About
Acclaimed Italian actor, director, and screenwriter who won two Academy Awards for directing and starring in the 1997 tragicomedy masterpiece Life Is Beautiful (La vita è bella), winning Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film.
Before Fame
Raised in poverty in Tuscany as the only son among four children, he moved to Rome in 1972 where he worked as an avant-garde theatrical performer and satirical comedian.
Trivia
At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, he famously celebrated his Oscar win by climbing over the auditorium seats in delight upon Sophia Loren announcing his name.
Family Life
Married Italian actress Nicoletta Braschi in 1991, who co-starred as his character's wife Dora in Life Is Beautiful and collaborated with him on numerous feature films.
Associated With
Starred in American films directed by Jim Jarmusch including Down by Law (1986) and Night on Earth (1991).
