Christian De Sica (; born 5 January 1951) is an Italian actor, comedian, television presenter, and filmmaker.
Life De Sica was born in Rome, the second son of Italian director Vittorio De Sica and Spanish actress María Mercader. His first cousin once removed was Ramón Mercader, the murderer of Leon Trotsky.María Mercader, la actriz catalana que amó a De Sica. El Pais, 30 Jan. 2011Essere Liberi , 3 May 2004 (in Italian) After attending Liceo classico in Rome, where he had Carlo Verdone as his deskmate, De Sica worked in a hotel in Venezuela, where he began his career as an artist. He enrolled in Lettere (Literature and Arts) at La Sapienza University (1970) but did not graduate.
He was attracted to music, and participated in the Sanremo Music Festival 1973 singing "Mondo mio" ("My World"). However, the results convinced him to follow in his father's footsteps and devote himself to acting. De Sica developed his own style of comedy and entertainment also in Rai television shows, such as Bambole, non c'è una lira, which gave him a large success in 1978.
Acting career
With his father's help, De Sica was able to take his first steps in the movie world with such teachers and mentors as Roberto Rossellini (Blaise Pascal, 1971), Vittorio De Sica himself (A Brief Vacation, 1973), Pupi Avati (House of Pleasure for Women, 1976) and Salvatore Samperi (1979 Liquirizia and 1981 Chaste and Pure).
He married Silvia Verdone, sister of Carlo, with whom he had two children, Brando and Mariarosa. He achieved fame in the 1980s: in 1982 Borotalco was released, together with his brother-in-law Verdone, then he filmed Sapore di Mare with Jerry Calà as well as Yuppies, Yuppies 2, Grandi Magazzini and Compagni di Scuola.
After Night club, the last film directed by Italian director Sergio Corbucci, Christian De Sica became one of the most famous interpreters of the "cine-panettone" (comedies that reach movie theatres during the Christmas season) and formed till 2005 a partnership with actor Massimo Boldi. They acted together in the series of Vacanze di Natale and A spasso nel tempo (1996), Paparazzi (1998), Tifosi (1999) and Christmas in Love (2004). By 2002, their films had grossed 300 billion lire ($150 million). Afterwards, he starred in Natale a New York (2006), Natale in crociera (2007) and Natale a Rio (2008). These films, done in burlesque style, tend to be well received at the box office, if not by critics, at times even outstripping better known and expensively made movies such as the Harry Potter series.
As an actor, De Sica has won three David di Donatello awards: a prize for Giovannino in 1976, a special one together with Massimo Boldi in 2000, and the third one in 2009.
He received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2016.
Directing career Since 1990, Christian De Sica has also been a director: he debuted with Faccione, whose script he wrote and tailor-made for actress Nadia Rinaldi. After Count Max, a homage to the cinema of his father and of Mario Camerini, that he interpreted with Ornella Muti, Anita Ekberg and his mother Maria Mercader, De Sica went on self-directing in Ricky & Barabba (1992), Men Men Men (1995), Tre (1996), Simpatici & antipatici (1998), and The Clan (2005).
Criticism has often likened his acting to that of Alberto Sordi, from whom De Sica has drawn a lot of his expressions.
Filmography Films TitleYearRole(s)Director NotesPaulina 18801972Attilio PandolfiniJean-Louis BertuccelliFeature film debutA Brief Vacation1973Boy on trainVittorio De SicaCameo appearanceThe Cousin1974Ninì ScuderiAldo LadoThe Sex Machine1975Daniele VenturoliPasquale CampanileSexycop1976Vito MilitielloDuccio TessariHouse of Pleasure for WomenUgolino FacchiniPupi AvatiGiovanninoGiovannino CalìPaolo NuzziAn Almost Perfect Affair1979Carlo BaroneMichael RitchieLiquiriziaGian Galeazzo Lo CascioSalvatore SamperiHypochondriacClaudio AnzaloneTonino CerviLove in First Class1980Sales assistantSalvatore SamperiCameo appearance I'm Getting a YachtAttilioSergio CorbucciChaste and Pure1981Carletto MorosiniSalvatore SamperiTeste di quoioCarpets sellerGiorgio CapitaniCameo appearance Talcum Powder1982MarcelloCarlo VerdoneGrogTV presenterFrancesco LaudadioCameo appearance Viuuulentemente miaJuan LopezCarlo VanzinaTime for Loving1983Felicino CarraroAcqua e saponeMan at fashion showCarlo VerdoneCameo appearance Vacanze di NataleRoberto CovelliCarlo VanzinaVacanze in America1984Father RodolfoMi faccia causaGiovanni PennisiStenoI pompieri1985Alberto SpinaNeri ParentiYuppies1986SandroCarlo VanzinaDetective School