Francesco Benenato (18 September 1928 – 9 December 1992), known as Franco Franchi, was an Italian actor, comedian and singer. He was born in

Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...

, Sicily and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s. He starred in many comedies, mainly appearing together with Ciccio Ingrassia as the comedy duo Franco and Ciccio, but also in more dramatic material such as

Luigi Comencini Luigi Comencini (; 8 June 1916 – 6 April 2007) was an Italian film director. Together with Dino Risi, Ettore Scola, and Mario Monicelli, he was considered among the masters of the "commedia all'italiana" genre. His daughters Cristina Comencin ...

's ''

The Adventures of Pinocchio ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' ( ; , i.e. "The Adventures of Pinocchio. Story of a Puppet"), commonly shortened to ''Pinocchio'', is an 1883 Children's literature, children's fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi. It is about the mischi ...

'' (1972, TV miniseries also edited into a theatrical film) as

the Cat The Cat may refer to: Nickname * Mathilde Carré (1910-2007), French spy, double and possibly triple agent * Peter Bonetti (1941–2020), English footballer * Greg Cattrano (born 1975), American lacrosse player * Ernest Miller (born 1964), Amer ...

(Franco) the Fox (Ingrassia). In the film '' War Italian Style'' (1966), the pair worked with

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent films during the 1920s, in which he performed physical comedy and inventive stunts. He frequently ...

in one of his last roles.

The comedy duo Franco and Ciccio

In 1959, Franco Franchi settled a contract with his friend Ciccio Ingrassia which started up a brilliant theater career. From 1961 to Franco's death in 1992, they will be one of Italy's most famous comedy duo. Their success is based on a format similar to that of

Totò Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il principe della risat ...

and Peppino De Filippo, or

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

. They play two Sicilian buffoon characters, charlatans and extremely messy, were Franco Franchi is the funny "Franco", a young man completely out of his mind who expresses himself mainly through bodily and facial expressions. Ciccio Ingrassia is the skinny and mustachioed bully who believes to be his best of friend, but is actually during difficult situations proves to be the most stupid of the two. A feature of their commercial success and popularity is the use of the body as a means of communication and simple lines, sharp and not at all vulgar.
With these tricks up its sleeve, as both actors will be challenged in youth theater, Franco and Ciccio thanks to their friend Domenico Modugno began to pursue a film career as extras. Then they are noticed by directors of small comedy and so their film career begins. In all years, the two actors churn out at least ten films, working at a pace unimaginable today. In fact, because these days very fast film products are among the best. And unfortunately the criticism then he cut down every film of Franco and Ciccio coming out to the movies, calling it useless and meaningless pecoreccio comedian. However, the popular success of films of Franco and Ciccio was huge and always has been until now in Italy and also in foreign countries.
The specialty of the many films of Franco and Ciccio is improvisation during the scenes, as did Toto and De Filippo, but also the use of parody. In fact there are many foreign films chosen by the two above you to pluck a fun comedy, as the saga of

James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...

and that of the great adventure films.

Filmography (with Ciccio Ingrassia)

* '' Appuntamento a Ischia'', directed 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 comed ...

(26 September 1960) * '' L'onorata società'', directed by

Riccardo Pazzaglia Riccardo Pazzaglia (12 September 1926 – 4 October 2006) was an Italian actor, film director, screenwriter, songwriter (for Domenico Modugno), TV and radio personality. Born in Naples, Pazzaglia graduated in direction from the Centro Speri ...

(30 March 1961) * ''

5 marines per 100 ragazze ''5 marines per 100 ragazze'' is a 1961 Italian '' musicarello'' comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Virna Lisi. Cast * Virna Lisi as Grazia * Mario Carotenuto as Admiral Michigan * Hélène Chanel as Elena * Little Tony as ...

'', directed by Mario Mattoli (10 August 1961) * ''

Hercules in the Valley of Woe ''Hercules in the Vale of Woe'' (/ ''Maciste vs Hercules in the Valley of Woe''), a.k.a. ''Hercules in the Valley of Woe'', is a 1961 Italian Franco and Ciccio comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Kirk Morris as Maciste and Frank ...

'', directed by Mario Mattoli (19 October 1961) * '' The Last Judgment'', directed by

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. Widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, four of the fil ...

(26 October 1961) * ''Pugni pupe e marinai'', directed by Daniele D'Anza (17 November 1961) * ''Gerarchi si muore'', directed by

Giorgio Simonelli Giorgio Simonelli (14 November 1901 Birth name: Giorgio Simonelli. – 3 October 1966), was an Italian film director, editor, screenwriter and journalist. Life and career Born in Rome, Simonelli got a high school diploma in business studies, ...

