His talent was recognized by critics through a Silver Bear for Best Actor and 4 David di Donatello. In addition to his skill as an actor, he also adds that of a director that makes Michele Placido today a character in the complete cinematic environment.
Let’s find out about his history from the beginning of his career to today.
Who is Michele Placido
Michele Placido (Ascoli Satriano, 19 May 1946) is an Italian actor and director. He was born in a small town in Puglia and grew up there with his parents and 7 siblings. Once the period in the Foggia high school is over, he decides to move to the capital to start a path in the armed forces. He joins the police but leaves shortly after starting there‘National Academy of Dramatic Arts with which he officially approaches the world of theater.
Together with the director Luca Ronconi he takes care of making theatrical transpositions historical works of literature such as Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso. He then approaches the world of cinema and here he begins to collaborate with characters of the caliber of Ugo Tognazzi and Ornella Muti in famous projects such as Maio Monicelli’s “Popular novel”.
Alongside Laura Antonelli she also participates in “My God, how low I fell!” and a long series of projects that followed throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Michele Placido from acting to directing
Of all the roles played, the one that certainly gives him the greatest success is that of Corrado Cattani, Police Commissioner of the well-known miniseries “The octopus” released in four editions in the second half of the eighties. In the following decade he took part in the films “Giovanni Falcone” by Giuseppe Ferrare, “A respectable man” by Maurizio Zaccaro but also many others. With the arrival of the new millennium takes part in some very successful films such as “Il caimano” by Nanni Moretti or “The unknown” by Giuseppe Tornatore.
In addition to major projects as an actor, they are also known some of his productions. In fact, since the 1990s he has dedicated himself to the parallel activity of director, making his debut with “Pummarò” presented at the Cannes Film Festival. This is followed by “The friends of the heart”, “Of lost love” but above all “Criminal novel” with which he obtained great success. His presence is also remembered in the series “Suburra” where he directed some episodes.
Private life and awards of Michele Placido
As already highlighted, Michele Placido’s activity is appreciated both from the point of view of acting and directing. In fact, it receives a series of important awards including the “City of the Knights of Malta Award” in 2008, the “Federico Fellini 8 1/2 Award” but also the “MuMi Cultural Award”. These are some of the official awards received, but the list would be much longer.
As for his private life instead, he married Simonetta Stefanelli, with whom he later divorced, and from her he had his first children including the well-known Violante. He then had the successors from an extramarital affair and from Federica Vincenti, second wife to whom he promised eternal love in 2012.