Renato Salvatori (1927-1988) was a prominent Italian actor in post-war cinema. He emerged embodying the Roman "street tough," rugged yet authentic, becoming an iconic face of *neorealismo rosa* and later of drama.

His career took off with popular comedies such as Dino Risi's *Poveri ma belli* (1957), where he played the typical Roman young man. His dramatic breakthrough came with Luchino Visconti in *Rocco e i suoi fratelli* (1960), where he delivered a memorable and tormented performance as Simone Parondi, a role that cemented his international fame.

Salvatori distinguished himself by his physical presence and his ability to portray complex characters, often on the fringes of society: from the rebel to the proletarian, to more mature and sometimes cynical roles in films by directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Marco Ferreri, demonstrating remarkable versatility.