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Italian Comedy Star Alvaro Vitali Dies at 75

His trademark Pierino films made him a defining figure of Italy’s commedia sexy all'italiana era

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Overview

  • Vitali died June 24 in Rome at age 75 after being hospitalized for a recurring bronchopneumonia.
  • He was discovered by Federico Fellini in 1969 and appeared in key films such as Fellini’s Satyricon and Amarcord.
  • Vitali achieved fame in the early 1980s as Pierino, starring in a series of hit comedies that cemented his playful, irreverent persona.
  • After the commedia sexy all'italiana genre faded, he found a second wind in television with satirical roles on Striscia la notizia and reality-show appearances.
  • In the days before his death, Vitali had been in the spotlight for a public dispute with his ex-wife, singer Stefania Corona.