The David di Donatello Award for Best Actor (Italian: David di Donatello per il miglior attore protagonista) is a film award presented annually by the Accademia del Cinema Italiano (ACI, Academy of Italian Cinema) to recognize the outstanding performance in a leading role of a male actor in an Italian film released during the year preceding the ceremony. The award was first given in 1956, and became competitive in 1981.
Vittorio Gassman and Alberto Sordi are the record holders in this category with seven awards each, followed by Marcello Mastroianni and Elio Germano with five.
Nominees and winners are selected via runoff voting by all the members of the Accademia.
Winners and nominees Below, winners are listed first in the colored row, followed by other nominees.
1950s Year Actor Role(s) Film 1955/56(1st) Vittorio De Sica Antonio Carotenuto Scandal in Sorrento 1956/57(2nd) 1957/58(3rd) 1958/59(4th)
1960s Year Actor Role(s) Film 1959/60(5th) Vittorio Gassman Private Giovanni Busacca The Great War Alberto Sordi Private Oreste Jacovacci The Great War 1960/61(6th) Alberto Sordi Second lieutenant Alberto Innocenzi Everybody Go Home 1961/62(7th) Raf Vallone Edoardo "Eddie" Carbone A View from the Bridge 1962/63(8th) Vittorio Gassmann Bruno Cortona Il Sorpasso 1963/64(9th) Marcello Mastroianni Carmine Sbaratti / Renzo / Augusto Rusconi Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1964/65(10th) Vittorio Gassmann Giuliano Maria Hard Time for Princes Marcello Mastroianni Domenico Soriano Marriage Italian-Style 1965/66(11th) Alberto Sordi Dante Fontana Fumo di Londra 1966/67(12th) Vittorio Gassmann Francesco Vincenzini The Tiger and the Pussycat Ugo Tognazzi Sergio Masini The Climax 1967/68(13th) Franco Nero Captain Bellodi The Day of the Owl 1968/69(14th) Nino Manfredi Cacopardo / Angelo Perfili / Ercole / Voyeur / Telephone operator / Maurizio / Nanni I See Naked Alberto Sordi Dr. Guido Tersilli Be Sick... It's Free
1970s Year Actor Role(s) Film 1969/70(15th) Nino Manfredi Cornacchia / Pasquino The Conspirators Gian Maria Volonté Il Dottore, Former Head of Homicide Squad Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion 1970/71(16th) Ugo Tognazzi Annibale Doberdò Lady Caliph 1971/72(17th) Giancarlo Giannini Carmelo 'Mimì' Mardocheo The Seduction of Mimi Alberto Sordi Giuseppe Di Noi In Prison Awaiting Trial 1972/73(18th) Alberto Sordi Peppino The Scientific Cardplayer 1973/74(19th) Nino Manfredi Giovanni 'Nino' Garofoli Bread and Chocolate 1974/75(20th) Vittorio Gassmann Captain Fausto Consolo Scent of a Woman 1975/76(21st) Adriano Celentano Felice 'Felix' Brianza The Con Artists Ugo Tognazzi Raffaello Mascetti My Friends 1976/77(22nd) Alberto Sordi Giovanni Vivaldi An Average Little Man 1977/78(23rd) Nino Manfredi Monsignor Colombo da Priverno In the Name of the Pope King 1978/79(24th) Vittorio Gassman Albino Millozzi Dear Father
1980s Year Actor Role(s) Film 1979/80(25th) Adriano Celentano Guido Quiller Velvet Hands 1980/81(26th) Massimo Troisi Gaetano I'm Starting from Three Michele Placido Berardo Viola Fontamara Carlo Verdone Pasquale Amitrano / Furio Zoccano / Mimmo Bianco, rosso e Verdone 1981/82(27th) Carlo Verdone Sergio Benvenuti Talcum Powder Beppe Grillo Giovanni Looking for Jesus Alberto Sordi Marquess Onofrio del Grillo / Gasperino Il marchese del Grillo 1982/83(28th) Francesco Nuti Francesco 'Toscano' Piccioli The Pool Hustlers Johnny Dorelli Philip Neri State buoni se potete Marcello Mastroianni Giacomo Casanova That Night in Varennes 1983/84(29th) Giancarlo Giannini Salvatore Cannavacciuolo Where's Picone? Francesco Nuti Francesco Son contento Nanni Moretti Michele Apicella Sweet Body of Bianca 1984/85(30th) Francesco Nuti Francesco 'Toscano' Piccioli Casablanca, Casablanca Ben Gazzara The forgetful man A Proper Scandal