**Emilio Cigoli** (Rome, October 18, 1909 – Rome, May 11, 1980) was an Italian film actor, renowned for his deep and unmistakable voice, and for his imposing screen presence. A prolific character actor, he specialized in portraying authoritative characters, often ambiguous, cynical, or overtly negative, such as policemen, criminals, or determined working-class men.

His most celebrated performance was that of the rice paddy foreman in Giuseppe De Santis' *Bitter Rice* (1949), a role that cemented his image as a "tough guy" with complex moral nuances. He participated in Neorealist masterpieces such as Roberto Rossellini's *Paisan* (1946), and countless other films, often alongside the greatest actors of the era. His style, marked by great expressive intensity, made him an iconic face of Italian cinema for over thirty years.