Paolo Graziosi

Background

Born in Rimini, Graziosi in 1961 was rejected for the admission exams at the Academy of Dramatic Arts Silvio D'amico,then he enrolled at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. In theater, after a period of apprenticeship, he had his first break in 1965 with the role of Mercutio in a famous version of Romeo and Juliet directed Franco Zeffirelli. In cinema, in which he had made his debut in 1962 (in the drama film Gli arcangeli), his breakout role was the accountant Carlo in China is Near by Marco Bellocchio (who had been his classmate in the Centro Sperimentale and that had already previously directed him in the 1962 short film Ginepro fatto uomo). From then Graziosi continued appearing in films and television series, usually in secondary roles, but from seventies he focused his activities on stage, co-founding with Carlo Cecchi "GranTeatro", a company mainly active in alternative circuits.