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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