Mario Riva

Mario "Mariuccio" Bonavolontà (26 January 1913 – 1 September 1960), professionally known as Mario Riva, was an Italian television presenter and actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960.

Life and career Born in Rome as Mario Bonavolontà, the son of composer (1886–1957) and his wife Teresa Chinzari. His father composed over 500 popular tunes including "". Mario attended the in in Rome.

Riva debuted at young age as a dubber and a radio actor. His film debut was in 1941 in (Two Hearts Seized). He became first known as presenter of the stage show Clan (1942).

After a long season of successes on stage (often in couple with Riccardo Billi) Riva reached the peak of his career with the RAI variety television (1957–1960), the Italian version of Name That Tune. He also appeared on several films, usually in supporting roles. While he was presenting from the Verona Arena the (a special event linked to the TV program), he inadvertently fell into a hole in the stage covered with a tarpaulin and died from his injuries a few days later.

Selected filmography

(1941) – singer Toto Tours Italy (1948) – Giovanni Baron Carlo Mazza (1948) – announcer The Firemen of Viggiù (1949) Yvonne of the Night (1949) – the cigarette boy Adam and Eve (1949) – the Russian castaway Toto Looks For a House (1949) – the owner of the agency (1949) – Giuseppino (1950) The Cadets of Gascony (1950) – Mario Fantoni Tomorrow Is Another Day (1951) – Pasquale (1951) – Mario Accidents to the Taxes!! (1951) – Mario The Steamship Owner (1951) – Mario My Heart Sings (1951) – Mario (1951) – Count Cerri (1951) – himself Sardinian Vendetta (1952) – Mario Abracadabra (1952) – Amleto In Olden Days (1952) – picky customer (segment "") (1952) – peddler Beauties on Motor Scooters (1952) Easy Years (1953) – Mario Paolella (1953) The Country of the Campanelli (1954) – magician Tarquinio It Happened at the Police Station (1954) – the second tram driver Tripoli, Beautiful Land of Love (1954) – Giulio Cesare Laugh! Laugh! Laugh! (1954) – Otello Spinotti (1955) – Pilade Mucci, the school caretaker It Happened at the Police Station (1955) – inmate No. 77 (1955) – Mario Rivetti (1955) – the dance teacher Roman Tales (1955) – the waiter at the restaurant (1955) (1955) (1956) – Nicola, the delicatessen seller (1957) – Cesaretto Pasti (1957) – Pippo (1957) – Francesco (1957) (1958) – commendatore Stefano Maghetti (1958) – Strettani (1958) – Domenico Esposito Toto, Peppino and the Fanatics (1958) – Caprioli's boss (1958) – the judge (1958) – Turconi (1958) – Mario Secchioni (1958) (1958) – himself (1959) – Edmondo Natale (1959) – the traffic warden Policarpo (1959) – the fireman at the theatre (uncredited) (1959) – Romolo Proietti (1959) – Augusto Zinconi The Traffic Policeman (1960) – himself