Michele Placido Mario Vialone Pizza Connection 1985/86(31st) Marcello Mastroianni Pippo Botticella / Fred Ginger and Fred Nanni Moretti Father Giulio The Mass Is Ended Francesco Nuti Romeo Casamonica All the Fault of Paradise 1986/87(32nd) Vittorio Gassman Adult Carlo / Carlo's grandfather The Family Diego Abatantuono Franco Mattioli Christmas Present Gian Maria Volonté Aldo Moro The Moro Affair 1987/88(33rd) Marcello Mastroianni Romano Dark Eyes Philippe Noiret Dr. Athos Fadigati The Gold Rimmed Glasses Carlo Verdone Carlo Piergentili Io e mia sorella 1988/89(34th) Roberto Benigni Giuditta The Little Devil Giancarlo Giannini Francis II of the Two Sicilies 'O Re Carlo Verdone Piero Ruffolo Compagni di scuola
1990s Year Actor Role(s) Film 1989/90(35th) Paolo Villaggio Prefect Gonnella The Voice of the Moon Gian Maria Volonté Judge Vito Di Francesco Open Doors Sergio Castellitto Paolo Little Misunderstandings Giancarlo Giannini Giuseppe Marchi Dark Illness Nanni Moretti Michele Apicella Red Wood Pigeon Massimo Troisi Michele What Time Is It? 1990/91(36th) Nanni Moretti Cesare Botero The Yes Man Diego Abatantuono Sergeant major Nicola Lorusso Mediterraneo Claudio Amendola Principe Ultrà Silvio Orlando Luciano Sandulli The Yes Man Sergio Rubini Domenico The Station 1991/92(37th) Carlo Verdone Bernardo Arbusti Enrico Lo Verso Officer Antonio The Stolen Children Gian Maria Volonté Roberto Franzò A Simple Story 1992/93(38th) Sergio Castellitto Dr. Arturo The Great Pumpkin Carlo Cecchi Renato Caccioppoli Death of a Neapolitan Mathematician Silvio Orlando Saverio Un'altra vita 1993/94(39th) Giulio Scarpati Judge Rosario Livatino Law of Courage Diego Abatantuono Saint Joseph For Love, Only for Love Nanni Moretti Nanni Caro diario Silvio Orlando Ciro Ascarone Sud 1994/95(40th) Marcello Mastroianni Pereira Sostiene Pereira Fabrizio Bentivoglio Giorgio Ambrosoli Un eroe borghese Massimo Troisi Mario Ruoppolo Il Postino: The Postman 1995/96(41st) Giancarlo Giannini Sergio Amidei Celluloide Sergio Castellitto Giuseppe 'Joe Morelli' Romolo The Star Maker Ennio Fantastichini Ruggero Mazzalupi August Vacation Giancarlo Giannini Turi Arcangelo Leofonte Palermo - Milan One Way 1996/97(42nd) Fabrizio Bentivoglio Pietro Nava An Eyewitness Account Claudio Amendola Claudio Braccio My Generation Leonardo Pieraccioni Levante Quarini The Cyclone Sergio Rubini Joystick Nirvana Carlo Verdone Romeo Spera I'm Crazy for Iris Blond 1997/98(43rd) Roberto Benigni Guido Orefice Life Is Beautiful Nanni Moretti Himself April Silvio Orlando Vincenzo Lipari Auguri professore 1998/99(44th) Stefano Accorsi Freccia Radiofreccia Antonio Albanese Alex Drastico / Ivo Perego / Pacifico La fame e la sete Silvio Orlando Ernesto Fuori dal mondo
2000s Year Actor Role(s) Film 1999/00(45th) Bruno Ganz Fernando Girasole Bread and Tulips Stefano Accorsi Horst Fantazzini Outlaw Fabrizio Gifuni Marco A Love Carlo Verdone Ercole Preziosi A Chinese in a Coma 2000/01(46th) Luigi Lo Cascio Peppino Impastato One Hundred Steps Stefano Accorsi Carlo The Last Kiss Nanni Moretti Giovanni The Son's Room 2001/02(47th) Giancarlo Giannini Eugenio I Love You Eugenio Luigi Lo Cascio Antonio Light of My Eyes Toni Servillo Antonio 'Tony' Pisapia L'uomo in più 2002/03(48th) Massimo Girotti Davide Veroli Facing Windows Roberto Benigni Pinocchio Pinocchio Fabrizio Bentivoglio Carlo Ristuccia Remember Me, My Love Sergio Castellitto Ernesto Picciafuoco My Mother's Smile Neri Marcorè Nello Balocchi Incantato Fabio Volo Tommaso Casomai 2003/04(49th) Sergio Castellitto Timoteo Don't Move Giuseppe Battiston Romeo D'Avanzo Agata and the Storm Luigi Lo Cascio Nicola Carati The Best of Youth Silvio Muccino Matteo What Will Happen to Us Carlo Verdone Gilberto Mercuri Love Is Eternal While It Lasts 2004/05(50th) Toni Servillo Titta