DropoutsCarlo LombardiFilippo OttoniGrandi magazziniAntonio BorazziCastellano & PipoloYuppies 2SandroEnrico OldoiniMontecarlo Gran Casinò1987FurioCarlo VanzinaBellifreschiMario "Jerry" MarcelliEnrico OldoiniI pompieri 2Alberto SpinaGiorgio CapitaniCompagni di scuola1988Bruno CiardulliCarlo VerdoneNight Club1989Walter DanesiSergio CorbucciFratelli d'ItaliaCesare ProiettiNeri ParentiVacanze di Natale '901990TonyEnrico OldoiniCount Max1991Alfredo / Count MaxChristian De SicaAlso director and screenwriter FaccioneDirector and screenwriter Vacanze di Natale '91Enzo LambertoniEnrico OldoiniAnni 901992Cesare Proietti / Lando MarcelliRicky & BarabbaBarabbaChristian De SicaAlso director and screenwriter Anni 90: Parte II1993Rodolfo Buro / Roberto TorriEnrico OldoiniS.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago1994Cesare AtticusCarlo VanzinaMen Men Men1995Vittorio ManninoChristian De SicaAlso director and screenwriter Vacanze di Natale '95Remo ProiettiNeri Parenti31996Jacopo Del SerchioChristian De SicaAlso director and screenwriter A spasso nel tempoAscanio Orsini VaraldoCarlo VanzinaA spasso nel tempo - L'avventura continua1997Simpatici e antipatici1998RobertoChristian De SicaAlso directorPaparazziCesare ProiettiNeri ParentiTifosi1999Vacanze di Natale 2000Giovanni CovelliCarlo VanzinaChicken Run2000Rocky (voice)Peter Lord, Nick ParkItalian voice-overBody GuardsFabio LeoneNeri ParentiMerry Christmas2001Fabio TrivelloneChristmas on the Nile2002Mr. CiullaNatale in India2003Fabio De TassisChristmas in Love2004Fabrizio BarbettiThe Clan2005FrancoChristian De SicaAlso director and screenwriter Natale a MiamiGiorgio BassiNeri ParentiNatale a New York2006Camillo FerriNatale in crociera2007Paolo CioffaHorton Hears a Who!2008Horton (voice)Jimmy Hayward, Steve MartinoItalian voice-overNatale a RioPaolo BerniNeri ParentiNatale a Beverly Hills2009Carlo / GermanoThe Youngest Son2010Luciano BaiettiPupi AvatiThe TouristColonel LombardiFlorian Henckel von DonnersmarckNatale in SudafricaCarlo BoffaNeri ParentiAmici miei - Come tutto ebbe inizio2011FilippoVacanze di Natale a CortinaRoberto CovelliBuona giornata2012Prince Ascanio CavalliniCarlo VanzinaThe Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!Pirate Captain (voice)Peter Lord, Jeff NewittItalian voice-overLightning StrikeAlberto BenniNeri ParentiSegment: "Primo episodio"The Unlikely Prince2013AnastasioAlessandro SianiColpi di fortunaGabriele BrunelliNeri ParentiLa scuola più bella del mondo2014Principal BrogiLuca MinieroVacanze ai Caraibi2015Mario Grossi TubiNeri ParentiAlso screenwriter Fräulein2016Walter BonelliCaterina CaronePoveri ma ricchiDanilo TucciFausto BrizziPoveri ma ricchissimi2017Amici come prima2018Cesare ProiettiChristian De SicaAlso director and screenwriterSono solo fantasmi2019Tommaso Di Paola / Vittorio Di PaolaAlso director and screenwriter La mia banda suona il pop2020Tony BrandoFausto BrizziIn vacanza su MarteFabio SinceriNeri ParentiComedians2021Bernardo CelliGabriele SalvatoresWho Framed Santa Claus?Santa ClausAlessandro SianiWatch Out, We're Mad!2022TorsilloYouNuts!The Price of FamilyCarlo Delle FaveGiovanni BognettiThe Price of Nonna's Inheritance2024Carlo Delle FaveGiovanni BognettiAnother Summer HolidayPierluigi Nardi MasciulliPaolo VirzìCortina ExpressLucio De RobertiEros PuglielliAgata Christian – Delitti sulle nevi2026Christian Agata
Television TitleYearRole(s)Network NotesBlaise Pascal1972LieutenantRai 1Miniseries; cameo appearance Alle sette della sera1974–1975Himself / HostRai 2Variety showLa compagnia stabile della canzone con varietà e con comica finale1975Rai 1SpecialBambole, non c'e una lira1978VariousVariety showParis-Vichy1979ArnoldFrance 2Television movieStudio 801980Himself / HostRai 1Variety showSotto le stelle1982Musical program (season 2)Flipper1983PhotographerCinema che follia!1988Himself / HostRai 2Variety showBelli freschi1993VariousCanale 5Sketch comedyLo zio d'America2002–2006Massimo RicciardiRai 112 episodesAttenti a quei tre2004LucaMiniseriesTale e quale show2012–2014, 2017, 2021Himself / JudgeTalent show (seasons 1–4, 7, 11)Un matrimonio2013–2014Pippo Dagnini6 episodesStriscia la notizia2015Himself / Guest hostCanale 5Variety show (from September 28–October 24)Mozart in the Jungle2016Mr. BeppiPrime Video5 episodesMiss Italia2017Himself / JudgeLa7Annual beauty contestChristian De Sica: Una serata tra amici2021Himself / HostRai 1SpecialGigolò per caso2023–presentGiacomo BremerPrime Video12 episodesNe vedremo delle belle2025Himself / JudgeRai 1Talent show competition
References
External links