- published: 08 May 2015
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Paolo Villaggio (30 December, 1932) is an Italian actor, writer, director and comedian. He is noted for the characters he created with paradoxical and grotesque characteristics: Professor Kranz, the ultra-timid Giandomenico Fracchia, and the obsequious and meek accountant Ugo Fantozzi, perhaps the favorite character in Italian comedy. He has written several books, usually of satirical character. He has also acted in dramatic roles, and has appeared in several movies.
Paolo Villaggio was born in Genoa, with a twin brother, Piero. His father was Ettore Villaggio (1905-1992), a surveyor originally from Palermo. His mother, Maria, originally from Venice, was a language teacher (German).
Villaggio attended the classic school "Liceo ginnasio Andrea D'Oria" and initially studied Law, but did not finish that study. His jobs included being a clerk for the Italsider steel works, which inspired his character "Il ragioniere Fantozzi Ugo", "the accountant Ugo Fantozzi". Maurizio Costanzo discovered his artistic potential and in 1967 he advised Villaggio to play in a cabaret in Rome. From there, Villaggio was hired for the TV programme Quelli della domenica (Those guys of Sunday), in which Fantozzi made his first appearance, introducing his characters the aggressive "Professor Kranz" and the hypocritical "Giandomenico Fracchia".