Roberto Benigni

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.

Known For

The Graham Norton Show

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Wetten, dass..?

Vivement dimanche

Beckmann

The Oscars

Sanremo Music Festival

All Movies (69)

• Pietro - A Man in the Wind2025
• The Singing Priest2025 · as Dr. John
• The Dream2025
• Sanremo 2023. Tra Palco e realtà2023 · as Self
• Francesco - The Canticle2022 · as Self - Host
• I magnifici 4 della risata2022
• We Are Cinema2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Alida Valli: In Her Own Words2021 · as Self
• Paolo Conte, Come Away with Me2020 · as Self
• Pinocchio2019 · as Mister Geppetto
• Cecchi Gori - Una famiglia italiana2019 · as Self
• Untouchable2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• Once Upon a Time: Tonino Delli Colli, Cinematographer2019 · as Himself
• Evviva Giuseppe2017 · as Himself
• La voce di Fantozzi2017 · as Sé stesso
• Marco Ferreri: Dangerous But Necessary2017 · as Self
• Cinque mondi2016 · as Self
• The Last Laugh2016 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Red Chairs - Parma and the Cinema2014 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Most Beautiful in the World2012 · as Himself
• Opinioni di un clown - Roberto Benigni2012
• Close Up2012 · as Self (archive footage)
• To Rome with Love2012 · as Leopoldo
• Revisiting Life is Beautiful 15 Years After2012 · as Self - (archival audio)
• La commedia di Amos Poe2010 · as Narrator (voice)
• Isabella Rossellini - Aus dem Leben eines Schmetterlings2010 · as Self
• The Tiger and the Snow2005 · as Attilio de Giovanni
• Coffee and Cigarettes2004 · as Roberto (segment "Strange to Meet You")
• Caterina in the Big City2003 · as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special2003 · as Self
• Fellini: I'm a Born Liar2003 · as Self - La Voce della Luna
• Cesare Zavattini2003 · as Self
• Pinocchio2002 · as Pinocchio
• The Magic of Fellini2002 · as Self (archive footage)
• La strana coppia. Incontro con Age e Scarpelli2001 · as Self
• Asterix and Obelix Take On Caesar1999 · as Lucius Detritus
• Life Is Beautiful1997 · as Guido
• TuttoBenigni 95/961996 · as Roberto Benigni
• The Monster1994 · as Loris
• Peter and the Wolf: A Prokofiev Fantasy1993 · as Narrator (voice, Italian version)
• Son of the Pink Panther1993 · as Gendarme Jacques Gambrelli
• Night on Earth1991 · as Cab Driver Rome
• Johnny Stecchino1991 · as Dante Ceccarini / Johnny Stecchino
• The Voice of the Moon1990 · as Ivo Salvini
• Towards the Moon with Fellini1990 · as Himself
• The Little Devil1988 · as Giuditta
• Coffee and Cigarettes1987 · as Roberto
• Down by Law1986 · as Roberto
• Nothing Left to Do But Cry1984 · as Saverio
• Farewell to Enrico Berlinguer1984 · as Self
• FF.SS. cioè '...che mi hai portato a fare sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più bene?'1983 · as Lo sceicco Beige
• Roberto Benigni: TuttoBenigni1983 · as Himself
• You Upset Me1983 · as Benigno
• Morto Troisi, viva Troisi!1982 · as The anonymous childhood friend / Self
• The Soup1981 · as Il maestro
• In the Pope's Eye1980 · as self
• Il resto del Pap'occhio1980 · as self
• The Days Are Numbered1979 · as Il professore
• Seeking Asylum1979 · as Roberto
• Womanlight1979 · as Bartender at Clapsy's
• Luna1979 · as Upholsterer
• Tigers in Lipstick1979 · as The Principal
• Cinématon1978 · as N°801
• Ladra di sogni1978
• Il parolaio1978 · as Cliente
• Vita da Cioni1978
• Il comizio1978
• Berlinguer: I Love You1977 · as Mario Cioni
• Roberto Benigni - Inno Di Mameli—

All TV Shows (19)

• The Ten Commandments2014 · as Himself
• The Biggest Show After the Weekend2011
• Roberto Benigni - Tutto Dante2008 · as Roberto Benigni
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• Collezione di risate2006
• Rockpolitik2005 · as Self
• Ulisse - The Pleasure of Discovery2001 · as Self
• Beckmann1999 · as Self
• Vivement dimanche1998 · as Self
• HARDtalk1997
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self
• Willemsens Woche1995 · as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992
• Wetten, dass..?1981 · as Self
• Onda Libera1976 · as Mario Cioni
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• Sanremo Music Festival1951 · as Self - Special Guest
• Sanremo Music Festival1951 · as Self - Host