Alberto Sordi Biography

Popularly known as Albertone, Alberto Sordi was one of the most popular Italian actor and film directors. One of the icons of the post war Italian cinema, Sordi captivated audiences with his satires, which included black comedies, grim drama and farcical tales. A recipient of Golden Globe Award, Sordi was also the voice of Oliver Hardy in the Italian version of the ‘Laurel and Hardy’ films. He received the training for theatre in Milan. Later, he returned to Rome and worked in radio and musical halls in comedy shows. His first leading role was in the film ‘The Three Pilots’. He was credited for creating several popular characters like ‘Signor Coso’, ‘Mario Pio’ and ‘Conte Claro’. He was renowned for his ability to represent despicable characters on screen. With his brilliant acting, he made all of these characters appear believable. For his noteworthy contribution to Italian cinema, on his 80th birthday, he was nominated as the honorary mayor of the city of Rome for a day. He was a long time partner of actress Andreina Pagnani. In his long film career, he acted in around 190 films. Some of these films are still considered as valuable asset in the history of Italian cinema.