(22 December 1961) * ''

Il mio amico Benito ''Il mio amico Benito'' is a 1962 ''commedia all'italiana'' film directed by Giorgio Bianchi (director), Giorgio Bianchi. Plot Peppino Di Gennaro is a simple clerk who wants to make a career without success. After a friend gave him a photo take ...

'', directed by Giorgio Bianchi (3 March 1962) * ''I tre nemici'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (23 June 1962) * ''I due della legione'', directed by

Lucio Fulci Lucio Fulci (; 17 June 1927 – 13 March 1996) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor. Although he worked in a wide array of genres through a career spanning nearly five decades, including Commedia all'italiana, comedies and spagh ...

(16 August 1962) * ''2 samurai per 100 geishe'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (7 September 1962) * ''Le massaggiatrici'', directed by Lucio Fulci (20 September 1962) * ''

I motorizzati ''I motorizzati'' is a 1962 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque, consisting of five segments all sharing cars as main theme. Cast *Ugo Tognazzi as Achille Pestani * Nino Manfredi as Nino Borsetti * Franco Franchi ...

'', directed 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 ...

(29 November 1962) * ''Vino, whisky e acqua salata'', directed by

Mario Amendola Mario Natalino Concetto Amendola (8 December 1910 – 22 December 1993) was an Italian screenwriter, film director and dramatist. Biography Amendola was born in Recco, which is located in Genova to parents from Rome. He began his career o ...

(7 December 1962) * ''Avventura al motel'', directed by Renato Polselli (9 February 1963) * '' The Shortest Day'', directed by

Sergio Corbucci Sergio Corbucci (; 6 December 1926 – 1 December 1990) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. He was one of the main exponents of the Spaghetti Western genre during the 1960s and 1970s, with his most notable work ...

(14 February 1963) * ''La donna degli altri è sempre più bella'', directed by

Marino Girolami Marino Girolami (1 February 1914 – 20 February 1994) was an Italian film director and actor. Biography Marino Giorlami was born on 1 February 1914 in Rome, Italy. Formally a Professional boxing, professional boxer, Girolami ended his boxing c ...

(21 February 1963) * ''

Obiettivo ragazze ''Obiettivo ragazze'' is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Plot Four ex-soldiers meet and reminisce about the times they were in the military: a parachutist mistaking his sergean ...

'', directed by Mario Mattoli (5 August 1963) * ''Tutto è musica'', directed by Domenico Modugno (18 August 1963) * '' The Swindlers'', directed by Lucio Fulci (25 September 1963) * '' I due mafiosi'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (15 January 1964) * ''Due mattacchioni al Moulin Rouge'', directed by

Giuseppe Vari Giuseppe Vari (9 March 1924 – 1 October 1993) was an Italian film director, editor and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Segni, Rome, Vari started his career as an editor of films and documentaries, collaborating among others with Fed ...

(17 January 1964) * ''Le tardone'', directed by Marino Girolami (29 January 1964) * ''I maniaci'', directed by Lucio Fulci (28 March 1964) * ''Queste pazze pazze donne'', directed by Marino Girolami (22 May 1964) * ''Canzoni, bulli e pupe'', directed by Carlo Infascelli (29 May 1964) * ''I marziani hanno dodici mani'', directed by Castellano & Pipolo (21 June 1964) * '' Two Mafiamen in the Far West'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (30 June 1964) * '' Primitive Love'', directed by Luigi Scattini (17 July 1964) * ''Le sette vipere'', directed by Renato Polselli (11 August 1964) * '' Corpse for the Lady'', directed by Mario Mattoli (19 August 1964) * '' I due evasi di Sing Sing'', directed by Lucio Fulci (22 August 1964) * ''Amore facile'', directed by

Gianni Puccini Gianni Puccini (9 November 1914 – 3 December 1968) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He wrote for 32 films between 1940 and 1967. He also directed 18 films between 1951 and 1968. Selected filmography * ''Fourth Page'' (1942) ...

(3 October 1964) * '' Oh! Those Most Secret Agents!'', directed by Lucio Fulci (10 October 1964) * '' Sedotti e bidonati'', directed by Giorgio Bianchi (14 October 1964) * '' I due toreri'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (3 December 1964) * '' A Monster and a Half'', directed by Steno (18 December 1964) * '' Veneri al sole'', directed by Marino Girolami (24 December 1964) * '' I due pericoli pubblici'', directed by Lucio Fulci (31 December 1964) * '' Soldati e caporali'', directed by Mario Amendola (31 December 1964) * '' I Kill, You Kill'', directed by Gianni Puccini (25 March 1965) * '' Letti sbagliati'', directed by Steno (6 April 1965) * '' Per un pugno nell'occhio'', directed by

Michele Lupo Michele Lupo (4 December 1932 – 27 June 1989) was an Italian film director. He directed 23 films between 1962 and 1982. He was born in Corleone, Italy, and died on 27 June 1989 in a clinic in Rome, Italy at the age of 56. Selected filmogr ...

