Pierfrancesco Favino (; born 24 August 1969) is an Italian actor and film producer. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including three David di Donatello, six Nastri d'argento, two Globi d'oro, three Ciak d'oro and a Volpi Cup.
Favino began his acting career on stage before transitioning to television and film in the 1990s. His breakthrough role came with the critically acclaimed film El Alamein: The Line of Fire, which earned him widespread praise in Italy. He further solidified his reputation with standout performances in films such as Romanzo Criminale (2005), The Unknown Woman (2006), the nationally acclaimed Suburra (2015), The Traitor (2019), where he portrayed mafia boss Tommaso Buscetta, Padrenostro (2020), which earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, Comandante (2023) and Naples to New York (2024).
Favino's American credits includes Night at the Museum (2006), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), Angels & Demons (2009), World War Z (2013) and Rush (2013).
Life and career Favino was born in Rome, Italy, to Apulian parents from Candela, a comune in the province of Foggia. He has appeared in more than 40 European films and television series since the early 1990s, including Paolo Poeti's Amico mio, Gabriele Muccino's The Last Kiss, Gianni Amelio's The Keys to the House, Giuseppe Tornatore's The Unknown Woman and Ferzan Özpetek's Saturn in Opposition. In 1999 he starred in the HBO film Excellent Cadavers, an adaptation of Alexander Stille's novel of the same name. In 2006 he received the David di Donatello award – the Italian equivalent of the Oscar – for his role in the crime film Romanzo Criminale, directed by Michele Placido.
In 2006 he portrayed Christopher Columbus in 20th Century Fox's Night at the Museum. In 2008 he played General Glozelle, the leader of Miraz's Telmarine troops in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. He has worked with American director Ron Howard twice: in the 2009 film Angels & Demons, the adaptation of the novel of the same name by Dan Brown, in which he played the role of Inspector Ernesto Olivetti, and in the 2013 film Rush, in which he played the role of Formula One racing car driver Clay Regazzoni.
Other significant roles include the partisan leader Peppi Grotta in Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna in 2008, the sadistic riot control force policeman Cobra in Stefano Sollima's ACAB – All Cops Are Bastards in 2012, the anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli in Marco Tullio Giordana's Piazza Fontana, and the W.H.O. doctor in Marc Forster's apocalyptic-horror World War Z (2013).
In February 2018, he co-hosted the 68th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, alongside Claudio Baglioni and Michelle Hunziker.
He participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, held in Milan's San Siro stadium.
Personal life Favino has been in a relationship with Italian actress Anna Ferzetti since 2003. The couple has two daughters together, one born in 2006 and the other born in 2012.
Filmography Film TitleYearRole(s)Director NotesPugili 1995 Boxer Lino CapolicchioThe Prince of Homburg1997 Sparren Marco BellocchioPhysical Jerks Castrovillari Stefano RealiDolce far niente 1998 Gioacchino Rossini Nae CaranfilLa Carbonara 2000 The Sergeant Luigi MagniThe Last Kiss2001 Marco Gabriele MuccinoLa verità vi spiego sull'amore Michelangelo Francesco ApolloniDa zero a dieci2002 Biccio Luciano LigabueEl Alamein: The Line of Fire Sergeant Rizzo Enzo MonteleoneI Am Emma Carlo Francesco FalaschiPast Perfect2003 Filippo Maria Sole TognazziInstructing the Heart Riccardo Martinelli Giovanni MorriconeOur Italian Husband2004 Vincenzo Scocozza Ilaria BorrelliThe Keys to the House Alberto Gianni AmelioSorry, You Can't Get Through!2005 Pietro (Shy) Paolo Genovese and Luca MinieroAmatemi Claudio Renato De MariaRomanzo Criminale Cesare Rocchi "Il Libanese" Michele PlacidoThe Unknown Woman2006 Donato Adacher Giuseppe TornatoreNight at the Museum Statue of Christopher Columbus Shawn LevySaturn in Opposition 2007 Davide Ferzan ÖzpetekThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian2008 General Glozelle Andrew AdamsonMiracle at St. Anna Peppi Grotta Spike LeeThe Man Who Loves Roberto Maria Sole TognazziAngels & Demons 2009 Inspector Ernesto Olivetti Ron HowardWhere the Wild Things Are Carol (voice) Spike Jonze Italian voice-overKiss Me Again2010 Marco Gabriele MuccinoCome Undone Domenico Silvio SoldiniUnlikely Revolutionaries Pepe Lucio PellegriniThe Entrepreneur2011 Nicola Ranieri Giuliano MontaldoThe Perfect Life Mario Lucio PellegriniHappy Feet Two Lovelace (voice) George Miller Italian voice-overACAB – All Cops Are Bastards2012 Cobra Stefano SollimaA Flat for Three Fulvio Brignola Carlo VerdonePiazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy Giuseppe Pinelli Marco Tullio GiordanaGaribaldi's Lovers Statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi (voice) Silvio SoldiniWorld War Z2013 W.H.O. Dr. Javier Marc ForsterLino Miccichè, mio padre – Una visione del mondo Himself Francesco Miccichè DocumentaryRush Clay Regazzoni Ron HowardWithout Pity 2014 Mimmo Michele Alhaique Une mère2015 Pierre Christine CarrièreSuburra Filippo Malgradi Stefano SollimaThe Confessions 2016 Italian Minister Roberto AndòMoglie e marito2017 Andrea Rossini Simone GodanoMy Cousin Rachel Enrico Rainaldi Roger MichellChi m'ha visto Peppino Quaglia Alessandro PondiThere's No Place Like Home2018 Carlo Gabriele MuccinoThe Catcher Was a Spy Martinuzzi Ben LewinThe King's Musketeers D'Artagnan Giovanni VeronesiThe Traitor 2019 Tommaso Buscetta Marco BellocchioHammamet2020 Bettino Craxi Gianni AmelioThe Best Years Giulio Ristuccia Gabriele MuccinoPadrenostro Alfonso Le Rose Claudio Noce Also producerThe King's Musketeers: All for One, One for All! D'Artagnan Giovanni VeronesiPromises 2021 Alexander Amanda SthersCorro da te2022 Gianni Riccardo MilaniNostalgia Felice Lasco Mario MartoneThe Hummingbird Marco Carrera Francesca ArchibugiLast Night of Amore2023 Franco Amore Andrea Di StefanoComandante Salvatore Todaro Edoardo De AngelisAdagio Romeo "Cammello" Barretta Stefano SollimaThe Count of Monte Cristo2024 Abbé Faria Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu DelaporteMaria Ferruccio Mezzadri Pablo LarraínNaples to New York Domenico Garofalo Gabriele SalvatoresEnzo2025 Paolo Robin CampilloMy Tennis Maestro Raul Gatti Andrea Di StefanoDio ride 2026 Fra Leopoldo Giovanni Veronesi
Television TitleYearRole(s)Network NotesA Private Affair 1993 Ivan Rai 1 Television movieAmico mio 1993–1998 Beppe Vanni Rai 2 14 episodesCorrere contro 1996 Giacomo Rai 1 Television movieBonanno: A Godfather's Story1999 Felice Buccellato Hallmark Channel Television movieExcellent Cadavers Mario Fabbri HBO Television moviePadre Pio: Miracle Man 2000 Emanuele Brunatto Canale 5 Two-parts television movieLa Sindone – 24 ore, 14 ostaggi2001 Pietro Rai Premium Television movieJudas Simon the ZealotCanale 5 Gli insoliti ignoti2003 Inspector Pietro Cucciolla Television movieFerrari Beppe Sicci Two-parts television moviePart-Time NicolaRai 1 Television movieBartali: The Iron Man 2006 Gino Bartali Two-parts television movieLiberi di giocare 2007 Stefano Mariani Two-parts television movie 2009 Giuseppe De Vittorio Two-parts television movieIl generale Della Rovere 2011 Giovanni Bertone Television movieQualunque cosa succeda 2014 Giuseppe Ambrosoli Two-parts television movieMarco Polo 2014–2016 Niccolò Polo Netflix 9 episodesSanremo Music Festival 2018 2018 Himself / Co-host Rai 1 Annual music festivalArmani in prima serata 2020 Narrator La7 SpecialCall My Agent - Italia 2023 Himself Sky Italia Episode: "Pierfrancesco e Anna" 2026 Netflix Lead role; upcoming series
Music videos TitleYearArtist(s) Notes"Due destini" 2001 Tiromancino"Passione" 2007 Neffa"Baciami ancora" 2010 Jovanotti"Londra brucia" 2012 Negramaro"Altrove e qui" 2020 Claudio Baglioni
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategory Nominated workResult 77th Venice International Film Festival 2020 Volpi Cup for Best Actor Padrenostro Bari International Film Festival 2015 Imaie Award for Best Actor Without Pity Berlin International Film Festival 2006 Bacco Award Romanzo Criminale Ciak d'oro 2005Best Supporting Actor The Keys to the House 2012 Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy 2020 Best ActorHammamet Golden Superciak 2022 Best Actor Nostalgia David di Donatello 2003Best Supporting Actor El Alamein: The Line of Fire 2006 Romanzo Criminale 2010 Kiss Me Again 2012 Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy 2017 The Confessions 2020Best Actor The Traitor 2021 Hammamet 2024 Comandante 2025 Best Supporting Actor Naples to New York European Film Awards 2019Best Actor The Traitor 2022 Nostalgia Flaiano Awards 2009 Best Male Performance Pane e libertà 2012 Performer of the Year Himself 2020 Best Male Performance Hammamet Globo d'oro 2010 Best Actor Come Undone 2012 Critics' Special Award Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy 2013Best Actor A Flat for Three 2019 The Traitor 2023 Hammamet Golden Graal 2005Best Actor – Drama The Keys to the House 2006 Romanzo Criminale Best Actor – Comedy Sorry, You Can't Get Through! 2007Best Actor – Drama The Unknown Woman 2008 Saturn in Opposition 2011 Best Actor – Comedy Unlikely Revolutionaries Nastro d'Argento 2005 Best Supporting Actor The Keys to the House 2006Best Actor Romanzo Criminale 2010 Kiss Me Again 2012 Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy 2015 Without Pity 2016 Suburra 2017 Nino Manfredi Special Award Moglie e marito 2019Best Actor The Traitor 2020 Hammamet 2021 Padrenostro 2022 Nostalgia 2023 Last Night of Amore Pellicola d'oro 2020Best Actor The Traitor 2026 My Tennis Maestro
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