**Lou Castel** (born Ulf Gösta Axelsson), a Franco-Swedish actor, is renowned for his intense career in Italian auteur cinema. His career took off in 1965 with Marco Bellocchio's *Fists in the Pocket*, where he embodied the figure of the rebellious and alienated young man, establishing himself as an icon of a generation.

He then collaborated with other masters such as Pier Paolo Pasolini (*Pigsty*, 1969) and Marco Ferreri (*Requiescant*, 1967), portraying complex and often marginal characters. His acting style is characterized by an intense screen presence, penetrating eyes, and the ability to convey tormented characters, anti-heroes, or figures in conflict with social conventions.

He continued to act in numerous productions, maintaining a significant connection with Bellocchio (*The Eyes, the Mouth*, 1982), confirming his stature as a unique performer.