Advanced search

Darkly handsome Nick Mancuso, born Nicodemo Antonio Massimo Mancuso, was born in 1948 in Mammola, Italy but raised as a child in Canada (from age 8). During his over four decade career, films claimed him as the Antichrist (Franco Macalousso) in the Apocalypse trilogy produced by Cloud Ten Pictures (Revelation (1999), Tribulation (2000) and Judgment (2001)), and TV has him best known for his starring roles in the NBC action series Stingray (1986), which ran for two seasons, and as the title hitman who becomes a target himself in the one-season Matrix (1993).

Although he developed an interest in acting in high school, he chose to study psychology at the University of Toronto. The acting bug bit again, however, and he was soon drawn to various Canadian theatre groups in the 1970s. During this time, he became artistic director for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, at the same time building up his classical resume at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

TV and film soon came his way in the late 1970s, and he tackled roles both in Hollywood, first as TV's Dr. Scorpion (1978), and back in his homeland, where he won the prestigious Genie award for the movie Ticket to Heaven (1981) as a man caught up in a religious cult. He impressed moviegoers as well with his moody, sexy presence in the US film Heartbreakers (1984) co-starring Peter Coyote and has also provided solid support for other stars, notably for Steven Seagal in one of that star's best action thrillers Under Siege (1992).

A sturdy name as an anti-hero or heavy in modestly-budgeted independents, Nick has proven over the years to be a solid, durable player in the "tough guy" crime mold, almost always with a serious edge. More recent, post-millennium gritty films include Time of Fear (2002) Today You Die (2005), starring his "Under Siege" cohort Steven Seagal, Contract Killers (2008), Violent Blue (2011), Entity (2013) and The Big Fat Stone (2014).

Raf Vallone was an internationally acclaimed Italian movie star known for his rugged good looks. The athletic Vallone, a former soccer player who often was compared to Burt Lancaster, was born Raffaele Vallone in 1916 in Tropea in Calabria, Italy, the son of a prominent lawyer and his aristocratic wife. At the University of Turin, Vallone took degrees in law and philosophy and then entered his father's law firm.

Vallone played semi-professional soccer but never realized his dream of becoming a professional athlete. Subsequently, he became a sports reporter for L'Unita, a communist newspaper, and also a drama critic for La Stampa. During World War II, Vallone served with the anti-Fascist resistance.

His first job as a movie actor was a bit part in We the Living (1942) (aka, "We the Living"), but Vallone was not serious about acting as a career. Hired as a researcher on a film about labor unrest, director Giuseppe De Santis cast Vallone as a soldier competing with Vittorio Gassman for the love of Silvana Mangano in what became the neo-realist classic Bitter Rice (1949) ("Bitter Rice"). The film propelled Vallone, pronounced a natural actor by De Santis, into international stardom and ended his journalism career.

Vallone became a major star in Italy in the 1950s and then a player in the global film industry, making movies in Italian, French and English. Vallone achieved popularity with American audiences in the 1960s, starting with his supporting roles in Two Women (1960) ("Two Women") and El Cid (1961), both co-starring Sophia Loren. Other major actresses he co-starred with on film and stage included Gina Lollobrigida, Anna Magnani, Melina Mercouri, Simone Signoret, and Elena Varzi, to whom he was married for 52 years, until his death in 2002.

Vallone's first "American" role was as the incest-minded Italian-American longshoreman Eddie Carbone in Sidney Lumet's film of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge (1962) ("A View from the Bridge"). Other prominent roles in American films included Otto Preminger's The Cardinal (1963), Roger Corman's The Secret Invasion (1964), Harlow (1965) starring Carroll Baker, and Henry Hathaway's Nevada Smith (1966).

Vallone played many priests during his long career, culminating with the cardinal-confessor of mobster Michael Corleone, a priest who becomes pope and is murdered in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III (1990). Appearing for the other side, Vallone was memorable as the Mafia boss Altabani in the original The Italian Job (1969).

Francesco Colella was born on 1 June 1974 in Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor and writer, known for The Good Mothers (2023), ZeroZeroZero (2019) and La gioia.