(14 April 1965) * '' I figli del leopardo'', directed by Sergio Corbucci (21 April 1965) * ''Scandali nudi'', directed by Enzo Di Gianni (11 June 1965) * ''Veneri in collegio,'' directed by Marino Girolami (26 June 1965) * '' Latin Lovers'', directed by Mario Costa (11 August 1965) * '' Two Sergeants of General Custer'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (13 August 1965) * '' Come inguaiammo l'esercito'', directed by Lucio Fulci (21 August 1965) * '' Two Mafiosi Against Goldginger'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (15 October 1965) * ''

002 Operazione Luna ''002 operazione Luna'' is a 1965 science fiction comedy film directed by Lucio Fulci. The film stars Franco and Ciccio, Mónica Randall and Linda Sini. The film's Spanish print released in 1968 was titled ''Dos cosmonautas a la fuerza'' () a ...

'', directed by Lucio Fulci (25 November 1965) * '' War Italian Style'', directed by Luigi Scattini (26 November 1965) * '' I due parà'', directed by Lucio Fulci (24 December 1965) * '' Due mafiosi contro Al Capone'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (4 March 1966) * '' How We Robbed the Bank of Italy'', directed by Lucio Fulci (18 March 1966) * '' Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs'', directed by

Mario Bava Mario Bava (; 31 July 1914 – 27 April 1980) was an Italian filmmaker who worked variously as a director, cinematographer, special effects artist and screenwriter. His low-budget genre films, known for their distinctive visual flair and stylish ...

(29 July 1966) * '' I due sanculotti'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli (13 August 1966) * ''Gli altri, gli altri e noi'', directed by Maurizio Arena (31 October 1966) * '' Two Sons of Ringo'', directed by Giorgio Simonelli e Giuliano Carnimeo (7 December 1966) * '' Come rubammo la bomba atomica'', directed by Lucio Fulci (3 February 1967) * '' The Long, the Short, the Cat'', directed by Lucio Fulci (3 May 1967) * ''I Zanzaroni'', directed by Ugo La Rosa (17 May 1967) * '' The Handsome, the Ugly, and the Stupid'', directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (13 August 1967) * ''Due Rrringos nel Texas'', directed by Marino Girolami (25 August 1967) * '' Stasera mi butto'', directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti (27 October 1967) * ''I due vigili'', directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (13 December 1967) * '' I barbieri di Sicilia'', directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (21 December 1967) * '' Nel sole'', directed by Aldo Grimaldi (22 December 1967) * ''Brutti di notte'', directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (14 March 1968) * ''L'oro del mondo'', directed by Aldo Grimaldi (27 March 1968) * '' Caprice Italian Style'', directed by

Mauro Bolognini Mauro Bolognini (28 June 1922 – 14 May 2001) was an Italian film and stage director. Early years Bolognini was born in Pistoia, in the Tuscany region of Italy. After earning a master's degree in architecture at the University of Florence, Bol ...

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter, one of the masters of the ''commedia all'italiana'' ("Italian-style comedy"). He was nominated six times for an Academy Awards, Os ...

Pier Paolo Pasolini Pier Paolo Pasolini (; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian poet, film director, writer, actor and playwright. He is considered one of the defining public intellectuals in 20th-century Italian history, influential both as an artist ...

, Steno, Franco Rossi (13 April 1968) * ''Franco, Ciccio e le vedove allegre'', directed by Marino Girolami (13 April 1968) * '' The Two Crusaders'', directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (7 August 1968) * '' Don Chisciotte and Sancio Panza'', directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (24 August 1968) * '' Ciccio Forgives, I Don't'', directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (26 September 1968) * ''I due pompieri'', directed by

Bruno Corbucci Bruno Corbucci (23 October 1931 – 7 September 1996) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He was the younger brother of Sergio Corbucci and wrote many of his films. He was born in Rome, where he also died. The vast majority of h ...

(29 October 1968) * '' The Nephews of Zorro'', directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (12 December 1968) * ''I due magnifici fresconi (un imbroglio tutto curve)'', directed by Marino Girolami (23 December 1968) * '' I due deputati'', directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (1 January 1969) * ''

Indovina chi viene a merenda? (i.e. "Guess who's coming to tea?") is a 1969 Italian war-comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, ...

'', directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (2 April 1969) * ''

Franco, Ciccio e il pirata Barbanera ''Franco, Ciccio e il pirata Barbanera'' (''Franco, Ciccio and Blackbeard the Pirate'') is a 1969 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Amendola starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. It is a parody of the 1883 adventure novel '' Treasure Isla ...

'', directed by Mario Amendola (16 September 1969) * ''Franco e Ciccio... ladro e guardia'', directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (20 November 1969) * ''Lisa dagli occhi blu'', directed by Bruno Corbucci (23 December 1969) * '' Satiricosissimo'', directed by Mariano Laurenti (21 January 1970) * ''Nel giorno del Signore'', directed by Bruno Corbucci (18 March 1970) * '' Paths of War'', directed by Aldo Grimaldi (26 March 1970) * '' Don Franco e Don Ciccio nell'anno della contestazione'', directed by Marino Girolami (16 April 1970) * '' Ma chi t'ha dato la patente?'', directed by Nando Cicero (28 August 1970) * ''I due Maggiolini più matti del mondo'', directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (29 August 1970) * ''Principe coronato cercasi per ricca ereditiera'', directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (29 August 1970) * '' W le donne'', directed by Aldo Grimaldi (4 September 1970) * ''Due bianchi nell'Africa nera'', directed by Bruno Corbucci (28 October 1970) * '' I due maghi del pallone'', directed by Mariano Laurenti (2 December 1970) * '' Il clan dei due Borsalini'', directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (18 February 1971) * ''Mazzabubù... Quante corna stanno quaggiù?'', directed by Mariano Laurenti (25 February 1971) * ''Scusi, ma lei le paga le tasse?'', directed by Mino Guerrini (11 March 1971) * '' Ma che musica maestro!'', directed by Mariano Laurenti (6 April 1971) * ''I due della Formula Uno alla corsa più pazza pazza del mondo'', directed by Osvaldo Civirani (12 August 1971) * ''Venga a fare il soldato da noi'', directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti (12 August 1971) * ''Riuscirà l'avvocato Franco Benenato a sconfiggere il suo acerrimo nemico il pretore Ciccio De Ingras?'', directed by Mino Guerrini (19 August 1971) * '' Armiamoci e partite!'', directed by

Nando Cicero Fernando Cicero, better known as Nando Cicero (22 January 1931 – 30 July 1995), was an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor. Born in Asmara, Cicero debuted as an actor, working with directors such as Luchino Visconti (''Senso (film), ...

(3 September 1971) * ''I due pezzi da 90'', directed by

Osvaldo Civirani Osvaldo Civirani (19 May 1917 — 20 February 2008) was an Italian still photographer, producer, director, cinematographer, screenwriter and author. Until 1963, Civirani worked mainly as still photographer on over two hundred films. From 1963 ...

(28 October 1971) * '' I due assi del guantone'', directed by Mariano Laurenti (2 December 1971) * ''Continuavano a chiamarli i due piloti più matti del mondo'', directed by Mariano Laurenti (8 March 1972) * ''Continuavano a chiamarli... er più e er meno'', directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (24 March 1972) * '' Two Sons of Trinity'', directed by Osvaldo Civirani (26 July 1972) * '' I due gattoni a nove code... e mezza ad Amsterdam'', directed by Osvaldo Civirani (31 July 1972) * ''Storia di fifa e di coltello – Er seguito d' Er Più'', directed by Mario Amendola (14 August 1972) * '' Paolo il freddo'', directed by Ciccio Ingrassia (11 April 1974) * '' Farfallon'', directed by Riccardo Pazzaglia (12 August 1974) * '' The Exorciccio'' (''L'Esorciccio''), directed by Ciccio Ingrassia (1975) * ''Crema, cioccolata e pa... prika'', directed by Michele Massimo Tarantini (15 August 1981) * '' Kaos'' (from the tales by

Luigi Pirandello Luigi Pirandello (; ; 28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italians, 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 bold and ...

, directed by

Paolo and Vittorio Taviani Paolo Taviani (; 8 November 1931 – 29 February 2024) and Vittorio Taviani (; 20 September 1929 – 15 April 2018), collectively referred to as the Taviani brothers, were Italian film directors and screenwriters who collaborated on numerous fi ...

(23 November 1984)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Franchi, Franco 1928 births 1992 deaths Male actors from Palermo Italian male film actors Italian male comedians 20th-century Italian male actors 20th-century Italian comedians Comedians from Palermo