Actor and Director. He studied at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome, Italy. He started his acting career immediately after the war, dividing himself between Italy and Brazil. Here he founded the new headquarters of the Brasileiro de Comoedia Theater in San Paolo, he made his debut as a director with two films, "Caiçara" (1950) and "Tico-Tico no fubà" (1952) and became the manager of a theater company, introducing authors in South America, such as Sartre, Anouilh, Saroyan and great classics such as Goldoni , Shakespeare and Molière. In the early 1960s he became superintendent of the Rio de Janeiro Opera House, achieving numerous successes. It is in this city that the French director Philippe De Broca's troupe arrives to shoot "L'uomo di Rio" (1963). Celi is hired and this collaboration makes him feel nostalgic for Europe. Here then, he returns to his homeland. In Italy he works for great directors such as, Luigi Zampa, Aldo Fabrizi and Luigi Comencini. Here too he tries his hand at directing and does it with Vittorio Gassman. Together they direct and interpret "L' Alibi" (1968). His most famous character is certainly that of 'Emilio Largo', a member of the 'Specter' agency and archenemy of James Bond, in the film "Thunderball" (1965). In the seventies, however, the collaboration with Mario Monicelli in "Brancaleone alle crociate" (1970) and the famous "Amici miei" (1975) was fruitful. Of the latter, his interpretation of 'Professor Sassaroli' remains memorable. He plays, once again as the villain, in "Sandokan-Parte Prima" and "Sandokan-Parte Seconda" (1976) both by Sergio Sollima, where he is 'Lord Brooke'. He was fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German. He has been married three times.
Actor and Director. He studied at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome, Italy. He started his acting career immediately after the war, dividing himself between Italy and Brazil. Here he founded the new headquarters of the Brasileiro de Comoedia Theater in San Paolo, he made his debut as a director with two films, "Caiçara" (1950) and "Tico-Tico no fubà" (1952) and became the manager of a theater company, introducing authors in South America, such as Sartre, Anouilh, Saroyan and great classics such as Goldoni , Shakespeare and Molière. In the early 1960s he became superintendent of the Rio de Janeiro Opera House, achieving numerous successes. It is in this city that the French director Philippe De Broca's troupe arrives to shoot "L'uomo di Rio" (1963). Celi is hired and this collaboration makes him feel nostalgic for Europe. Here then, he returns to his homeland. In Italy he works for great directors such as, Luigi Zampa, Aldo Fabrizi and Luigi Comencini. Here too he tries his hand at directing and does it with Vittorio Gassman. Together they direct and interpret "L' Alibi" (1968). His most famous character is certainly that of 'Emilio Largo', a member of the 'Specter' agency and archenemy of James Bond, in the film "Thunderball" (1965). In the seventies, however, the collaboration with Mario Monicelli in "Brancaleone alle crociate" (1970) and the famous "Amici miei" (1975) was fruitful. Of the latter, his interpretation of 'Professor Sassaroli' remains memorable. He plays, once again as the villain, in "Sandokan-Parte Prima" and "Sandokan-Parte Seconda" (1976) both by Sergio Sollima, where he is 'Lord Brooke'. He was fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German. He has been married three times.
Bio by: Ruggero
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