Star Facts:
Birthplace:
  • Misericordia, Arrezzo, Tuscany, Italy
Quote:
  • "My family is wonderful. It is composed of a lot of women. Three sisters, older than me, and a mother, older than me too. And my father was always looking for some job, so I was alone sleeping in the same bed with four women. (Pause, Punchline): And I never repeated this in my life." (Laughter) -- The New York Times, July 19, 1992
Education:
  • Seminary in Florence, Italy (with plans to become a priest; dropped out when a flood damaged the school)
  • Accounting school in Prato, Italy
Factoid:
  • Won a total of 15 awards internationally for writing, directing and acting in LA VITA È BELLA (1998-99)
Significant Other(s):
  • Wife: Nicoletta Braschi, actress; co-starred in DOWN BY LAW (1986), JOHNNY STECCHINO (1991) and THE MONSTER (1994); married in December 1991
Family:
  • Father: Luigi Benigni, farmer, carpenter, bricklayer; born 1918; was prisoner in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp for two years (1943-45); Benigni used his memories as basis for "La Vita è bella" / "Life Is Beautiful"
  • Mother: Isolina Benigni, fabric inspector; born 1918
  • Sister: Bruna Benigni, textile worker; born 1945
  • Sister: Albertina Benigni, flower shop owner; born 1947
  • Sister: Anna Benigni, teacher's aide; born 1948
Feature Film
Credits:
  • La Tigre e la neve / The Tiger and the Snow (2005)
    Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
    Pinocchio (2002)
    Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999)
    La Vita è bella / Life Is Beautiful (1997)
    The Monster (1994)
    Son of the Pink Panther (1993)
    Night on Earth (1992)
    Johnny Stecchino (1991)
    Down by Law (1986)
Academy Awards®: