Memo Benassi
Domenico "Memo" Benassi was an Italian stage and film actor who appeared in more than forty films in a mixture of leading and supporting roles.
Life and career
Born in Sorbolo, Benassi initially formed as a musician, studying cello at the Parma Conservatory. His professional acting career was launched in the late 1910s by Gualtiero Tumiati, who offered him a role in his stage company after noting him during an amateur theatrical performance. He was later enrolled in several major theater companies of the time, notably working with Eleonora Duse and Emma and Irma Gramatica. In 1925, he formed his own stage company. He made his film debut in 1932, and had main roles in films by Alessandro Blasetti and Max Ophüls, among others. He played the composer Beethoven in the 1942 film Rossini. After the war, he mostly focused on his theatrical career, working with Giorgio Strehler and Luchino Visconti.
Selected filmography
Notte di tempesta Mimì e gli straccioni Il gioiello sinistro La nemica Margheritella La scala di seta The Love Letters of Baroness S - Straßenmusikant GiovanniThe Adventures of Sybil Brent - Theo Hartwig, SchriftstellerThe Old Lady - JoeThe Lucky Diamond - Il maggiordomoThe Missing Treaty - John Brown - detectiveThe Haller Case - Judge HallerL'impiegata di papà - Banchiere MontiEverybody's Woman - Leonardo NanniConquest of the Air - Francesco Lama di Brescia Lady of Paradise - Matteo IranScipione l'africano - CatoTonight at Eleven - L'ambasciatore Leopoldo NortonPrincess Tarakanova - L'ambasciatore russoLa conquista dell'aria - Il Gesuita Franceesco LamaOrizzonte dipinto - Il burattinaioIl vagabondo - FanfullaThe Jester's Supper - Il TornaquinciThe Two Orphans - Il conte di LinièresFedora - Il principe YariskineRossini - BeethovenI due Foscari - Donato AlmoròFourth Page - Il pazzoThe Son of the Red Corsair - Il marchese di MontelimarMeasure for Measure - LucioPeccatori Paese senza pace - Padron ToniL'ultimo sogno The Tyrant of Padua - Cesare, il pittoreLa taverna della libertà The Affairs of Messalina - Claudio / ClaudeRed Shirts - Too Bad She's Bad - Adriana Lecouvreur - Michonnet