Roberto Benigni

Acting

Biography

Roberto Benigni, (born October 27, 1952, Misericordia, Arezzo, Italy), Italian actor and director known for his comedic work, most notably La vita è bella (1997; Life Is Beautiful), for which he won an Academy Award for best actor. Benigni was the son of a poor tenant farmer who had worked in a German forced-labour camp during World War II. The elder Benigni used humour in retelling his experiences, which helped shape his son’s comedic skill. Benigni briefly attended a Jesuit seminary in Florence, and, after a stint as a magician’s assistant, he joined an underground theatre group in the late 1960s.

Filmography 88

Movies (69)

Pietro - A Man in the Wind
2025
The Singing Priest
2025
Dr. John
The Dream
2025
Sanremo 2023. Tra Palco e realtà
2023
Self
Francesco - The Canticle
2022
Self - Host
I magnifici 4 della risata
2022
We Are Cinema
2021
Self (archive footage)
Alida Valli: In Her Own Words
2021
Self
Paolo Conte, Come Away with Me
2020
Self
Pinocchio
2019
Mister Geppetto
Cecchi Gori - Una famiglia italiana
2019
Self
Untouchable
2019
Self (archive footage)
Once Upon a Time: Tonino Delli Colli, Cinematographer
2019
Himself
Evviva Giuseppe
2017
Himself
La voce di Fantozzi
2017
Sé stesso
Marco Ferreri: Dangerous But Necessary
2017
Self
Cinque mondi
2016
Self
The Last Laugh
2016
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Red Chairs - Parma and the Cinema
2014
Self (archive footage)
The Most Beautiful in the World
2012
Himself
Opinioni di un clown - Roberto Benigni
2012
Close Up
2012
Self (archive footage)
To Rome with Love
2012
Leopoldo
Revisiting Life is Beautiful 15 Years After
2012
Self - (archival audio)
La commedia di Amos Poe
2010
Narrator (voice)
Isabella Rossellini - Aus dem Leben eines Schmetterlings
2010
Self
The Tiger and the Snow
2005
Attilio de Giovanni
Coffee and Cigarettes
2004
Roberto (segment "Strange to Meet You")
Caterina in the Big City
2003
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
2003
Self

Shows (19)

The Ten Commandments
2014
Himself
The Biggest Show After the Weekend
2011
Roberto Benigni - Tutto Dante
2008
Roberto Benigni
The Graham Norton Show
2007
Self
Collezione di risate
2006
Rockpolitik
2005
Self
Ulisse - The Pleasure of Discovery
2001
Self
Beckmann
1999
Self
Vivement dimanche
1998
Self
HARDtalk
1997
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
Self
Willemsens Woche
1995
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Self - Guest
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Telepatria international ovvero niente paura siamo italiani
1981
Dante Alighieri
Wetten, dass..?
1981
Self
Onda Libera
1976
Mario Cioni
The Oscars
1953
Self
Sanremo Music Festival
1951
Self - Special Guest