Roberto Benigni
His 1991 Italian box office success, Johnny Stecchino, brought him much deserved international attention. American filmgoers, however, may have become aware of the Benigni brand of comedy earlier with the 1988 Walter Matthau vehicle Little Devils, which Benigni wrote, directed, and costarred in. He had also been visible--to arthouse audiences at least--in two of Jim Jarmusch's movies, first playing a convict in Down By Law (1986) and then appearing as a Roman taxi driver in Night on Earth (1988). He also acted in another arthouse favorite, Wim Wenders' Faraway, So Close, in 1993.
Having proven his comedic talents to an international audience, Benigni seemed an inspired casting choice for the pratfalling offspring of Inspector Clouseau in Blake Edwards' 1992 Son of the Pink Panther. Unfortunately, the role created by Peter Sellers may not have been ideal for Benigni and the comedy did not receive much praise. However, the comedian more than proved himself five years later, co-writing, directing and starring in Life Is Beautiful. The movie--which had the potentially ungainly premise of a comedy set in a concentration camp--proved to be a huge international success, both critically and commercially. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival--where Benigni, leaping onstage to accept the award, got down on his knees before presenter Martin Scorsese and kissed his hand--and then went on to win a number of other awards, including Best Actor and Best Screenplay Oscars for Benigni. Accepting one of his Oscars, Benigni proved to be one of the more memorable aspects of the 1998 ceremony: upon hearing of his win, he jumped up on his seat and then took to the stage, where he proceeded to proclaim--in broken English and at great length--his great joy and gratitude.
Benigni is married to actress Nicoletta Braschi, with whom he has appeared in a number of films, including Johnny Stecchino and Life is Beautiful.