Lello Arena

Raffaele "Lello" Arena (born 1 November 1953) is an Italian actor and comics writer. He was also an occasional film director and screenwriter.

Lello Arena
Born
Raffaele Arena

(1953-11-01) 1 November 1953
OccupationActor & Comics writer
Years active1970–present
Spouse(s)
Francesca Taviani
(m. 2006)
Children1 son

Life and career

Born in Naples as Raffaele Arena, he was the son of two workers in a tobacco factory.[1] In 1969, at a very young age, Arena formed the cabaret ensamble "La Smorfia" together with Massimo Troisi and Enzo Decaro.[2] In 1978 and 1979, the group appeared in two RAI variety shows (Non stop and Luna Park) obtaining a great success.[2][3] The group disbanded in 1980 and for some time Arena kept on collaborating with his friend Troisi, starring in his three first films.[2][3] He won a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Troisi's Scusate il ritardo.[4]

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.[2][3]

Arena also worked as a comics scriptwriter, notably for Lupo Alberto and Topolino.[3]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1981Ricomincio da treRaffaele 'Rafè' Sodano, aka Lello
1982No Thanks, Coffee Makes Me NervousMichele Giuffrida
1983Scusate il ritardoTonino
1984Cuori nella tormentaRaffaele Cuoco
1984Bertoldo, Bertoldino e CacasennoKing Alboino
1987Il coraggio di parlareDon Angelo
1988Chiari di lunaDavide Ruffo
1995Facciamo paradisoCalabrone
1998You LaughRocco(segment "Due sequestri")
2003Totò Sapore e la magica storia della pizzaPulcinellaVoice
2008Ho ammazzato Berlusconi
2011Rien VaCustode
2014La scuola più bella del mondoArturo Moscariello
2015Wondrous BoccaccioDuca Tancredi
2017VeleniMelograno
2018Quando sarò bambino

References

  1. Alessandro Ferrucci (21 October 2013). "Lello Arena: "I miei sessant'anni tra Troisi, manganelli, comunisti e mezze aragoste"". Il Fatto Quotidiano. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  2. Roberto Chiti, Roberto Poppi. Dizionario del cinema italiano. Gli attori. Gremese Editore, 2003. ISBN 8884402131.
  3. Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. Catalogo dei viventi. Marsilio, 2009. ISBN 978-88-317-9599-9.
  4. Enrico Lancia. I premi del cinema. Gremese Editore, 1998. ISBN 8877422211.
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