Roberto Benigni

Lore & Background

He has three sisters. He was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy; later in his life he became an atheist, but then resumed his interest in religious topics. His first experiences as a theatre actor took place in 1971 in Prato.

Reader's Guide

It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won three, including Best Actor for Benigni, the first for a male performer in a non-English-speaking role. The film was attacked by some critics who accused it of presenting the Holocaust without much suffering, while others praised Benigni's artistic daring. Benigni's giddy behavior at the Oscars, including climbing over seats, became widely noted. His legacy includes being the only actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for a non-English language performance.

Did You Know?

• Benigni is the first and only Academy Award winner for Best Actor for a non-English language performance.
• He studied clown under Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier.
• His wife, Nicoletta Braschi, made her acting debut in his directorial debut Tu mi turbi (1983).
• Benigni's father spent three years in a concentration camp in Bergen-Belsen, which partly inspired Life Is Beautiful.