Antonino Faà di Bruno

Antonino Faà di Bruno (December 15, 1910 – May 2, 1981), was an Italian actor and former military officer.

Antonino Faà di Bruno
Antonino Faà di Bruno in Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno (1974)
Born	(1910-12-15)December 15, 1910 London, UK
Died	May 2, 1981(1981-05-02) (aged 70) Alessandria, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–1980
Spouse(s)	Anna Maria Andreini
Children	2

Biography

A member of the aristocratic Faà di Bruno family, Antonino Faà di Bruno was born in London, the son of Marchese Alessandro Faà di Bruno (who was the Italian consul in London at that time) and of his wife Fanny Costì. He was named after his namesake ancestor, Antonino Faà di Bruno (1762–1829), who was Bishop of Asti in the 19th century.

He took up a military career, becoming a lieutenant in the grenadiers and fighting in Italian East Africa. After his retirement in 1964, with the rank of Brigadier General, Faà di Bruno started a career as an actor, working with Carlo Lizzani (La vita agra), Pier Paolo Pasolini (Pigsty), Vittorio De Sica (Lo chiameremo Andrea), Billy Wilder (Avanti!),[1] Federico Fellini (Amarcord),[2] Luciano Salce (Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno), Mario Monicelli (We Want the Colonels).[3]

Tall at 1.96 meters, with a baritone voice and an aristocratic bearing, Antonino Faà di Bruno was often cast in roles of high rank, nobleman, officers and members of the ruling class. He performed as a character actor in several commedia all'italiana films, and became known for playing the role of retired Lt.Col. Vittorio Emanuele Ribaud, who attempted a coup d'état in We Want the Colonels, and of the Duke-Count Piercarlo Semenzara in Il secondo tragico Fantozzi.

Personal life and death

In 1947 he married the widow of his cousin Emilio Faà di Bruno who had died in 1943, Anna Maria Andreini. He later adopted their daughters, Camilla and Costanza.

Away from his public life, he enjoyed dwelling in the countryside of Istia d'Ombrone.

He died at 70 following complications from a traumatic brain injury that he suffered after being hit by a bus.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	La vita agra		Uncredited
1969	Porcile	Old man (scene of the Sentence)	Uncredited
1972	Lo chiameremo Andrea	Schoolmaster
1972	Avanti!	Concierge
1973	We Want the Colonels	Lt. Col. Vittorio Emanuele Ribaud
1973	Dirty Weekend	Count Antonino Marlotti	Uncredited
1973	Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears	The Senator
1973	Amarcord	Count
1973	Amore e ginnastica	Commendator Censani
1974	Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno	Zio Alberto
1974	Il domestico	The Old Nobleman
1974	City Under Siege	Col. Peretti
1975	White Horses of Summer	Receptionist
1975	Un sac de billes	Le vieux beau
1975	The Sunday Woman	Paolo Campi
1976	Pure as a Lily	Don Gerlando
1976	Il secondo tragico Fantozzi	Mega Direttore Clamoroso, Duke Count Piercarlo Semenzara
1977	L'appuntamento	Ermengardo Braghidoni
1977	Bobby Deerfield	Vincenzo
1978	La soldatessa alle grandi manovre	Gen. Barattoli
1980	Bionda fragola
1981	Una vacanza bestiale	Console
1981	Il minestrone	The marquis	(final film role)

References

1. Gene D. Phillips (July 1, 2010). Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 554–. ISBN 978-0-8131-3951-7.
2. Federico Fellini (1976). Fellini on Fellini. Da Capo Press. pp. 174–. ISBN 978-0-306-80673-5.
3. Roberto Chiti; Enrico Lancia; Roberto Poppi (2003). Dizionario del cinema italiano: testi e strumenti per la scuola e l'università. Gli attori dal 1930 ai giorni nostri ; Vol. 1. A – L. Gremese Editore. pp. 221–. ISBN 978-88-8440-213-4.

External links

• Antonino Faà di Bruno on IMDb