Renowned Actor Gigio Morra Passes Away at 78

Actor Gigio Morra has died in Naples at the age of 78. His life was dedicated to the theater, coming from the school of Eduardo de Filippo, cinema, and television, being a popular actor in the cast of Rai TV series such as Un Posto al Sole (where he was Peppino Canfora), Il Commissario Montalbano, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone, Imma Tataranni. Morra had twenty-five films to his credit, debuting with Marco Bellocchio in 1976 (Marcia Trionfale), and had worked with major Italian directors such as Nanni Moretti, Mario Martone, Matteo Garrone (Gomorra), Marco Risi, Antonio Capuano, Lina Wertmuller. His second master in theater was Carlo Cecchi, then Leo de Bernardinis. He was also directed on stage by Maurizio Scaparro, Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, Luca De Filippo, and Toni Servillo (in the Trilogia della villeggiatura by Goldoni). The news of the artist's passing, who was born in Naples on August 26, 1945, was announced with a Facebook post by his wife Lucia Mandarini: 'My love has left me, he was a sweet, kind man and a great actor. He has left me in the greatest despair. I will love you forever.' The funeral will take place on Tuesday, March 12, in the church of Santa Caterina a Chiaia.