**Massimo Mollica (1929-2013)** was a prolific Italian actor, renowned for his roles as a character actor in cinema. Endowed with an authoritative stage presence and a deep, resonant voice, he often portrayed figures of power or professionals.

Whether clergymen, judges, doctors, or sophisticated bourgeois, his characters were often marked by a restrained dignity, sometimes concealing an intriguing ambiguity. Among his most memorable performances was that of Cardinal Lamberto (the future Pope John Paul I) in Francis Ford Coppola's *The Godfather Part III* (1990), which brought him international recognition.

He collaborated with great Italian directors such as Francesco Rosi in films including *Cadaveri eccellenti* (1976), *Cristo si è fermato a Eboli* (1979), and *Tre fratelli* (1981), and with Mario Monicelli in *Il Marchese del Grillo* (1981). His ability to lend depth and authority even to supporting roles made him a distinctive figure in Italian cinema.