Sergio Castellitto (born 18 August 1953) is an Italian actor, film director, and screenwriter.

Biography

Sergio Castellitto was born on 18 August 1953 in Rome, Italy. After graduating from the Silvio D'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in 1978, he began his theatrical career in Italian public theater with Shakespeare's Measure for Measure at the Teatro di Roma and with roles in other plays such as La Madre by Brecht, Merchant of Venice, and Candelaio by Giordano Bruno. At the Teatro di Genova he starred in the roles of Tuzenbach in Chekhov's Three Sisters and Jean in Strindberg's Miss Julie, both under the direction of Otomar Krejka. In the coming years, he also starred in such theatrical productions as L'Infelicita Senza Desideri and Piccoli Equivoci at the Festival Dei Due Mondi in Spoleto. He also appeared in Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. During his years in the theatre, he worked alongside many famous actors, including Luigi Squarzina, Aldo Trionfo, and Enzo Muzii.

Castellitto began his film career in 1983 beside Marcello Mastroianni and Michel Piccoli in The General of the Dead Army by Luciano Tovoli. He interpreted many films like Sembra morto...ma è solo svenuto directed by Felice Farina, Piccoli equivoci by Ricky Tognazzi and Stasera a casa di Alice by Carlo Verdone. He became more famous with the films The Great Pumpkin by Francesca Archibugi and The Star Maker by Tornatore.

In the late 1980s, Castellitto appeared in several Italian television miniseries, including Un siciliano in Sicilia (1987), Cinque storie inquietanti (1987), Piazza Navona (1988), Cinéma (1988), and Come stanno bene insieme (1989). He also appeared in the miniseries Victoire, ou la douleur des femmes (2000).

Success arrived with the films La famiglia, L'ultimo bacio, Caterina in the Big City, My Mother's Smile, Mostly Martha, and especially with Don't Move, written by his wife Margaret Mazzantini. The last films that he interpreted were Il regista di matrimoni by Marco Bellocchio and La stella che non c'è by Gianni Amelio.

In France Castellitto played the male lead opposite Jeanne Balibar in Jacques Rivette's "Va savoir" (2001). His most recent accomplishment as actor has been in his role as Padre Pio: Miracle Man, arguably the defining role of his career.

The first film that he directed is Libero Burro and the second was Don't Move. He played the role of the antagonist, King Miraz, in the film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

His most recent film as director was "Twice Born", which played at the Toronto FIlm Festival (2012). Unfortunately, it was not well received by much of the English speaking press. The Hollywood Reporter called it an "involuntary parody." Variety went on to declare that it had "little to offer beyond some pitiful twists." Screen Daily went even further, adding that "director Sergio Castellitto’s adaptation of Margaret Mazzantini’s novel leaves no cliché unturned, yearning for big emotions that are consistently flattened by the lumbering storytelling." A contrasting review (9/10) came from independent film critic Jared Mobarak, who praised both Cruz's and Hirsch's acting, as well as the film's many layered, intense and well-orchestrated plot.

Most recently, Castellitto appeared in the television series In Treatment in the role of Giovanni.

Castellitto is married to Margaret Mazzantini with four children.

Best films