Michele Placido (; born 19 May 1946) is an Italian actor, director and screenwriter. He began his career on stage, and first gained mainstream attention through a series of roles in films directed by the likes of Mario Monicelli and Marco Bellocchio, winning the Berlinale's Silver Bear for Best Actor for his performance in the 1979 film Ernesto. He is known internationally for portraying police inspector Corrado Cattani on the crime drama television series La piovra (1984–2001). Placido's directorial debut, Pummarò, was screened Un Certain Regard at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival. Three of his films have competed for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. He is a five-time Nastro d'Argento and four-time David di Donatello winner. In 2021, Placido was appointed President of the Teatro Comunale in Ferrara.
Early life Placido was born at Ascoli Satriano, into a poor family from Rionero in Vulture, Basilicata; he is a descendant of the known brigand Carmine Crocco. Placido had a number of jobs since his youth. For a time, he worked as a police officer in Rome, and was involved in the Battle of Valle Giulia. He studied acting at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, and with Silvio D'Amico at the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica.
Career
Placido made his debut as an actor in the play Midsummer Night's Dream in 1969. Two years later he started film work under directors such as Luigi Comencini, Mario Monicelli, Salvatore Samperi, Damiano Damiani, Pasquale Squitieri, Francesco Rosi, Walerian Borowczyk, Marco Bellocchio, Paolo Cavara and Carlo Lizzani. His first success came with the role of soldier Paolo Passeri in Marcia trionfale (1976, directed by Bellocchio), for which he won a David di Donatello. Two years later he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor award at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival for his role of the homosexual worker in ironical melodrama Ernesto (1978, by Samperi).
He appeared in several TV movies in the 1970s, but 1983 marked the beginning of his greatest television popularity when he played the lead as a police inspector investigating the Mafia in Damiano Damiani's TV series La piovra. He went on to play the same part in the subsequent three seasons, until his character's assassination. Afterwards he would appear as a law enforcement official in a number of other films and TV productions dealing with organized crime, including a semi-biographical movie about Giovanni Falcone, where he acted as the titular judge. In 2008, in a reversal of roles, he portrayed longtime Mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano in the TV movie L'ultimo padrino. A recognizable role to US audiences is that of an Italian businessman in the 1988 comedy Big Business.
Personal life
Placido was married to actress Simonetta Stefanelli until their divorce 1994. Their daughter Violante Placido is also an actress.
In 2012, he married actress Federica Vincenti; they divorced in December 2017.
He supported the candidacy for mayor of Rome of the Italian entrepreneur Alfio Marchini in the 2016 Italian local elections.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole(s) Notes1972Il caso PisciottaAmerigo LoJaconoFeature film debut1973The Black HandAntonio TurrisTeresa the ThiefTonino Santità1974Till Marriage Do Us PartSilvio PennacchiniCome Home and Meet My WifeGiovanniScandal in the FamilyMilo1975The Divine NymphMartino Ghiondelli1976Prisoner of PassionMicheleVictory MarchPaolo PasseriAnd Agnes Chose to DieTomPlot of FearInspector Gaspare Lomenzo1977Oedipus OrcaMicheleKleinhoff HotelPedroBeach HouseVincenzino1978The Pyjama Girl CaseAntonio AttoliniIo sono MiaGiacintoFather of the GodfathersMichele Labruzzo1979ErnestoThe PorterTigers in LipstickAngeloSegment: "La vedova"A Man on His KneesSalvatore PlatamonaThe MeadowEnzoSaturday, Sunday and FridayMario SalvettiSegment: "Sunday"1980A Leap in the DarkGiovanni