Erminio Macario

Born in Turin, Macario made his debut at a young age in the amateur dramatics company Don Bosco Oratory in Valdocco,^[1] then he was part of some small amateur companies in his hometown until 1924. At this time, he was cast in the company of dancing and pantomime of Giovanni Molasso.^[2] Soon after, he entered the company of Wanda Osiris, the undisputed queen of the revue of that time in Italy.^[2] Between the two wars he became, in a short time, one of the most popular comedians of the revue theatre.^[3]

Macario made his film debut in 1933 with Aria di paese, but the success came just six years later with two comedy films directed by Mario Mattoli and co-written by a young Federico Fellini, Imputato alzatevi! and Lo vedi come sei... lo vedi come sei?.^[2] After a series of successful comedies directed by Carlo Borghesio since the early fifties, Macario appeared in short characterizations in anthology films and was sidekick of Totò in a number of films.^[2] Starting from the mid-sixties he finally dedicated himself to television and theatre.^[2]

His comical style was referred to as a mixture between Chaplin's Charlot and Marx Brothers.^[4]