Erminio Macario

Erminio Macario (27 May 1902 – 25 March 1980), best known as Macario, was an Italian film actor and comedian. He appeared in 42 films between 1933 and 1975.

Born in Turin, Macario made his debut at a young age in the amateur dramatics company Don Bosco Oratory in Valdocco, then he was part of some small amateur companies in his hometown until 1924. At this time, he was cast in the company of dancing and pantomime of Giovanni Molasso. Soon after, he entered the company of Wanda Osiris, the undisputed queen of the revue of that time in Italy. Between the two wars he became, in a short time, one of the most popular comedians of the revue theatre.

Macario made his film debut in 1933 with Aria di paese, but the success came just six years later with two comedy films directed by Mario Mattoli and co-written by a young Federico Fellini, Imputato alzatevi! and Lo vedi come sei... lo vedi come sei?. After a series of successful comedies directed by Carlo Borghesio since the early fifties, Macario appeared in short characterizations in anthology films and was sidekick of Totò in a number of films. Starting from the mid-sixties he finally dedicated himself to television and theatre.

His comical style was referred to as a mixture between Chaplin's Charlot and Marx Brothers.