Farewell to Lucio Montanaro, the face of Italian comedy, who died at age 75

Lucio Montanaro, an actor and character actor from Puglia who for decades was synonymous with Italian comedy, has died at the age of 75. A native of Martina Franca, Montanaro reportedly suffered a sudden illness while in the pool at his home. The news of his passing has caused great sadness in his hometown and among those who had followed his long career.

Montanaro had turned 75 on June 22. On the occasion of his birthday, the municipal government of Martina Franca had paid tribute to him with a plaque, once again demonstrating the strong bond between the actor and his hometown.

He became particularly well-known in the 1970s and 1980s, during the golden age of Italian comedy. Throughout his career, he had acted alongside some of the best-known stars of comedy and popular cinema, from Lino Banfi to Mario Merola, including Mario Carotenuto, Alvaro Vitali, Bombolo, Renzo Montagnani, and Pippo Franco.

An actor capable of bringing personality even to supporting roles, Montanaro had built his success thanks to his natural flair for comedy and his ability to bring characters to life with just a few gestures and lines. His distinctive presence had allowed him to gain popularity not only in Italy but also among fans abroad of that cinema, which over time had become a true cult genre.

Particularly significant was his professional and personal relationship with Mario Merola, to whom Montanaro had recently dedicated a book. He was scheduled to present this work in the coming days during a film festival in Bisceglie. This event would have provided another opportunity to share memories, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes stories from a long era of Italian entertainment.

Despite the years that had passed since his most popular films, Montanaro had continued to maintain a close connection with his audience and with Martina Franca. The celebration organized a few weeks ago for his 75th birthday had come to symbolize his city’s embrace of one of its best-known figures.

With the death of Lucio Montanaro, one of the character actors of that generation—who helped shape some of the most popular chapters in Italian comedy—has passed away. What remains are his films, his characters, and those performances—often in supporting roles—that nonetheless left a lasting impression.

A legacy of laughter and popular cinema that will continue to tell the story of Lucio Montanaro even after his passing.