Christian De Sica

Christian De Sica
De Sica in 2007
Born (1951-01-05) 5 January 1951 (age 73)
Rome, Italy
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • film director
  • writer
  • producer
  • television presenter
Spouse
Silvia Verdone
(m. 1980)
Children2
Parent(s)Vittorio De Sica (father)
María Mercader (mother)
RelativesManuel De Sica (brother) Carlo Verdone (brother-in-law)

Christian De Sica (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkristjan de ˈsiːka]; born 5 January 1951) is an Italian actor, comedian, television presenter, and filmmaker.

Life

De Sica was born in Rome, the second son of Italian director Vittorio De Sica and Spanish actress María Mercader. His first cousin once removed was Ramón Mercader, the murderer of Leon Trotsky.[1][2] After attending Liceo classico in Rome, where he had Carlo Verdone as his deskmate,[3] De Sica worked in a hotel in Venezuela, where he began his career as an artist. He enrolled in Lettere (Literature and Arts) at La Sapienza university (1970) but did not graduate.

He was attracted to music, and participated in the Sanremo Festival singing "Mondo mio" ("My World") (1973). However, the results convinced him to follow in his father's footsteps and devote himself to acting. De Sica developed his own style of comedy and entertainment also in Rai television shows, such as Bambole, non c'è una lira, which gave him a large success in 1978.

Acting career

With his father's help, he was able to take his first steps in the movie world with such teachers and mentors as Roberto Rossellini (Blaise Pascal, 1971), Vittorio De Sica himself (A Brief Vacation, 1973), Pupi Avati (House of Pleasure for Women, 1976) and Salvatore Samperi (1979 Liquirizia and 1981 Chaste and Pure).

He married Silvia Verdone, sister of Carlo, with whom he had two children, Brando and Mariarosa. He achieved fame in the 1980s: in 1982 Borotalco was released, together with his brother-in-law Verdone, then he filmed Sapore di Mare with Jerry Calà as well as Yuppies, Yuppies 2, Grandi Magazzini and Compagni di Scuola.[4]

After Night club, the last film directed by Italian director Sergio Corbucci, Christian De Sica became one of the most famous interpreters of the "cine-panettone" (comedies that reach movie theatres during the Christmas season) and formed till 2005 a partnership with actor Massimo Boldi. They acted together in the series of Vacanze di Natale and A spasso nel tempo (1996), Paparazzi (1998), Tifosi (1999) and Christmas in Love (2004). By 2002, their films had grossed 300 billion lire ($150 million).[5] Afterwards, he starred in Natale a New York (2006), Natale in crociera (2007) and Natale a Rio (2008). These films, done in burlesque style, tend to be well received at the box office, if not by critics, at times even outstripping better known and expensively made movies such as the Harry Potter series.[6]

As an actor, De Sica has won three David di Donatello awards: a prize for Giovannino in 1976, a special one together with Massimo Boldi in 2000, and the third one in 2009.

He received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation in 2016.

Directing career

Since 1990, Christian De Sica has also been a director: he debuted with Faccione, whose script he wrote and tailor-made for actress Nadia Rinaldi. After Count Max, a homage to the cinema of his father and of Mario Camerini, that he interpreted with Ornella Muti, Anita Ekberg and his mother Maria Mercader, De Sica went on self-directing in Ricky & Barabba (1992), Men Men Men (1995), Tre (1996), Simpatici & antipatici (1998), and The Clan (2005).

A great admirer of Frank Sinatra and above all of Marlon Brando, he named his first child Brando in honour of the American actor. Criticism has often likened his acting to that of Alberto Sordi, from whom De Sica has drawn a lot of his expressions.

