Duilio Pizzocchi, the Master of Italian Character Comedy
🎭 Who is Duilio Pizzocchi?
Real name: Maurizio Pagliari, born in Bologna on October 14, 1957.
From a young age, he showed a natural flair for comedy and began performing on local radio and TV by age 20.
His Iconic Characters
Duilio Pizzocchi – a bumbling painter from Ferrara.
Cactus – a penniless hippie always scheming.
Donna Zobeide – a fake fortune teller with absurd horoscopes.
Ermete Bottazzi – a reckless truck driver.
Nonna Novella – a sharp-tongued granny obsessed with funerals.
Eddy Collante – a shady Italian-American mobster.
Others include Stefano Pedrazzi and Mefistocchi.
Career Highlights
TV shows: Zelig, Maurizio Costanzo Show, Domenica In, Casa Pizzocchi.
Radio: Il Manicomico (co-hosted with Giuseppe Giacobazzi).
Writer: Fuori scena (2020), stories and backstage anecdotes.
Films: Baciato dalla fortuna, Rapito, Acqua e anice and more.
Key Shows
Costipanzo Show (since 1992): a satirical cabaret with 1,000+ shows.
Vernice Fresca: solo show with his full character gallery.
Why Watch Him?
Duilio is a master of transforming real-life quirks into lovable, exaggerated figures. His comedy is sharp, folksy, and authentic – a tribute to Italian everyday life.