Mario Carotenuto Biography
Mario Carotenuto (1916 - 1995) was an actor among the greats of Italian entertainment, son of the silent film star Nello Carotenuto, brother of the other actor Memmo, began his career in the world of entertainment as a radio presenter and director. In 1949 he was hired as a presenter for the English ice magazine 'Ice Folies'. He then rode the cinema boom by starring in numerous films. Among the most important roles played are the nouveau riche in 'La Spiaggia' by Alberto Lattuada (1953), the good-natured priest in 'Pane amore e...' (1955) and the merchant in 'Poveri ma belli' (1956) , both by Dino Risi, and some films by Steno alongside Totò. The highest point of his career, however, was in the theater with Giorgio Strehler who entrusted him with the part of the king of beggars Peachum in Bertolt Brecht's comedy 'The Threepenny Opera', at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. Practically all Italian cinema has had him as a companion: the great actors such as Loren in 'We find ourselves in the gallery', Raf Vallone in 'Destini di donne', Sordi in 'A hero of our times' up to Luigi Comencini who directs it in 'The Scientific Scope'. With cinema becoming stingy with opportunities, Carotenuto spent his last years at the theatre, bringing the great classics to the stage.
