Diego Abatantuono (born 20 May 1955, in Milan) is an Italian cinema and theatre actor, and screenwriter.

Abatantuono was born in a popular quarter of Milan to a father of Pugliese origin and a mother from Como. The latter worked as wardrober in a Milanese jazz and later cabaret place, the Derby, whose owner was Abatantuono's uncle.

He started to work at Derby first in lighting, then as artistical director and later as an actor. After a stint with the music-comical group Gatti di Vicolo Miracoli and several minor film roles, he returned to work at Derby where he was discovered by the famous TV showman, film director and talent-scout Renzo Arbore, who called him for a role in his movie Il Pap'occhio (1980). Here started Abantantuono's first successful career in the recurrent role of a poorly-cultivated immigrant from southern Italy (the "Terruncello"), speaking a personal form of slang which was to become a kind of brand.

His most successful performance was in the 1982 cult favorite Eccezzziunale... veramente (he also penned the screenplay), in which he portrays three different parts as a tifoso (fan) of the three main football teams of Italy, A.C. Milan, Internazionale and Juventus F.C.. He reprised all three roles for the 2006 sequel Eccezzziunale... veramente - Capitolo secondo... me, which featured cameos from AC Milan players Paolo Maldini, Massimo Ambrosini, Alessandro Costacurta, Dida, and Gennaro Gattuso. At the time the scenes featuring the players were filmed, Milan was participating in the group stage of the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League.

His first role as a dramatic actor came in 1986, when he was called by Pupi Avati for his Regalo di Natale. Though occasionally returning to comical roles, Abatantuono was featured in numerous movies by his friend Gabriele Salvatores, including the Academy Award winner Mediterraneo, Nirvana and Io non ho paura.

Abatantuono is also a popular figure of Italian television shows. He is also a long-time AC Milan fan.

Contents 1 Filmography 1.1 Actor 1.2 Screenwriter 2 External links

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Actor

• Liberi armati pericolosi (1976)
• Saxofone (1978)
• Prestami tua moglie (1980)
• Arrivano i gatti (1980)
• Il pap'occhio (1980)
• Una vacanza bestiale (1980)
• Fantozzi contro tutti (1980)
• Fico d'India (1980)
• I fichissimi (1981)
• Il tango della gelosia (1981)
• I carabbinieri (1981)
• Viuuulentemente mia (1982)
• Sballato, gasato, completamente fuso (1982)
• Biancaneve & Co. (1982)
• Eccezzziunale... veramente (1982)
• Scusa se è poco (1982)
• Grand Hotel Excelsior (1982)
• Attila flagello di Dio (1982)
• Arrivano i miei (1982)
• Il Ras del quartiere (1983)
• Regalo di natale (1986)
• Un ragazzo di Calabria (1987)
• Ultimo minuto (1987)
• Strana la vita (1987)
• Kamikazen (ultima notte a Milano) (1987)
• I cammelli (1988)
• Marrakech Express (1989)
• Turné (1989)
• Vacanze di Natale 90 (1990)
• Mediterraneo (1991)
• Puerto Escondido (1992)
• Nel continente nero (1992)
• Arriva la bufera (1992)
• Per amore, solo per amore (1993)
• Il toro (1994)
• Viva San Isidro! (1995)
• Camerieri (1995)
• Il barbiere di Rio (1996)
• Nirvana (1997)
• Figli di Annibale (1998)
• Paparazzi (1998)
• Matrimoni (1998)
• Il testimone dello sposo (1998)
• Metronotte (2000)
• Concorrenza sleale (2000)
• Mari del sud (2000)
• Amnèsia (2001)
• Momo alla conquista del tempo (2001)
• La rivincita di Natale (2003)
• Io non ho paura (2003)
• Eccezzziunale... veramente - Capitolo secondo... me (2006)
• Cena per farli conoscere, La (2007)

[edit] Screenwriter

• Eccezzziunale... veramente (1982)
• Il Ras del quartiere (1983)
• Puerto escondido (1992)
• In barca a vela contromano (1997)
• Figli di Annibale (1998)

[edit] External links

• Diego Abatantuono's official page
• Diego Abatantuono at the Internet Movie Database
• Page with links to main films
• Biography