Roberto Benigni is a celebrated Italian actor, director, and comedian, known for his boundless energy and surreal humor. His film career has seen him star in box-office hits.

Following the success of *Non ci resta che piangere* (1984, with Massimo Troisi), he directed and starred in iconic comedies such as *Il piccolo diavolo* (1988), *Johnny Stecchino* (1991), and *Il mostro* (1994), establishing himself with naive, rebellious, and irresistible characters, often the "common man" thrust into absurd situations.

His masterpiece is undoubtedly *Life Is Beautiful* (1997), a Holocaust drama in which he uniquely blends laughter and profound humanity, earning two Academy Awards (Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film). His style is characterized by improvisation, physicality, and a rare combination of madness, innocence, and poetry.