Andrea Balestri (born 1 September 1963) is an Italian actor and singer.
Career He is known as the Pinocchio in 1972 serial TV The Adventures of Pinocchio, directed by Luigi Comencini, next to actors like Nino Manfredi, Franco and Ciccio, Gina Lollobrigida and the great actor and director Vittorio De Sica as the Judge.
After the great success on TV, Balestri continued he acting career working on other movies as Torino nera, directed by Carlo Lizzani, with Bud Spencer and Domenico Santoro the Lucignoloin Pinocchio, the children movie Kid il monello del West, that won the Giffoni Film Festival as the best adaptation in 1976, and Furia nera, directed by Demofilo Fidani.
During last years he took part to several TV programs to tell his cinema experience and acted in two short films. He also took part in a cameo on the comedy film Faccia di Picasso directed by Massimo Ceccherini, in which he played "the only real Pinocchio".
He is very often guest around the schools or children festivals in which he tell his experience of "child-Pinocchio", curiosities and trivia behind the scenes, the special effects and tales regarding the various characters and the staff.
He is the author of the book "Io, il Pinocchio di Comencini" 2008, introduced by Cristina Comencini, and Stefano Garavelli.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1972Black TurinRaffaele RaoFeature film debutThe Adventures of PinocchioPinocchioMiniseries; lead role (6 episodes)1973Kid il monello del WestKid O'Hara1975Furia neraRicky Chandler2000Picasso's FacePinocchioCameo appearance2009Le avventure di Pinocchio: Il documentarioHimself / PinocchioDocumentary film2010L’insegnalibroHimselfDocumentary film2014Protagonisti per sempreHimselfDocumentary film2015Sogni smontatiStefanoShort film2016Nel buioBar patronShort film
Discography Balestri recorded three songs: "Mamma vorrei" "Chi è che ha rubato il mare", by Roberto Vecchioni "Andrea Pinocchio", music by Fiorenzo Carpi, the author for all Comencini's Pinocchio music
References
External links Official website di Andrea Balestri Podcast Le Avventure di Pinocchio read by Andrea Balestri Book Official website Io, il pinocchio di Comencini