Filmography

Films

Title Year Role(s) Director Notes
Paulina 1880 1972 Attilio Pandolfini Jean-Louis Bertuccelli Feature film debut
A Brief Vacation 1973 Boy on train Vittorio De Sica Cameo appearance
The Cousin 1974 Ninì Scuderi Aldo Lado
The Sex Machine 1975 Daniele Venturoli Pasquale Campanile
Sexycop 1976 Vito Militiello Duccio Tessari
House of Pleasure for Women Ugolino Facchini Pupi Avati
Giovannino Giovannino Calì Paolo Nuzzi
An Almost Perfect Affair 1979 Carlo Barone Michael Ritchie
Liquirizia Gian Galeazzo Lo Cascio Salvatore Samperi
Il malato immaginario Claudio Anzalone Tonino Cervi
Love in First Class 1980 Sales assistant Salvatore Samperi Cameo appearance
I'm Getting a Yacht Attilio Sergio Corbucci
Chaste and Pure 1981 Carletto Morosini Salvatore Samperi
Teste di quoio Carpets seller Giorgio Capitani Cameo appearance
Talcum Powder 1982 Marcello Carlo Verdone
Grog TV presenter Francesco Laudadio Cameo appearance
Viuuulentemente mia Juan Lopez Carlo Vanzina
Time for Loving 1983 Felicino Carraro
Acqua e sapone Man at fashion show Carlo Verdone Cameo appearance
Vacanze di Natale Roberto Covelli Carlo Vanzina
Vacanze in America 1984 Father Rodolfo
Mi faccia causa Giovanni Pennisi Steno
I pompieri 1985 Alberto Spina Neri Parenti
Yuppies 1986 Sandro Carlo Vanzina
Detective School Dropouts Carlo Lombardi Filippo Ottoni
Grandi magazzini Antonio Borazzi Castellano & Pipolo
Yuppies 2 Sandro Enrico Oldoini
Montecarlo Gran Casinò 1987 Furio Carlo Vanzina
Bellifreschi Mario "Jerry" Marcelli Enrico Oldoini
I pompieri 2 Alberto Spina Giorgio Capitani
Compagni di scuola 1988 Bruno Ciardulli Carlo Verdone
Night Club 1989 Walter Danesi Sergio Corbucci
Fratelli d'Italia Cesare Proietti Neri Parenti
Vacanze di Natale '90 1990 Tony Enrico Oldoini
Count Max 1991 Alfredo / Count Max Christian De Sica Also director and screenwriter
Faccione None Director and screenwriter
Vacanze di Natale '91 Enzo Lambertoni Enrico Oldoini
Anni 90 1992 Cesare Proietti / Lando Marcelli
Ricky & Barabba Barabba Christian De Sica Also director and screenwriter
Anni 90: Parte II 1993 Rodolfo Buro / Roberto Torri Enrico Oldoini
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago 1994 Cesare Atticus Carlo Vanzina
Men Men Men 1995 Vittorio Mannino Christian De Sica Also director and screenwriter
Vacanze di Natale '95 Remo Proietti Neri Parenti
3 1996 Jacopo Del Serchio Christian De Sica Also director and screenwriter
A spasso nel tempo Ascanio Orsini Varaldo Carlo Vanzina
A spasso nel tempo - L'avventura continua 1997
Simpatici e antipatici 1998 Roberto Christian De Sica Also director
Paparazzi Cesare Proietti Neri Parenti
Tifosi 1999
Vacanze di Natale 2000 Giovanni Covelli Carlo Vanzina
Chicken Run 2000 Rocky (voice) Peter Lord, Nick Park Italian voice-over
Body Guards Fabio Leone Neri Parenti
Merry Christmas 2001 Fabio Trivellone
Christmas on the Nile 2002 Mr. Ciulla
Natale in India 2003 Fabio De Tassis
Christmas in Love 2004 Fabrizio Barbetti
The Clan 2005 Franco Christian De Sica Also director and screenwriter
Natale a Miami Giorgio Bassi Neri Parenti
Natale a New York 2006 Camillo Ferri
Natale in crociera 2007 Paolo Cioffa
Horton Hears a Who! 2008 Horton (voice) Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino Italian voice-over
Natale a Rio Paolo Berni Neri Parenti
Natale a Beverly Hills 2009 Carlo / Germano
The Youngest Son 2010 Luciano Baietti Pupi Avati
The Tourist Colonel Lombardi Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Natale in Sudafrica Carlo Boffa Neri Parenti
Amici miei - Come tutto ebbe inizio 2011 Filippo
Vacanze di Natale a Cortina Roberto Covelli
Buona giornata 2012 Prince Ascanio Cavallini Carlo Vanzina
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! Pirate Captain (voice) Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt Italian voice-over
Lightning Strike Alberto Benni Neri Parenti Segment: "Primo episodio"
The Unlikely Prince 2013 Anastasio Alessandro Siani
Colpi di fortuna Gabriele Brunelli Neri Parenti
La scuola più bella del mondo 2014 Principal Brogi Luca Miniero
Vacanze ai Caraibi 2015 Mario Grossi Tubi Neri Parenti Also screenwriter
Fräulein 2016 Walter Bonelli Caterina Carone
Poveri ma ricchi Danilo Tucci Fausto Brizzi
Poveri ma ricchissimi 2017
Amici come prima 2018 Cesare Proietti Christian De Sica Also director and screenwriter
Sono solo fantasmi 2019 Tommaso Di Paola / Vittorio Di Paola Also director and screenwriter
La mia banda suona il pop 2020 Tony Brando Fausto Brizzi
In vacanza su Marte Fabio Sinceri Neri Parenti
Comedians 2021 Bernardo Celli Gabriele Salvatores
Who Framed Santa Claus? Santa Claus Alessandro Siani
Watch Out, We're Mad! 2022 Torsillo YouNuts!
The Price of Family Carlo Delle Fave Giovanni Bognetti
The Price of Nonna's Inheritance 2024 Carlo Delle Fave Giovanni Bognetti
Another Summer Holiday Pierluigi Nardi Masciulli Paolo Virzì

