Paolo Bonacelli
Biography
Paolo Bonacelli was an Italian actor born in Rome, Italy. He graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome and debuted on stage in Vittorio Gassman's production of Questa sera si recita a soggetto. His first film role was in Corpse for the Lady in 1964. Bonacelli is best known for his performance as The Duke de Blangis in Pasolini's film Salò in 1975. His other film credits include Midnight Express in 1978 and Caligula in 1979, in which he played the role of Cassius Chaerea. He also co-starred with Roberto Benigni in the films Johnny Stecchino and Night on Earth, both released in 1991.
Career overview
Paolo Bonacelli was an Italian actor born in Rome. He graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome and made his stage debut in Vittorio Gassman's production of Questa sera si recita a soggetto. His first film role came in the 1964 film Corpse for the Lady.
Bonacelli became best known for his performance as The Duke de Blangis in Pier Paolo Pasolini's film Salò, released in 1975. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous other notable films. His filmography includes roles in Midnight Express in 1978 and Caligula in 1979, where he played the role of Cassius Chaerea.
In 1991, he co-starred alongside Roberto Benigni in the films Johnny Stecchino and Night on Earth. His extensive acting career encompassed a total of 91 known credits. Paolo Bonacelli passed away on October 8, 2025.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
91 titles- In the Hand of Dante (2026) as Priest Of Alcamo
- Nato il sei ottobre (2024)
- The Commander (2023) as Betti
- Noi ce la siamo cavata (2023) as Sé stesso
- Divine (2020)
- Forse è solo mal di mare (2019) as Calogero (Voice)
- To the Unknown God (2019)
- Magical Nights (2018) as Ennio 'The Great'
- The Ploy (2016) as Vescovo
- Furore il vento della speranza (2014) as Niccolò Carbone
- The American (2010) as Father Benedetto
- Mission: Impossible III (2006) as Monsignore
- 13 at a Table (2004) as Nonno Giulio
- Gli astronomi (2003) as Peters
- The Accidental Detective (2003) as Direttore Della Galleria Palatina
- A.A.A. Achille (2003) as Dott. Aglieri
- Dirty Linen (1999) as Amedeo
- Alice on the Run (1998) as Luigi Mancini
- Bakunin's Son (1997) as Giudice
- The Stendhal Syndrome (1996) as Dr. Cavanna
- Christmas Vacation '95 (1995) as Paolo "Paolone"
- Charlemagne, le prince à cheval (1994) as Vitale
- Abraham (1994) as Melchisedek
- The Teddy Bear (1994) as Novacek
- Once a Year, Every Year (1994) as Romano
- Abraham (1993) as Melchisedek
- Flusso di coscienza - Razzismo 1993 (1993)
- Mille bolle blu (1993) as Mario
- Ciao, Professore! (1992) as Ludovico Mazzullo
- Il segno del comando (1992) as Bonsanti
- Night on Earth (1991) as Priest
- Johnny Stecchino (1991) as D'Agata
- Touch and Die (1991) as Morelli
- Flight from Paradise (1990) as Eliah
- Only One Survived (1990) as Andrade
- I promessi sposi (1989) as padre di Gertrude
- Francesco (1989) as Francesco's Father
- A Double Victory (1989) as Guido Sormani
- La moglie ingenua e il marito malato (1989) as Carl Rune
- Lenin... The Train (1988) as Grigori Jewsejewitsch Zinoviev
- Lenin: The Train (1988) as Zinoviev
- Topo Galileo (1988) as Professor Zitti
- Rimini Rimini (1987) as l'ingegnere
- Love Sins (1987) as Ercole Leoni
- Camorra (A Story of Streets, Women and Crime) (1986) as Tango
- L'ultima mazurka (1986) as Lanza
- Mother Ebe (1985) as Don Paolo Monti
- Nothing Left to Do But Cry (1984) as Leonardo da Vinci
- Henry IV (1984) as Belcredi
- The Naked Sun (1984)
- The Commissioner (1983) as Commissionario
- The Knight, Death and The Devil (1983) as Nicholas
- I Remember Nelson (1982) as King Ferdinando
- Words and Blood (1982) as Marcucci
- Delitti, amore e gelosia (1982) as Commissario Dell'Amore
- The Mystery of Oberwald (1981) as Count of Foehn
- Calderon (1981)
- Le Guignolo (1980) as Kamal
- The Persian Lamb Coat (1980) as Ferdinando
- Caligula (1979) as Chaerea
- Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) as Don Luigi Magalone
- Good News (1979) as Gualtiero Milano
- Midnight Express (1978) as Rifki
- Madame Bovary (1978) as Charles Bovary
- Nest of Vipers (1978) as Paolo Mazzarini
- This Is the Night (1977)
- Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1976) as The Duke
- Origins of the Mafia (1976) as Vincenzo Biscetta
- The Inheritance (1976) as Paolo Furlin
- Illustrious Corpses (1976) as Dr. Maxia
- Evil Thoughts (1976) as Antonio Marani
- La banca di Monate (1976) as Dottor Defendente Massera
- Beyond Fear (1975) as Francesco Grimaldi
- Gli strumenti del potere. 1925/1926 la dittatura fascista (1975)
- The Murri Affair (1974) as Francesco Bonmartini
- Milarepa (1974) as Prof. Bennet
- Year One (1974) as Giorgio Amendola
- Giordano Bruno (1973)
- Io e lui (1973) as Vladimiro
- Il cancelliere Krehler (1972) as Max
- Maddalena (1971)
- A Prostitute Serving the Public and in Compliance with the Laws of the State (1971)
- Tears of Love (1970) as Cormick
- Seven Times Seven (1968)
- The Devil in Love (1966) as Inn's customer
- Pleasant Nights (1966) as Messenger
- SuperSeven Calling Cairo (1965) as Capitano Hume
- I grandi camaleonti (1964) as Babeuf
- One Million Dollars (1964) as Zenone
- Corpse for the Lady (1964) as Gedeon
- I Am Not God But I Am Michelangelo Antonioni as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Paolo Bonacelli best known for?
Paolo Bonacelli is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including In the Hand of Dante (2026), The American (2010), Mission: Impossible III (2006), The Stendhal Syndrome (1996).
When and where was Paolo Bonacelli born?
Paolo Bonacelli was born on February 28, 1937 in Rome, Italy. They passed away on October 8, 2025.
How many credits does Paolo Bonacelli have?
Paolo Bonacelli has accumulated over 91 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1964 to 2026.
What is Paolo Bonacelli's background in cinema and television?
Paolo Bonacelli was an Italian actor born in Rome, Italy. He graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome and debuted on stage in Vittorio Gassman's production of Questa sera si recita a soggetto. His first film role was in Corpse for the Lady in 1964. Bonacelli is best known for his performance as The ...
Paolo Bonacelli by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Charlemagne, le prince à cheval (1994) as Vitale — aged about 57
- Nothing Left to Do But Cry (1984) as Leonardo da Vinci — aged about 47
- Night on Earth (1991) as Priest — aged about 54
- Midnight Express (1978) as Rifki — aged about 41
- Johnny Stecchino (1991) as D'Agata — aged about 54
- Ciao, Professore! (1992) as Ludovico Mazzullo — aged about 55
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