Paolo Bonacelli (28 February 1937 – 8 October 2025) was an Italian stage and film actor.
Life and career Bonacelli graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome. After debuting on stage in Vittorio Gassman's Questa sera si recita a soggetto, he had his first film role in Corpse for the Lady (1964). He appears (as the Duke) in Pier Paolo Pasolini's final film, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), as Rifki in Alan Parker's Midnight Express (1978), as Don Luigi Magalone in Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979), and as Cassius Chaerea in Tinto Brass' Caligula (1979). In addition, he worked under directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni, Roberto Rossellini, Elio Petri, and Liliana Cavani.
In 1985, he starred alongside Roberto Benigni and Massimo Troisi in Nothing Left to Do But Cry, a fantasy comedy film, in the role of Leonardo da Vinci.
In 1992, Bonacelli received the Nastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Roberto Benigni's Johnny Stecchino.
In 2006, he appeared in the Tom Cruise film Mission: Impossible III and in 2010's The American with George Clooney.
Bonacelli died on 8 October 2025, at the age of 88.Addio a Paolo Bonacelli, maestro del cinema e del teatro italiano
Filmography
Corpse for the Lady (1964) .... Gedeon Hard Time for Princes (1965) .... Zenone Super Seven Calling Cairo (1965) .... Capitano Hume (uncredited) Pleasant Nights (1966) .... Messenger The Devil in Love (1966) .... Inn's customer The Head of the Family (1967) .... Geometra Seven Times Seven (1968) .... (uncredited) Lady Barbara (1970) .... Edward Lacrime d'amore (1970) .... Cormick Una prostituta al servizio del pubblico e in regola con le leggi dello stato (1971) Maddalena (1971) Io e lui (1973) .... Vladimiro Giordano Bruno (1973) Milarepa (1974) .... Prof. Bennet The Murri Affair (1974) .... Francesco Bonmartini Anno uno (1974) .... Amendola Au-delà de la peur (1975) .... Francesco Grimaldi Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) .... The Duke La banca di Monate (1975) .... Dottor Defendente Massera Al piacere di rivederla (1976) .... L'Usuraio Illustrious Corpses (1976) .... Dr. Maxia The Inheritance (1976) .... Paolo Furlin Evil Thoughts (1976) .... Antonio Marani Per questa notte (1977) Antonio Gramsci: The Days of Prison (1977) .... Bocchini Nest of Vipers (1977) .... Paolo Mazzarini Midnight Express (1978) .... Rifki Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) .... Don Luigi Magalone Caligula (1979) .... Chaerea Good News (1979) .... Gualtiero Milano Il cappotto di Astrakan (1979) .... Ferdinando Le Guignolo (1980) .... Kamal The Mystery of Oberwald (1981) .... Count of Foehn Calderó (1981) Delitti, amore e gelosia (1982) .... Commissario Dell'Amore I Remember Nelson (1982) .... King Ferdinando Il cavaliere, la morte e il diavolo (1983) .... Nicholas Henry IV (1984) .... Belcredi Sole nudo (1984) .... Il cameriere Nothing Left to Do But Cry (1985) .... Leonardo da Vinci Mamma Ebe (1985) .... Don Paolo Monti Camorra (1986) .... Tango D'Annunzio (1987) .... Ercole Leoni Rimini Rimini (1987) .... Carlo Pedercini / Engineer Topo Galileo (1987) Francesco (1989) .... Francesco's Father Eleonora Pimentel (1990, TV Movie) .... The Judge Flight from Paradise (1990) .... Eliah Chi tocca muore (1991) Night on Earth (Tassisti di notte) (1991) .... Priest Johnny Stecchino (1992) .... D'Agata Ciao, Professore! (1992) .... Ludovico Mazzullo Mille bolle blu (1993) .... Mario Gora The Teddy Bear (1994) .... Novacek Once a Year, Every Year (1994) .... Romano Klon (1994) .... Prof. Zigote Vacanze di Natale '95 (1995) .... Paolone The Stendhal Syndrome (1996) .... Dr. Cavanna Il figlio di Bakunin (1997) .... Giudice Dirty Linen (1999, dir. Mario Monicelli) .... Amedeo Una furtiva lacrima (1999) Scarlet Diva (2000) .... Swiss Journalist Gli astronomi (2002) The Accidental Detective (2003) .... Direttore della Galleria Palatina A.A.A. Achille (2003) .... Dott. Aglieri 13 at a Table (2004) .... Nonno Giulio Mission: Impossible III (2006) .... Monsignore Un attimo sospesi (2006) .... Professore The American (2010) .... Father Benedetto La macchinazione (2016) Magical Nights (2018) .... Ennio Comandante (2023) .... Betti In the Hand of Dante (2025) .... Adult Priest of Alcamo
References
External links