Famous Italian actor of theater and cinema, director and screenwriter, winner of five prestigious film awards Michele Placido (Michele Placido) in the former USSR was known as a fearless fighter against the mafia Commissioner Cattani from the television series “Sprut” (1984-1989), sometimes forgetting his real name.
He was born on May 19, 1946 in Ascoli Satriano, a suburb of the city of Foggia, in southern Italy, in a poor large family. After graduating from college, Michele voluntarily joined the army and was sent to serve in the police.
Placido, according to him, since childhood dreamed of becoming an actor, so after demobilization he entered the Roman National Academy of Dramatic Art and plunged into stage life. He worked first with director Luca Ranconi, and then at the Giorgio Strelera Theatre.
The need to support his mother and eight younger brothers forced Michele Placido to work in film and television. For the first time he starred in 1972 in the television movie “Boy” and in the comedy “Theresa the thief”.
After the role of Giovanni in the comedy M. Monicelli “Folk novel” (1978), Michele Placido comes to fame, he is increasingly invited to star in big movies, usually for comedy roles. Cinema is increasingly attracted to Michele Placido, but the formed “fun” image no longer satisfies the actor. He wants to expand his creative range. From 1976 to 1978, he starred in seven dramatic films by famous Italian directors, including the crime drama Carleone (1978). Michele Placido becomes a famous and popular film actor in Italy.
But truly international fame came to him after filming Damiano Damiani's television series "La Piovra" as the fearless commissioner Corrado Cattani. After the release of the first season of this series in 1984, which was a huge success in Italy, it was purchased for television distribution in many countries, including the USSR.
Shortly followed by "Sprut 2" (1985) and "Sprut 3" (1987). After agreeing to a fourth season, Sprut 4 (1989), Michele Placido, after much hesitation, decided to do away with his character and participation in the filming, he said: "Everybody, Cattani must kill." After that, there were six more seasons of “Sprut”, but without Michele Placido, and it was a completely different film.
In 1990, Vladimir Bortko received an unexpected offer for the actor to star in the action movie “Afghan Syndrome” as Soviet Major Bandura. He said, “I’m probably the first foreigner to play a Russian in a Russian movie.” The film was released in 1991 and was a huge success.
After the "Oprut" and "Afghan Break" Michele Placido returned to work in the theater, continuing to act a lot in the big movie. Since the early 90s, his directorial talent has manifested itself. His debut was his film drama Tomato (1990). Then followed by 10 more directorial works, in which he acted both as an actor and as a screenwriter.
Michele Placido continues to act in films and has many creative ideas. He has six children from two marriages, and his eldest daughter, Violante Placido, followed in his father’s footsteps to become an actress. /