1955) - Detenuto No. 77 * ''La moglie è uguale per tutti'' (1955) - Mario Rivetti * '' Bravissimo'' (1955) - Dance teacher * '' Roman Tales'' (1955) - The Waiter at the Restaurant on the Sea * ''Motivo in maschera'' (1955) * ''Il campanile d'oro'' (1955) * ''

I giorni più belli ''I giorni più belli'' ( ''The Best Days'' or ''The Most Beautiful Days'') is a 1956 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Franco Interlenghi. Cast * Franco Interlenghi * Vittorio De Sica * Mario Carotenuto * Valeria ...

'' (1956) - Nicola - il salumiere * ''

Arrivano i dollari! ''Arrivano i dollari!'' (i. e. "The dollars are coming!") is a 1957 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Costa and starring Alberto Sordi, Nino Taranto and Isa Miranda. Plot Arduino Pasti, poor left Italy and search fortune in South Africa, ...

'' (1957) - Cesaretto Pasti * ''

Serenate per 16 bionde ''Serenate per 16 bionde'' ("Serenades for 16 blondes") is a 1957 Italian musical comedy film written and directed by Marino Girolami and starring Claudio Villa. Plot Cast * Claudio Villa as Claudio * Esther Masing as Isabella * Simone Ba ...

'' (1957) - Pippo * ''Gente felice'' (1957) - Francesco * ''A sud niente di nuovo'' (1957) * ''

Ladro lui, ladra lei ''Ladro lui, ladra lei'' is a 1958 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Zampa. Starring Alberto Sordi and Sylva Koscina, it tells the story of a young woman in Rome who is first sucked into a life of crime by a released convict and then has an ...

'' (1958) - Commendator Stefano Maghetti * ''È arrivata la parigina'' (1958) - Strettani * ''I prepotenti'' (1958) - Domenico Esposito * ''

Toto, Peppino and the Fanatics ''Toto, Peppino and the Fanatics'' ( it, Totò, Peppino e le fanatiche) is a 1958 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Totò. Plot The poor Antonio Vignanelli and Peppino Caprioli are exacerbated by hobby and foibles of th ...

'' (1958) - Caprioli's Boss * ''Gli zitelloni'' (1958) - Il giudice * ''Sergente d'ispezione'' (1958) - Turconi * ''Mia nonna poliziotto'' (1958) - Mario Secchioni * ''Il terribile Teodoro'' (1958) * ''Domenica è sempre domenica'' (1958) - Himself * ''Fantasmi e ladri'' (1959) - Edmondo Natale * ''Prepotenti più di prima'' (1959) - Il vigile * '' Policarpo'' (1959) - Il pompiere del teatro (uncredited) * ''Perfide.... ma belle'' (1959) - Romolo Proietti * ''

Il raccomandato di ferro ''Il raccomandato di ferro'' is a 1959 Italian comedy film directed by Marcello Baldi and starring Mario Riva. It grossed 89,3 million lire at the Italian box office. Plot Augusto Zinconi is a former Roman usher who found employment in an o ...

'' (1959) - Augusto Zinconi * '' The Traffic Policeman'' (1960) - Himself

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Riva, Mario 1913 births 1960 deaths Accidental deaths from falls Accidental deaths in Italy Italian male film actors Male actors from Rome 20th-century Italian male actors Italian male stage actors Italian radio personalities Italian television presenters