RIP Franco Citti

Dead Franco Citti, of Pasolini’s Accattone

He was 80 and had been ill for some time. Born in the village, he was one of the faces symbol of the director-poet. Also she starred in the theater with Carmelo Bene

January 14, 2016

He died this evening in Rome, the actor Franco Citti, at 80 years. Ill for some time, died at his home. The news was Ninetto Davoli. Discovered by Pasolini who wanted the protagonist of "Accattone " in 1961, Citti since then became a face symbol of his films, starring in "Mamma Roma", "Pigpen" and "The Decameron". Citti, born in Rome, was also directed by his brother Sergio - who died ten years ago - and starred in the theater with Carmelo Bene. In his long career he has acted in over 50 films.

It is Pasolini's find in 1961 entrusting the role of Victor Cataldi said "Accattone " in the film. The following year Thomas in "A Violent Life" by Paolo Heusch and Brunello Rondi. In 1967 Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex". The following year he played an arms dealer in Somalia in protest film "Sitting on His Right" Valerio Zurlini. He will return again to be directed by Pasolini as a cannibal in "Sty" (1969), Ser Ciappelletto in "The Decameron" (1971), Satan in "The Canterbury Tales" (1973) and a demon in "The Flower of the Thousand and One Nights" (1974). In 1970 he starred in "Ostia", the directorial debut of his brother Sergio. He plaed in other films, written by his brother with his friend Vincenzo Cerami, as "Bawdy Tales" (1973), "Casotto" (1977) and "The Soup" (1981).

In 1998 he made his own directorial debut directing, with the fraternal collaboration of Sergio Citti (as they recite the opening credits), himself and Fiorello in "Cartoons" the last breath of Pasolini's poetry, where Citti, who almost came back to play the role of Beggar. He also participates in the documentary by Ivo Barnabò Micheli "A Future Memory" (1985) and that of Laura Betti "Pier Paolo Pasolini and the Reason of a Dream" (2001). He was also active in theater ("The giants of the Mountain" and "Tamerlano" in 1989, directed by Carlo Quartucci) and on television ("The Betrothed", 1989 Salvatore Nocita).