Riccardo Pizzuti was born on 28 May 1934 in Cetraro, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor and assistant director, known for They Call Me Trinity (1970), The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (1979) and Crime Busters (1977).

Nika Perrone was born in Calabria, in the south of Italy.

She was shortlisted for the Emmy Awards in 2020 for her work in 'ZeroZeroZero'. She speaks English, Spanish, French, Arbereshe.

At the cinema, she has been directed by Angelina Jolie, Julian Jarrold, Valeria Golino, Stefano Sollima, Letizia Lamartire, Pablo Trapero, Maria Sole Tognazzi, Francesca Archibugi, Janus Metz, and Elisa Amoruso. She has also participated in theatrical festivals such as the Venice Biennale, Spoleto Festival, and Dionisie of Segesta (Greek theater).

She graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Art 'Silvio D'Amico' (Italy), the Ecole des Maitres with Angelica Liddell (participating in a European tour as an actress in her show), and the School of Dramatic Art 'Miguel Salcedo Hierro' (Spain).

Vittoria Belvedere was born on 17 January 1972 in Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy. She is an actress, known for Augustus: The First Emperor (2003), Zoloto (1992) and Sturmzeit (1999). She has been married to Vasco Valerio since 12 June 1999. They have three children.

Ninetto Davoli was born on 11 October 1948 in San Pietro a Maida, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor and assistant director, known for Uno su due (2006), The Decameron (1971) and La Tosca (1973). He has been married to Patrizia Carlomosti since 1973. They have two children.

Mauro Fiore was born on 15 November 1964 in Marzi, Calabria, Italy. He is a cinematographer, known for Avatar (2009), Training Day (2001) and The Island (2005). He has been married to Christine Vollmer since 2000. They have three children.

Leopoldo Trieste was born on 3 May 1917 in Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy. He was an actor and writer, known for Il peccato degli anni verdi (1960), Don't Look Now (1973) and Cinema Paradiso (1988). He died on 25 January 2003 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Gianna Maria Canale was born on 12 September 1927 in Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy. She was an actress, known for Clash of Steel (1962), Theodora, Slave Empress (1954) and Dead Woman's Kiss (1949). She was married to Riccardo Freda. She died on 13 February 2009 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Mehdi Meskar was born on 22 March 1995 in Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor and director, known for Hysteria (2025), Paris Has Fallen (2024) and Les engagés: XAOC (2021).

Peppino Mazzotta was born on 20 May 1971 in Domanico, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor, known for Black Souls (2014), La velocità della luce (2007) and We Believed (2010).

Born in Italy, Antony Carbone was raised in Syracuse, New York, and credits the area's cold and snow (which he hated) for his determination to move out and become an actor. He has worked on stage, in TV and in a baker's dozen movies, but his best-remembered acting credits are the exploitation flicks he made for Roger Corman (A Bucket of Blood (1959), Last Woman on Earth (1960), Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)). He was a stage director.

After school, Amelio studied philosophy. He graduated with a doctorate. Amelio developed a keen interest in film at a young age. In 1970 he began working as a cameraman for the Italian state television RAI. A little later, Amelio worked as an assistant director for RAI. In 1970 he directed his first television film: "La fine del gioco". He then also took part in the production of several TV commercials, for example for the state-owned airline Alitalia. In the 1970s, Amelio first attracted attention in international cinema with films such as "La città del sole" (1973), "La morte al lavoro" (1978) and "Il piccolo Archimede" (1979).

Amelio celebrated his breakthrough as an internationally recognized film director in 1990 with "Porte aperte". With "Il ladro di bambini" in 1992, Gianni Amelio impressively staged the conflicts of conscience of a carabinieri officer in today's Italian society. In 1994 he came to the public with the film "Lamerica", which dealt with the current refugee problem between Albania and Italy and exposed the unscrupulous dealings with the plight of refugees by the smuggling organizations. The director has been honored with several international awards for his film work.

He received an Oscar nomination in 1991 for "Porte aperte". In 1992, Amelio was awarded the Nastro d'Argento, the Felix Award and the Cannes Grand Prix for "Il ladro di bambini". Another silver ribbon (Nastro d'Argento) at the Venice Film Festival followed in 1994 for "Lamerica". In the same year he received the Grolla d'Oro for his life's work. In 1996 the Spanish Goya Film Prize also followed for "Lamerica". The director also published a book under the same title in 1994 about the film "Lamerica". At the same time, Amelio also worked as a theater director: in 1995 he staged the play "I pagliacci" in Genoa's Carlo Felice Theater. The director's other successful films were "Così ridevano" in 1998 and "Le chiavi di casa" in 2004.

In 2008 he took over the management of the Torino Film Festival from Nanni Moretti.

Donatella Versace was born on 2 May 1955 in Reggio di Calabria, Italy. She is a costume designer and actress, known for Madonna: Take a Bow (1994), Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula (2005) and Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection (2009). She was previously married to Paul Beck.

Cristiano Caccamo is an Italian actor. Graduated at the Experimental Center of Cinematography, in 2010 he made his debut in theaters. The first movie that gives him a leading role is "Cenere", released in 2014. The TV debut comes in 2015 with "Questo è il mio paese". In 2017, he joins the cast of "Che Dio ci aiuti", a successful Rai TV series and then of "Don Matteo". In 2018, he is also the protagonist of the movie "Puoi baciare lo sposo", along with Salvatore Esposito and the colleague and friend Diana del Bufalo.

Daniela Marra was born on 24 April 1984 in Reggio Calabria, Italy. She is an actress, known for Esterno notte (2022), The Hunter (2018) and Sicilian Letters (2024).

Steve Conte was born on January 16, 1920, in Gagliato, Italy. He came to the US with his family in 1926. They sailed to New York, where he spent his teenage years. During WWII he served in the Army Air Corps, where he was based in Europe. Soon after the war he married and had two children, Shirley and Bruce. Sometime in the late 1950s he divorced and focused on his career. His ex-wife and children moved to Las Vegas sometime later. At the time the family had been living in Los Angeles, where Steve continued to reside. One of his favorite hangouts was Schwab's on Sunset and La Cienega, known for its show business-based clientèle. In 1960 he had a son, Steve, who was put up for adoption, and who searched for and found him in 1992. Among family and close friends, he was known for his sense of humor and love of practical jokes.

Antonio Cantafora was born on 2 February 1944 in Crotone, Calabria, Italy. He was an actor, known for Diamond Pedlars (1976), Carambola (1974) and And God Said to Cain... (1970). He died on 20 April 2024 in Rome, Italy.

Peter Savage was born on 9 September 1920 in Calabria, Italy. He was an actor and writer, known for Raging Bull (1980), Cauliflower Cupids (1970) and The Runaways (1965). He was married to Eleanor Smyrski. He died on 29 December 1981 in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.

Francesco Costabile was born on 30 September 1980 in Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. Francesco is a director and assistant director, known for Una Femmina: The Code of Silence (2022), Familia (2024) and Dentro Roma (2006).

Marcello Fonte was born on 7 November 1978 in Melito di Porto Salvo, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor and director, known for Dogman (2018), Asino vola (2015) and Il posto della felicità (2019).

Italian-born Nicholas Musuraca's first job in the film business was as a chauffeur to early pioneering producer/director J. Stuart Blackton. Having a knack for photography, he worked behind the cameras in a variety of jobs before finally becoming a cinematographer (or, as they were called in those days, "lighting cameraman"). Musuraca spent most of his career at RKO Pictures, where he became known as a master of lighting--he was once admiringly described by a fellow cameraman as "a painter with light"--and was largely responsible for the gritty, moody camerawork that became that studio's signature. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on I Remember Mama (1948). After leaving RKO in the late '50s he worked for a short period at Warner Bros., but then joined Desilu Studios and spent the remainder of his career in television.

Alessandro Pess was born on 30 June 1981 in Nocera Terinese, Calabria, Italy. He is an actor, known for The Equalizer 3 (2023), House of Gucci (2021) and Good and Evil (2009).

Carlo Carlei was born on 16 April 1960 in Lamezia Terme, Calabria, Italy. He is a director and writer, known for Flight of the Innocent (1992), The Last Legion (2007) and Padre Pio (2000).