Pippo Pattavina
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1938-07-31
    • Born Place: Lentini, Sicily, Italy
  • Also Known As:

    Giuseppe Pattavina

Pippo Pattavina

Pippo Pattavina (born Giuseppe Pattavina on July 31, 1938, in Lentini, Sicily) is a renowned Italian actor, playwright, and director, celebrated especially for his contributions to Sicilian theater and television. He began his artistic career as a singer and performer, gaining early recognition with L’isola dei pupi, directed by Turi Ferro at the Teatro Stabile di Catania. His theatrical range spans from Shakespeare to Pirandello, often performing in both standard Italian and Sicilian dialect, showcasing his deep cultural and linguistic versatility. Over the decades, Pattavina has worked with some of Italy’s most distinguished stage actors, including Giorgio Albertazzi and Anna Proclemer. He is particularly admired for his ability to shift between comedy and drama with equal skill. His television appearances include roles in popular series such as Il commissario Montalbano, where he played Principal Burgio, and Boris Giuliano, in which he portrayed Judge Pietro Scaglione. Beyond acting, Pattavina is a familiar face in regional media, having hosted and performed in various Sicilian TV programs during the 1970s and ’80s, including Questo piccolo grande amore and La fiera del venerdì. He has also contributed to the preservation and evolution of Sicilian comedic theater through original works like Pipino il Breve and collaborations with notable writers like Vincenzo Cerami and composer Nicola Piovani. In recent years, he has continued to direct and star in major theatrical productions such as The Rape of the Sabine Women and Pirandello’s Think About It, Giacomino!, keeping his legacy alive across generations. Pattavina remains a beloved and influential figure in Italian cultural life, particularly in his native Sicily, where his name is synonymous with theatrical excellence and heartfelt storytelling.

Person History