Latest news with #EnzoStaiola
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Enzo Staiola, child actor in Bicycle Thieves, dies at 85
Enzo Staiola, child actor in Bicycle Thieves, dies at 85 Enzo Staiola, child actor in the iconic film Bicycle Thieves (1948), passed away on June 4 at a hospital in Rome, Italy. He was 85 years old. Enzo Staiola played the role of Bruno Ricci, the 8-year-old son of the film's lead character Antonio Ricci (played by Lamberto Maggiorani), in the Italian neorealist drama. The film was directed by Vittorio De Sica. According to The Washington Post, Emanuele Carioti, an Italian journalist and friend of Mr. Staiola's family, confirmed his death. He also shared that the cause of death was due to complications from a fall. Enzo Staiola made his acting debut with Bicycle Thieves. He worked in films until the age of 15 before calling it quits. Bicycle Thieves received an Academy Honorary Award (most outstanding foreign language film) in 1950. In a 2023 interview with La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper, Enzo Staiola had shared his first meeting with director Vittorio De Sica and how he was cast in the film after the filmmaker spotted him on a walk home from school. He recalled that the director followed him home. He said, 'He sat at the table in our house and tried to convince [my parents] to let me act in his new film. But they didn't want to.' Enzo Staiola was taken to the film studio by his uncle and he was cast in the film without giving an audition. Bicycle Thieves follows the story of Antonio Ricci and his son Bruno Ricci. Antonio finds a job pasting posters of American films around Rome and relies on his bicycle to travel across the city. However, one day, his bicycle is stolen, which is his means of livelihood. The film then follows Antonio and Bruno as they journey around Rome searching for the stolen bicycle, all the while encountering the hardships of post-war life, witnessing poverty, and facing humiliation.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Enzo Staiola, unforgettable child actor of ‘Bicycle Thieves', passes away
Italian actor Enzo Staiola, immortalised on screen for playing little Bruno in Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, passed away on June 6. He was 85. According to a report in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Staiola passed away in Rome. No immediate cause of his death was given. Bicycle Thieves is a masterpiece of Italian neo-realist cinema. A moving tale of family, hardship and post-war society, the film followed little Bruno as he accompanied his father around town in search of his lost bicycle. A touching scene finds father and son at a restaurant, eating cheap sandwiches and relaxing in the face of desperation. Indian filmmakers like Satyajit Ray and Anurag Kashyap have named Bicycle Thieves as a major influence on their lives. Enzo Staiola was eight when he was picked by De Sica for Bicycle Thieves. He appeared in other films (including one with Humphrey Bogart) but his acting career failed to take off. Moving away, Staiola taught mathematics and worked as a clerk at the land registry, before returning for his last film role in the 1978 giallo The Pyjama Girl Case.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Enzo Staiola: Beloved child star of the classic ‘Bicycle Thieves', passes away at 85
Enzo Staiola, who captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with his stunning performance as a child in 's 1948 masterpiece 'Bicycle Thieves', has passed away at the age of 85. Italian daily La Repubblica confirmed the news, though the cause of death has not been disclosed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At just nine years old, Staiola portrayed Bruno Ricci — the wide-eyed son of a man desperately searching post-war Rome for a stolen bicycle that represents his only means of livelihood. An accidental star Born in Rome on November 15, 1939, Staiola's path to stardom was anything but conventional. His natural presence on screen and expressive performance helped turn 'Bicycle Thieves' into a global landmark of Italian neorealism, ultimately earning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. 'Mission Impossible' Director Mcquarrie Reveals Tom Cruise's Dangerous Habit | Deets Inside A quiet life beyond the spotlight While 'Bicycle Thieves' brought Staiola international recognition, he never reunited with De Sica. He went on to act in several films during the 1950s, including 'Hearts Without Borders', 'Vulcano', 'Guilt Is Not Mine', and 'A Tale of Five Women'. He also appeared alongside Hollywood icons Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner in 'The Barefoot Contessa' (1954), and had a brief role in 'The Girl in the Yellow Pyjamas' (1977). Enzo Staiola's last performance was in the movie 'The Pajama Girl Case' which was released in the year 1978. Choosing a life beyond acting Despite his early fame, Staiola stepped away from acting and embraced a quieter, more grounded life. He worked as a mathematics teacher and later served as a land registry clerk — a humble career far removed from the glamour of cinema, yet one that he embraced with dignity. His legacy, however, will forever live on in the tear-streaked eyes of 'Bicycle Thieves' iconic Bruno Ricci.
