Biography for
Dino Risi More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

23 December 1916, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Date of Death

7 June 2008, Rome, Lazio, Italy (natural causes)

Mini Biography

Dino Risi became a movie director by chance. In 1940 he met Alberto Lattuada at a friend's boutique. Lattuada told him: "We need an assistant director for the movie Piccolo mondo antico (1941). Would you be interested?". Risi accepted, just for fun, not for work. After that, he became a psichiatrist and, in the spare time, he wrote some articles for a local newspaper. After the second world war, he met a producer who financed his short films. One of these, Buio in sala (1948), was bought from Carlo Ponti. At that point, Risi decided to become a movie director. So he went to Rome and wrote the plot of Poveri ma belli (1957),the movie who gave him notoriety. But the movie that changed his life was Il sorpasso (1962). On opening night, Risi and producer Mario Cecchi Gori were waiting outside the movie theatre: they were worried because no audience was coming to see the movie. So Risi went back home, unhappy. But, three hours later a friend called him: "Dino, wonderful news! Il Sorpasso has been a success!". The day after the movie theatre was sold out. And Risi became a star. "I made more than 50 movies because I was sure that one of them could become a masterpiece". Dino Risi lives in a suite of a famous Roman hotel since he left (18 years ago) his wife Claudia, a Swiss woman. About his son Marco Risi, director himself, he says: "I never helped Marco ti find a job. He came on the set sometimes when he was a child, but now he always worked without my suggestions. I think he is a excellent director".

IMDb Mini Biography By: Francesco Cordella

Spouse

Claudia

(? - ?) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

Wrote an autobiography in 2004 called "I miei mostri".

During the last 40 years of his life, he was the companion of Leontine Snell, although they didn't live together.

Was romantically involved with actresses Anita Ekberg and Alida Valli.

His father was the house physician at La Scala opera house.

He was orphaned at the age of 12, and was looked after by relatives and family friends.

Father of directors Claudio Risi and Marco Risi, brother of cinematographer Fernando Risi and writer/director Nelo Risi, grandfather of actor Andrea Miglio Risi.

Personal Quotes

I expect some surprises. Life, after all, is not all it's made out to be. (on being "curious about death")

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