**Carlo Battisti** (1882 – 1977) was an Italian actor, primarily known for his unique and unforgettable performance in Vittorio De Sica's neorealist masterpiece *Umberto D.* (1952).

A former university professor of glottology, Battisti was not a professional actor, and it was precisely this authenticity that contributed decisively to the film's success and authenticity. In the role of the elderly pensioner Umberto Domenico Ferrari, Battisti embodied with touching realism the hardships, solitude, and dignity of old age in post-war Italy.

His acting style, devoid of artifice and profoundly human, became emblematic of Italian neorealism, privileging spontaneity and emotional truth over traditional acting technique. Though his film career was limited to this iconic role, his contribution to *Umberto D.* remains a fundamental benchmark in the history of world cinema for its intensity and authenticity.