Sergio Tofano, also known under the pseudonym Sto, (was an Italian actor, director, playwright, scene designer and illustrator.
Tofano was born in Rome. While doing his law studies he also frequented drama lessons at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined Virgilio Talli's company (1913–23). He soon specialized as a comic actor, giving his role a new elegance and complexity. He worked with other famous actors and directors: Dario Niccodemi (1924–27); Luigi Almirante and Giuditta Rissone (1927–30), Elsa Merlini, Vittorio De Sica, Evi Maltagliati, Gino Cervi etc. During those years, he made his famous performances as Doctor Knock in Jules Romains' play, and as Professor Toti in Luigi Pirandello's Pensaci, Giacomino!. He also led important theatrical firms. After the Second World War, he worked with the most important directors, like Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler.
Tofano also had a prolific career in cinema, starting in 1931 with his role of doorman Otello in the comedy La segretaria privata starring Elsa Merlini and Nino Besozzi. Afterward, he would be directed by e.g. Mario Mattoli, Luigi Comencini, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Nanni Loy, Bernardo Bertolucci e Mario Monicelli. Leads he had e.g. in O la borsa o la vita (Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia., 1933), a comedy in which he played opposite his own wife Rosetta; and Seconda B (Goffredo Alessandrini., 1934), with Maria Denis, in which a schoolgirl takes revenge on a timid biology teacher who has an affair with the gymnastics teacher. In addition, he would do supporting parts in some 85 films and TV series or plays. During WWII, Tofano also directed two films himself: Cenerentola e il Signor Bonaventura (1942) and Gian Burrasca (1943).
In 1917 Tofano invented, for a children's magazine, Il Corriere dei Piccoli, a famous character, Signor Bonaventura, whose adventures lasted for more than forty years, and would also results in many published albums and even six stage plays, in which Tofano had the lead. He used to sign as Sto. He also created other comics, worked in the world of publicity and fashion, and contributed to journals such as Vanity Fair and La Donna.
From 1953 Tofano taught at the Roman drama school Silvio D'Amico, alternating with fiction on TV. In 1960, while officially retiring, he still continued to teach and work on TV. In the same year, his wife, suffering of depressions, committed suicide. In the 1960s Tofano worked in cinema with directors Nanni Loy, Mario Monicelli, Pasquale Festa Campanile. He died in 1973 and was buried in the family tomb in Milan, where his wife was already buried.
In 1923 Tofano married actress Rosetta Cavallari. They had a son, Gilberto, who would become stage and TV director.
Tofano was born in Rome. While doing his law studies he also frequented drama lessons at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined Virgilio Talli's company (1913–23). He soon specialized as a comic actor, giving his role a new elegance and complexity. He worked with other famous actors and directors: Dario Niccodemi (1924–27); Luigi Almirante and Giuditta Rissone (1927–30), Elsa Merlini, Vittorio De Sica, Evi Maltagliati, Gino Cervi etc. During those years, he made his famous performances as Doctor Knock in Jules Romains' play, and as Professor Toti in Luigi Pirandello's Pensaci, Giacomino!. He also led important theatrical firms. After the Second World War, he worked with the most important directors, like Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler.
Tofano also had a prolific career in cinema, starting in 1931 with his role of doorman Otello in the comedy La segretaria privata starring Elsa Merlini and Nino Besozzi. Afterward, he would be directed by e.g. Mario Mattoli, Luigi Comencini, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Nanni Loy, Bernardo Bertolucci e Mario Monicelli. Leads he had e.g. in O la borsa o la vita (Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia., 1933), a comedy in which he played opposite his own wife Rosetta; and Seconda B (Goffredo Alessandrini., 1934), with Maria Denis, in which a schoolgirl takes revenge on a timid biology teacher who has an affair with the gymnastics teacher. In addition, he would do supporting parts in some 85 films and TV series or plays. During WWII, Tofano also directed two films himself: Cenerentola e il Signor Bonaventura (1942) and Gian Burrasca (1943).
In 1917 Tofano invented, for a children's magazine, Il Corriere dei Piccoli, a famous character, Signor Bonaventura, whose adventures lasted for more than forty years, and would also results in many published albums and even six stage plays, in which Tofano had the lead. He used to sign as Sto. He also created other comics, worked in the world of publicity and fashion, and contributed to journals such as Vanity Fair and La Donna.
From 1953 Tofano taught at the Roman drama school Silvio D'Amico, alternating with fiction on TV. In 1960, while officially retiring, he still continued to teach and work on TV. In the same year, his wife, suffering of depressions, committed suicide. In the 1960s Tofano worked in cinema with directors Nanni Loy, Mario Monicelli, Pasquale Festa Campanile. He died in 1973 and was buried in the family tomb in Milan, where his wife was already buried.
In 1923 Tofano married actress Rosetta Cavallari. They had a son, Gilberto, who would become stage and TV director.
