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Roberto Benigni Biography

Birth Name:Roberto Remigio Benigni

Birth Place:Manciano La Misericordia, Italy

Profession Actor, Writer, Director, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

Received his early education at a French seminary
Was the only son of farmers Luigi and Isolina Benigni
Married actress Nicoletta Braschi in 1991
Considers Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to be two of his biggest inspirations
Moved to Rome in 1972 to expand his career opportunities
Became a member of a troubadour act in Tuscany when he was 10
Quote: "[During the launch of Pope Francis's book "The Name of God is Mercy"] "Pope Francis is so full of mercy, you could sell it by the pound․""
Quote: "The first movie I saw - and I don't know if it influenced me - was 'Ben Hur․' We watched it outside in a corn field, and it ran backwards, so the first movie I ever saw was 'Ben Hur' backwards․"
Quote: "[About the fans referring to "Life Is Beautiful" as a masterpiece] "Well, if I had their addresses, I'd send each and every one ten kilos of the sweetest apples․""
His own father's stories about his years spent in a Nazi concentration camp helped to inspire his best-known film, "Life Is Beautiful․"

Awards

1981Golden Goblet-Best Actor (Migliore Attore): winner
1983David-Best New Director (Migliore Regista Esordiente): nominated
1983Silver Ribbon-Best New Director (Migliore Regista Esordiente): nominated
1987Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
1987Silver Ribbon-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1989David-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1989Golden Ciak-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1989Silver Ribbon-Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film): nominated
1989Silver Ribbon-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): nominated
1992Special David-: winner
1992Golden Ciak-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1992Silver Ribbon-Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): nominated
1992Silver Ribbon-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1994Razzie Award-Worst New Star: nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Actor (Migliore Attore): winner
1998Grand Jury Prize-: nominated
1998Audience Award-Best Feature Film: winner
1998Audience Award-: winner
1998BSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
1998Grand Prize of the Jury-: winner
1998Palme d'Or-: nominated
1998David-Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): winner
1998David-Best Director (Migliore Regista): winner
1998David-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1998Scholars Jury David-: winner
1998European Film Award-European Actor: winner
1998Critic's Choice Award-Best Film: winner
1998Critic's Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
1998Critic's Choice Award-Best Director: winner
1998Golden Ciak-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1998Golden Ciak-Best Director (Migliore Regista): winner
1998Golden Ciak-Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): nominated
1998Golden Ciak-Best Film (Miglior Film): winner
1998Golden Globe-Best Actor (Migliore Attore): winner
1998Golden Globe-Best Film (Miglior Film): winner
1998Golden Globe-Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): winner
1998Silver Ribbon-Best Original Story (Migliore Soggetto): winner
1998Silver Ribbon-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): winner
1998Silver Ribbon-Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): winner
1998Silver Ribbon-Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film): winner
1998Sierra Award-Best Director: winner
1998Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
1998People's Choice Award-: winner
1998Special Achievement Award-: winner
1998Premio Sergio Amidei-: winner
1998People's Choice Award-: winner
1998Most Popular Film-: winner
1998Audience Award-: winner
1999Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1999Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1999Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1999Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): nominated
1999American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
1999Best Foreign Film Award-: winner
1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Film not in the English Language: nominated
1999CFCA Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1999CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1999Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
1999Chlotrudis Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1999Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: winner
1999César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): winner
1999DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1999Critics Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
1999Best Foreign Film-: winner
1999Guild Film Award - Gold-Foreign Film (Ausländischer Film): winner
1999Lumiere Award-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): winner
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Director: nominated
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Drama Actor: nominated
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1999Audience Award-: winner
1999Golden Aries-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language: nominated
1999SEFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
2000Blue Ribbon Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
2000Czech Lion-Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film): nominated
2000Robert-Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film): winner
2000Rosa de Sant Jordi Audience Award-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
2002Stinker Award-Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More than $100 Million Using Hollywood Math: nominated
2002Stinker Award-Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!): nominated
2002Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2002Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Couple: nominated
2003David-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): nominated
2003Razzie Award-Worst Actor: winner
2003Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
2003Razzie Award-Worst Screen Couple: nominated
2003Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Film (Miglior Film): nominated
2006Golden Graal-Best Comedic Director (Migliore Regista di Commedia): nominated
2006Silver Ribbon-Best Actor (Migliore Attore Protagonista): nominated
2006Silver Ribbon-Best Original Story (Migliore Soggetto): winner
2006Stinker Award-Worst Actor: nominated
2018Felix-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
2020David-Best Supporting Actor (Migliore Attore non Protagonista): nominated
2020Golden Ciak-Best Supporting Actor (Migliore Attore Non Protagonista): winner
2020Silver Ribbon-Best Supporting Actor (Migliore Attore Non Protagonista): winner