Mario Fabrizi

Mario Edgio Pantaleone Fabrizi (1924 – 5 April 1963) was an English comedian and actor of Italian descent, noted for his luxuriant moustache. He was active in Britain in the 1950s and early 1960s.[1][2]

Mario Fabrizi
Born	Mario Edgio Pantaleone Fabrizi 1924 Holborn, London, England
Died	5 April 1963 (aged 38–39) London, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1956–1963
Spouse(s)	Katherine Boyne ​ ​ (m. 1960; his death 1963)​
Children	1

Life

Fabrizi was born to Italian parents in Holborn, London, England, in 1924, his mother's maiden name being Pisani.[3] His father was a Vicomte (Italian: visconte), a title that Mario inherited on his father's death in 1959.[4] He married Katherine Boyne of Leeds on 28 May 1960.[4] They had a son, Anthony, in 1961.[5][6]

On 5 April 1963 Fabrizi died of a stress-related illness at his home in Neasden, London; his wife and son survived him. A week before his death, he had announced that he was leaving show business.[7]

His son Anthony is now a businessman based in the City of London.[8]

Career

On ITV, Fabrizi was well known for his role in Granada Television's popular series The Army Game, as Corporal "Moosh" Merryweather, while on BBC television, he was a regular member of the ensemble cast of the Tony Hancock sitcom Hancock's Half Hour.[9][10] His most notable film role was as Neville Shanks, the photographer, in Hancock's 1963 film, The Punch and Judy Man.[11] He also worked frequently with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.[12]

Selected filmography

• The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) - Actor in 'The Mystery of Hell Valley' (uncredited)
• The Naked Truth (1957) - Man in Autograph Crowd (uncredited)
• Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) - Deputy Minister (uncredited)
• The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1960) - (uncredited)
• Two-Way Stretch (1960) - Jones
• The Rebel (1961) - Coffee Bar attendant
• Postman's Knock (1962) - Villager
• Operation Snatch (1962) - Tall Man
• Village of Daughters (1962) - Antonio Durigo
• It's Trad, Dad! (1962) - Spaghetti Eater
• Carry On Cruising (1962) - Second Cook
• On the Beat (1962) - Newspaper Seller
• Just for Fun (1963) - Diner
• The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) - Van Driver (uncredited)
• The Punch and Judy Man (1963) - Nevil Shanks
• The Mouse on the Moon (1963) - Mario - the Valet
• The Pink Panther (1963) - Hotel Manager (uncredited) (final film role)

References

1. "Mario Fabrizi". www.aveleyman.com.
2. "Mario Fabrizi".
3. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS.
4. Daily Mirror 27 May 1960 p26 "Mush Takes a (Real-Life) plunge!"
5. Pellegrineti claim to fame
6. LucyWho Mario Fabrizi and 5 month old son
7. Mario Fabrizi at IMDb
8. "Market profile".
9. Perry, Chris (3 February 2016). The Kaleidoscope British Christmas Television Guide 1937-2013. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781900203609 – via Google Books.
10. BBC. "Hancock's Half-Hour".
11. "BFI Screenonline: Punch and Judy Man, The (1962) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
12. Sikov, Ed (19 August 2011). Mr Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 9781447207146 – via Google Books.

External links

• Getty Images Mario Fabrizi and Katherine Boyne just married
• Mario Fabrizi at IMDb
• Fabrizi bio from Tony Hancock online