SciabolaLulùSchwarzFontamaraBerardo Viola1981Three BrothersNicola GiurannaThe Wings of the DoveSandro1982SciopènFrancesco Vitale1983L'art d'aimerMacarius1984Les amants terriblesSergio1985Pizza ConnectionMario Vialone1986Summer NightBeppe CataniaGrandi magazziniMall's Owner1987Private AffairsLionello Martini1988Come sono buoni i bianchiMicheleBig BusinessFabio AlbericiVia ParadisoFrancesco1989Forever Mary1990Afghan BreakdownMajor Mikhail Bandura1992Close FriendsSimona's fatherAlso writer and director1993Quattro bravi ragazziMarcioneGiovanni FalconeGiovanni Falcone1994Father and SonCorradoLamericaFiore1995PolicemenSante CarellaUn eroe borgheseSilvio Novembre1996La lupaMalerba1998Le Plaisir (et ses petits tracas)CarloOf Lost LoveFather GerardoAlso writer and director1999Dirty LinenFurio CiminThe NannyBelliEnzo TortoraTerra bruciata2000Free the FishMichele Verrio2001Once Upon a Time in SicilyUzeda2003The Soul's PlaceSalvatoreCaterina in the Big CityHimselfCameo appearance2004Love ReturnsDr. BiancoThe Scent of BloodCarlo2005Romanzo CriminaleFreddo's fatherAlso writer and director2006The Goodbye KissFerruccio AneddaThe CaimanMarco Pulici / Silvio BerlusconiThe Unknown WomanMuffaThe Roses of the DesertBrother SimeoneCommediasexiSalvatore Lisass2007SoloMetroEnrico AlvariAlso producerPiano, soloGiovanni2061: An Exceptional YearCardinal Bonifacio Colonna2008Blood of the LosersFranco Dogliani2009BaarìaCommunistCameo appearanceOggi sposiSabino Impanato2010Parents and Children: Shake Well Before UsingAlberto2011The Ages of LoveAugustoAmici miei – Come tutto ebbe inizioDuccio2012TulpaRoccaforteThe LookoutGiovanni CaliAlso directorViva l'ItaliaMichele SpagnoloThe MongrelAttorney Silvestri2015The ChoiceEmilio NicotriAlso writer and director Io che amo solo teFather Mimì2016Un'avventura romanticaVittorio De Sica7 MinutesMichele VarazziAlso writer and directorLa cena di NataleFather Mimì2020I Hate SummerMarshalCalibro 9Rocco2021Un marziano di nome EnnioVittorio De SicaAppunti di un venditore di donneAmedeo Sangiorgi2022Corro da teGianni's fatherBurning HeartsVincenzo MontanariCaravaggio's ShadowFrancesco Maria del MonteAlso writer and director2024Eternal VisionarySaul Colin
Television YearTitleRole(s) Notes1971K2 + 1Delivery BoyEpisode: "10° marito"1972Joe PetrosinoCarlo Costantino3 episodes1974Moses the LawgiverCalebMain role1975Orlando FuriosoAgramanteMain role1978YermaVictorTelevision filmVolontari per destinazione ignotaPaolo StellaTelevision film1984–1989La piovraInspector Corrado CattaniLead role (season 1–4)1985Il passo falsoGabrieleTelevision film1992ScoopMarco BonelliLead role1993Un uomo di rispettoNinoTelevision film1997RacketGuido GerosaTelevision film1998La missioneFather RamboniTelevision film2000Padre Pio: Between Heaven and EarthPadre PioTwo-parts television film2002Il sequestro SoffiantiniGiuseppe Soffiantini Two-parts television film2003SorayaEnrico MatteiTwo-parts television film2005Il Grande TorinoOlder AngeloTelevision film2006Karol: The Pope, The ManDr. Renato BuzzonettiTwo-parts television film2008L'altro padrinoBernardo ProvenzanoTwo-parts television filmAldo Moro: Il presidenteAldo MoroTelevision film2013Volare - La grande storia di Domenico ModugnoVittorio De SicaTwo-parts television filmTrilussa - Storia d'amore e di poesiaTrilussa2015–2016In TreatmentGuidoRecurring role; 7 episodes2022NoiHimselfEpisode: "La luna"
Other credits YearTitleRole(s) Notes1990PummaròDirecting debut1991The ConvictionProducer1992Close Friends1995Un eroe borghese1998Of Lost Love2002A Journey Called Love2004Ovunque sei2005Romanzo Criminale2007SoloMetroL'uomo giustoProducer2009The Big Dream2010Angel of EvilVampyre CompendiumProducerShort film2012The Lookout2015The Choice2016CalypsoProducer7 Minutes2017Suburra: Blood on RomeDirectorTV series (episodes: "21 giorni" and "Patrizi e plebei")2021IsolationDirectorDocumentary2022Caravaggio's ShadowPresto sarà domaniDirectorShort film2024Eternal Visionary
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