Sergio Tofano
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Sergio Tòfano (20 August 1886 – 28 October 1973) was an Italian actor, director, playwright, scene designer and illustrator.
Tofano was born in Rome. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined Virgilio Talli's company (1913–23). He soon specialized as a comic actor, giving his role a new elegance and complexity. He worked with other famous actors and directors: Dario Niccodemi (1924–27); Luigi Almirante and Giuditta Rissone (1927–30), Elsa Merlini, Vittorio De Sica, Evi Maltagliati, Gino Cervi etc. During those years, he made his famous performances as Doctor Knock in Jules Romains' play, and as Professor Toti in Luigi Pirandello's Pensaci, Giacomino!. He also led important theatrical firms.
After the Second World War, he worked with the most important directors, like Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler.
In 1917 Tofano invented, for a children's magazine, Il Corriere dei Piccoli, a famous character, Signor Bonaventura, whose adventures lasted for more than forty years. He used to sign as Sto.
Filmography
- The Private Secretary, dir. by Goffredo Alessandrini (1931)
- The Telephone Operator, dir. by Nunzio Malasomma (1932)
- Your Money or Your Life (1932)
- The Girl with the Bruise, dir. by E. W. Emo (1933)
- Paprika, dir. by Carl Boese (1933)
- O la borsa o la vita, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia (1933)
- Seconda B, dir. by Goffredo Alessandrini (1934)
- Lohengrin, dir. by Nunzio Malasomma (1936)
- I due misantropi, dir. by Amleto Palermi (1937)
- Stasera alle undici, dir. by Oreste Biancoli (1937)
- I figli del marchese Lucera, dir. by Amleto Palermi (1938)
- Inventiamo l'amore, dir. by Camillo Mastrocinque (1938)
- Jeanne Doré, dir. by Mario Bonnard (1938)
- Eravamo sette sorelle, dir. by Mario Mattoli (1938)
- The Silent Partner (1939)
- Follie del secolo, dir. by Amleto Palermi (1939)
- Papà per una motte, dir. by Mario Bonnard (1939)
- Le sorprese del divorzio, dir. by Guido Brignone (1939)
- Una famiglia impossibile, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia (1940)
- Validità giorni dieci, dir. by Camillo Mastrocinque (1940)
- Giù il sipario, dir. by Raffaello Matarazzo (1940)
- La granduchessa si diverte, dir. by Giacomo Gentilomo (1940)
- Idillio a Budapest, dir. by Giorgio Ansoldi (1941)
- Il signore a doppio petto, dir. by Flavio Calzavara (1941)
- Turbamento, dir. by Guido Brignone (1941)
- Anime in tumulto, dir. by Giulio Del Torre (1941)
- Cenerentola e il signor Bonaventura, anche soggetto e regia (1942)
- La maschera e il volto, dir. by Camillo Mastrocinque (1942)
- La guardia del corpo, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia (1942)
- Se io fossi onesto, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia (1942)
- Il fidanzato di mia moglie, dir. by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia (1943)
- Quarta pagina, dir. by Nicola Manzari (1943)
- Gian Burrasca, anche regia (1943)
- Il cavaliere del sogno, dir. by Camillo Mmastrocinque (1946)
- Fabiola, dir. by Alessandro Blasetti (1949)
- Abbiamo vinto!, dir. by Robert A. Stemmle (1950)
- Napoleon, dir. by Carlo Borghesio (1950)
- Altri tempi, dir. by Alessandro Blasetti (1952)
- Puccini, dir. by Carmine Gallone (1952)
- L'ingiusta condanna, dir. by Giuseppe Masini (1952)
- La fiammata, dir. by Alessandro Blasetti (1952)
- The Country of the Campanelli, dir. by Jean Boyer (1954)
- Il cardinale Lambertini, dir. by Giorgio Pastina (1954)
- House of Ricordi di Carmine Gallone (1954)
- Porta un bacione a Firenze, dir. by Camillo Mastrocinque (1955)
- La bella di Roma, dir. by Luigi Comencini (1955)
- Andrea Chenier, dir. by Clemente Fracassi (1955)
- Dreams in a Drawer, dir. by Renato Castellani (1957)
- Il re di Poggioreale, dir. by Duilio Coletti (1961)
- La costanza della ragione, dir. by Pasquale Festa Campanile (1965)
- Il padre di famiglia, dir. by Nanni Loy (1967)
- Partner, dir. by Bernardo Bertolucci (1968)
- Toh, è morta la nonna!, dir. by Mario Monicelli (1969)
- Contestazone generale, dir. by Luigi Zampa (1970)
- La colonna infame, dir. by Nelo Risi (1973)
- Rugantino, dir. by Pasquale Festa Campanile (1973)