Raffaele "Lello" Arena (born 1 November 1953) is an Italian actor and comics writer. He was also an occasional film director and screenwriter.
Life and career Born in Naples as Raffaele Arena, he was the son of two workers in a tobacco factory. In 1969, at a very young age, Arena formed the cabaret ensemble "La Smorfia" together with Massimo Troisi and Enzo Decaro. In 1978 and 1979, the group appeared in two RAI variety shows (Non stop and Luna Park) obtaining a great success. The group disbanded in 1980 and for some time Arena kept on collaborating with his friend Troisi, starring in his three first films. He won a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Troisi's Scusate il ritardo.
Later Arena focused his career on television, appearing in a large number of variety shows; he occasionally came back to cinema, even making his debut as a director in 1989 with Chiari di luna. He is also active on stage.Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. Catalogo dei viventi. Marsilio, 2009. .
Arena also worked as a comics writer, notably for Lupo Alberto and Topolino.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes1981 I'm Starting from Three Raffaele 'Rafè' Sodano, aka Lello 1982 No Thanks, Coffee Makes Me Nervous Michele Giuffrida 1983 Scusate il ritardo Tonino 1984 Cuori nella tormenta Raffaele Cuoco 1984 Bertoldo, Bertoldino e Cacasenno King Alboino 1987 Il coraggio di parlare Don Angelo 1988 Chiari di luna Davide Ruffo 1995 Facciamo paradiso Calabrone 1998 You Laugh Rocco (segment "Due sequestri")2003 Totò Sapore e la magica storia della pizza Pulcinella Voice2008 Ho ammazzato Berlusconi 2011 Rien Va Custode 2014 La scuola più bella del mondo Arturo Moscariello 2015 Wondrous Boccaccio Duca Tancredi 2017 Veleni Melograno 2018 Quando sarò bambino
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