Television

Title Year Role(s) Network Notes
Blaise Pascal 1972 Lieutenant Rai 1 Miniseries; cameo appearance
Alle sette della sera 1974–1975 Himself / Host Rai 2 Variety show
La compagnia stabile della canzone con varietà e con comica finale 1975 Rai 1 Special
Bambole, non c'e una lira 1978 Various Variety show
Paris-Vichy 1979 Arnold France 2 Television movie
Studio 80 1980 Himself / Host Rai 1 Variety show
Sotto le stelle 1982 Musical program (season 2)
Flipper 1983 Photographer Television movie
Cinema che follia! 1988 Himself / Host Rai 2 Variety show
Belli freschi 1993 Various Canale 5 Sketch comedy
Lo zio d'America 2002–2006 Massimo Ricciardi Rai 1 12 episodes
Attenti a quei tre 2004 Luca Miniseries
Tale e quale show 2012–2014, 2017, 2021 Himself / Judge Talent show (seasons 1–4, 7, 11)
Un matrimonio 2013–2014 Pippo Dagnini 6 episodes
Striscia la notizia 2015 Himself / Guest host Canale 5 Variety show (from September 28–October 24)
Mozart in the Jungle 2016 Mr. Beppi Prime Video 5 episodes
Miss Italia 2017 Himself / Judge La7 Annual beauty contest
Christian De Sica: Una serata tra amici 2021 Himself / Host Rai 1 Special
Gigolò per caso 2023 Giacomo Bremer Prime Video 6 episodes

References

  1. ^ María Mercader, la actriz catalana que amó a De Sica. El Pais, 30 Jan. 2011
  2. ^ Essere Liberi Archived 5 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 3 May 2004 (in Italian)
  3. ^ "Quell'amico che ti segue tutta la vita. Un anno senza il compagno di banco" [The friend who follow you for all the life. A year without the deskmate]. Il Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 29 August 2020. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Christian De Sica compie 70 anni: "Sono un saltimbanco, un attore e uno showman"". la Repubblica (in Italian). 5 January 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  5. ^ Rooney, David (7 January 2002). "Local yokels deliver a boffo B.O holiday gift". Variety. p. 30.
  6. ^ Harford, Sonia (17 January 2003). "Diary/Rome". The Age (Melbourne, Australia). p. 4.

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