Paolo Bonacelli (1937-2025) was one of Italy's most incisive and charismatic actors, masterfully navigating between avant-garde theater, auteur cinema, and popular comedy. A graduate of the National Academy of Dramatic Arts, his theatrical career was monumental, but it was film that brought him international fame. His face, and his magnetic, often unsettling presence, are linked to unforgettable roles: he was the Duke in Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975), the slimy Rifki in Alan Parker's Midnight Express (1978), and the unforgettable, smooth-talking Dr. D'Andreotti (or was he a bishop?) in Roberto Benigni's Johnny Stecchino (1991), a role that earned him the Nastro d'Argento and Ciak d'Oro awards. He also worked with directors such as Scola, Monicelli, and Antonioni, demonstrating a versatility that made him an icon of Italian cinema and theater.