Mario Riva
Mario "Mariuccio" Bonavolontà, professionally known as Mario Riva, was an Italian television presenter and actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960.
Life and career
Born in Rome as Mario Bonavolontà, the son of composer and his wife Teresa Chinzari. His father composed over 500 popular tunes including "Fiocca la neve". Mario attended the Collegio San Giuseppe - Istituto De Merode in Piazza di Spagna in Rome.Riva debuted at young age as a dubber and a radio actor. His film debut was in 1941 in . He became first known as presenter of the stage show Clan.
After a long season of successes on stage Riva reached the peak of his career with the RAI variety television Il Musichiere, the Italian version of Name That Tune. He also appeared on several films, usually in supporting roles.
While he was presenting from the Verona Arena the Secondo Festival del Musichiere, he inadvertently fell into a hole in the stage covered with a tarpaulin and died from his injuries a few days later.
Selected filmography
- Due cuori sotto sequestro – singerToto Tours Italy – GiovanniBaron Carlo Mazza – announcerThe Firemen of Viggiù Yvonne of the Night – the cigarette boyAdam and Eve – the Russian castawayToto Looks For a House – the owner of the agency
- Se fossi deputato – Giuseppino
- Ho sognato il paradiso The Cadets of Gascony – Mario FantoniTomorrow Is Another Day – Pasquale
- Arrivano i nostri – MarioAccidents to the Taxes!! – MarioThe Steamship Owner – MarioMy Heart Sings – Mario
- Porca miseria – Count Cerri
- Ha fatto tredici – himselfSardinian Vendetta – MarioAbracadabra – AmletoIn Olden Days – picky customer
- Giovinezza – peddlerBeauties on Motor Scooters Easy Years – Mario Paolella
- Siamo tutti milanesi The Country of the Campanelli – magician TarquinioIt Happened at the Police Station – the second tram driverTripoli, Beautiful Land of Love – Giulio CesareLaugh! Laugh! Laugh! – Otello Spinotti
- Scuola elementare – Pilade Mucci, the school caretakerIt Happened at the Police Station – inmate No. 77
- La moglie è uguale per tutti – Mario Rivetti
- Bravissimo – the dance teacherRoman Tales – the waiter at the restaurant
- Motivo in maschera
- Il campanile d'oro
- I giorni più belli – Nicola, the delicatessen seller
- Arrivano i dollari! – Cesaretto Pasti
- Serenate per 16 bionde – Pippo
- Gente felice – Francesco
- A sud niente di nuovo
- Ladro lui, ladra lei – commendatore Stefano Maghetti
- È arrivata la parigina – Strettani
- I prepotenti – Domenico EspositoToto, Peppino and the Fanatics – Caprioli's boss
- Gli zitelloni – the judge
- Sergente d'ispezione – Turconi
- Mia nonna poliziotto – Mario Secchioni
- Il terribile Teodoro
- Domenica è sempre domenica – himself
- Fantasmi e ladri – Edmondo Natale
- Prepotenti più di prima – the traffic wardenPolicarpo – the fireman at the theatre
- Perfide.... ma belle – Romolo Proietti
- Il raccomandato di ferro – Augusto ZinconiThe Traffic Policeman – himself