Di Girolamo The Consequences of Love Stefano Accorsi Marco Battaglia Smalltown, Italy Giorgio Pasotti Martino After Midnight Kim Rossi Stuart Gianni The Keys to the House Luca Zingaretti Father Pino Puglisi Come into the Light 2005/06(51st) Silvio Orlando Bruno Bonomo The Caiman Antonio Albanese Giordano Ricci The Second Wedding Night Fabrizio Bentivoglio Luigi Di Santo Our Land Kim Rossi Stuart Freddo Romanzo Criminale Carlo Verdone Achille De Bellis My Best Enemy 2006/07(52nd) Elio Germano Antonio 'Accio' Benassi My Brother is an Only Child Vincenzo Amato Salvatore Mancuso Nuovomondo Michele Placido Muffa The Unknown Woman Giacomo Rizzo Geremia de' Geremei The Family Friend Kim Rossi Stuart Renato Benetti Along the Ridge 2007/08(53rd) Toni Servillo Commissioner Giovanni Sanzio The Girl by the Lake Antonio Albanese Michele Days and Clouds Lando Buzzanca Prince Giacomo Uzeda di Francalanza I Viceré Nanni Moretti Pietro Paladini Quiet Chaos Kim Rossi Stuart Luca Flores Piano, solo 2008/09(54th) Toni Servillo Giulio Andreotti Il Divo Luca Argentero Piero Different from Whom? Claudio Bisio Nello We Can Do That Valerio Mastandrea Stefano Nardin Don't Think About It Silvio Orlando Michele Casali Giovanna's Father
2010s Year Actor Role(s) Film 2009/10(55th) Valerio Mastandrea Bruno Michelucci The First Beautiful Thing Antonio Albanese Alberto A Question of the Heart Libero De Rienzo Giancarlo Siani Fort Apache Napoli Kim Rossi Stuart Angelo A Question of the Heart Filippo Timi Benito Mussolini / Benito Albino Dalser Vincere 2010/11(56th) Elio Germano Claudio La nostra vita Antonio Albanese Cetto La Qualunque Qualunquemente Claudio Bisio Alberto Colombo Benvenuti al Sud Vinicio Marchioni Aureliano Amadei 20 Cigarettes Kim Rossi Stuart Renato Vallanzasca Angel of Evil 2011/12(57th) Michel Piccoli Pope Melville We Have a Pope Fabrizio Bentivoglio Bruno Easy! Elio Germano Pietro Potenchiavelli Magnificent Presence Marco Giallini Domenico Segato A Flat for Three Valerio Mastandrea Commissioner Luigi Calabresi Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy 2012/13(58th) Valerio Mastandrea Giulio Balancing Act Aniello Arena Luciano Reality Sergio Castellitto Leone A Perfect Family Roberto Herlitzka Professor Fiorito The Red and the Blue Luca Marinelli Guido Every Blessed Day Toni Servillo Enrico Oliveri / Giovanni Ernani Long Live Freedom 2013/14(59th) Toni Servillo Jep Gambardella The Great Beauty Giuseppe Battiston Paolo Bressan Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot Fabrizio Bentivoglio Dino Ossola Human Capital Carlo Cecchi Carlo Grimaldi Miele Edoardo Leo Pietro Zinni I Can Quit Whenever I Want 2014/15(60th) Elio Germano Giacomo Leopardi Leopardi Fabrizio Ferracane Luciano Black Souls Alessandro Gassmann Paolo Pontecorvo An Italian Name Marco Giallini Tommaso De Luca God Willing Riccardo Scamarcio Gaetano You Can't Save Yourself Alone 2015(61st) Claudio Santamaria Enzo Ceccotti They Call Me Jeeg Alessandro Borghi Vittorio Don't Be Bad Marco Giallini Rocco Perfect Strangers Luca Marinelli Cesare Don't Be Bad Valerio Mastandrea Lele Perfect Strangers 2016(62nd) Stefano Accorsi Loris De Martino Italian Race Valerio Mastandrea Massimo Sweet Dreams Michele Riondino Libero Worldly Girl Sergio Rubini Oreste Campese La stoffa dei sogni Toni Servillo Father Roberto Salus The Confessions 2017(63rd) Renato Carpentieri Lorenzo Tenderness Antonio Albanese Giovanni Come un gatto in tangenziale Alessandro Borghi Andrea Galderisi / Luca Napoli velata Valerio Mastandrea The Man The Place Nicola Nocella Isidoro 'Easy' Easy 2018(64th)Alessandro BorghiStefano CucchiOn My Skin Marcello Fonte Marcello Dogman Luca Marinelli Fabrizio De André Fabrizio De André - Principe libero Riccardo Scamarcio Matteo Euphoria Toni Servillo Silvio Berlusconi Loro
2020s