Sergio Tofano, also known under the pseudonym Sto, (was an Italian actor, director, playwright, scene designer and illustrator.
Tofano was born in Rome. While doing his law studies he also frequented drama lessons at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined Virgilio Talli's company (1913–23). He soon specialized as a comic actor, giving his role a new elegance and complexity. He worked with other famous actors and directors: Dario Niccodemi (1924–27); Luigi Almirante and Giuditta Rissone (1927–30), Elsa Merlini, Vittorio De Sica, Evi Maltagliati, Gino Cervi etc. During those years, he made his famous performances as Doctor Knock in Jules Romains' play, and as Professor Toti in Luigi Pirandello's Pensaci, Giacomino!. He also led important theatrical firms. After the Second World War, he worked with the most important directors, like Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler.
Tofano also had a prolific career in cinema, starting in 1931 with his role of doorman Otello in the comedy La segretaria privata starring Elsa Merlini and Nino Besozzi. Afterward, he would be directed by e.g. Mario Mattoli, Luigi Comencini, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Nanni Loy, Bernardo Bertolucci e Mario Monicelli. Leads he had e.g. in O la borsa o la vita (Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia., 1933), a comedy in which he played opposite his own wife Rosetta; and Seconda B (Goffredo Alessandrini., 1934), with Maria Denis, in which a schoolgirl takes revenge on a timid biology teacher who has an affair with the gymnastics teacher. In addition, he would do supporting parts in some 85 films and TV series or plays. During WWII, Tofano also directed two films himself: Cenerentola e il Signor Bonaventura (1942) and Gian Burrasca (1943).
In 1917 Tofano invented, for a children's magazine, Il Corriere dei Piccoli, a famous character, Signor Bonaventura, whose adventures lasted for more than forty years, and would also results in many published albums and even six stage plays, in which Tofano had the lead. He used to sign as Sto. He also created other comics, worked in the world of publicity and fashion, and contributed to journals such as Vanity Fair and La Donna.
From 1953 Tofano taught at the Roman drama school Silvio D'Amico, alternating with fiction on TV. In 1960, while officially retiring, he still continued to teach and work on TV. In the same year, his wife, suffering of depressions, committed suicide. In the 1960s Tofano worked in cinema with directors Nanni Loy, Mario Monicelli, Pasquale Festa Campanile. He died in 1973 and was buried in the family tomb in Milan, where his wife was already buried.
In 1923 Tofano married actress Rosetta Cavallari. They had a son, Gilberto, who would become stage and TV director.
Tofano was born in Rome. While doing his law studies he also frequented drama lessons at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined Virgilio Talli's company (1913–23). He soon specialized as a comic actor, giving his role a new elegance and complexity. He worked with other famous actors and directors: Dario Niccodemi (1924–27); Luigi Almirante and Giuditta Rissone (1927–30), Elsa Merlini, Vittorio De Sica, Evi Maltagliati, Gino Cervi etc. During those years, he made his famous performances as Doctor Knock in Jules Romains' play, and as Professor Toti in Luigi Pirandello's Pensaci, Giacomino!. He also led important theatrical firms. After the Second World War, he worked with the most important directors, like Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler.
Tofano also had a prolific career in cinema, starting in 1931 with his role of doorman Otello in the comedy La segretaria privata starring Elsa Merlini and Nino Besozzi. Afterward, he would be directed by e.g. Mario Mattoli, Luigi Comencini, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Nanni Loy, Bernardo Bertolucci e Mario Monicelli. Leads he had e.g. in O la borsa o la vita (Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia., 1933), a comedy in which he played opposite his own wife Rosetta; and Seconda B (Goffredo Alessandrini., 1934), with Maria Denis, in which a schoolgirl takes revenge on a timid biology teacher who has an affair with the gymnastics teacher. In addition, he would do supporting parts in some 85 films and TV series or plays. During WWII, Tofano also directed two films himself: Cenerentola e il Signor Bonaventura (1942) and Gian Burrasca (1943).
In 1917 Tofano invented, for a children's magazine, Il Corriere dei Piccoli, a famous character, Signor Bonaventura, whose adventures lasted for more than forty years, and would also results in many published albums and even six stage plays, in which Tofano had the lead. He used to sign as Sto. He also created other comics, worked in the world of publicity and fashion, and contributed to journals such as Vanity Fair and La Donna.
From 1953 Tofano taught at the Roman drama school Silvio D'Amico, alternating with fiction on TV. In 1960, while officially retiring, he still continued to teach and work on TV. In the same year, his wife, suffering of depressions, committed suicide. In the 1960s Tofano worked in cinema with directors Nanni Loy, Mario Monicelli, Pasquale Festa Campanile. He died in 1973 and was buried in the family tomb in Milan, where his wife was already buried.
In 1923 Tofano married actress Rosetta Cavallari. They had a son, Gilberto, who would become stage and TV director.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
