Carlo Alighiero

Carlo Alighiero, born Carlo Animali on 2 February 1927 in the historic town of Ostra in what was then the Kingdom of Italy, was a prolific figure in Italian theatre, television and cinema. After completing his studies at the prestigious Brera Academy and the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico, he made his professional stage debut in 1952 in Padua, quickly joining the innovative Compagnia dei Giovani in Trieste where he began to hone his craft as both performer and creator. In the 1970s he co‑founded an independent theatrical training course together with actress Elena Cotta, whom he had met in 1949 and later married, fostering a new generation of talent and cementing his reputation as a dedicated educator. Alighiero’s versatility allowed him to transition seamlessly between stage and screen: on television he narrated the acclaimed 1968 adaptation of The Odyssey directed by Franco Rossi, and became widely recognized for his portrayal of Sgt. Howard in the popular series Giallo Club and its sequel Ritorna il sergente Sheridan. His film work includes collaborations with celebrated genre directors such as Sergio Martino, Dario Argento, Damiano Damiani and Lucio Fulci, appearing in titles like The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971) and The Tough Ones (1976). Throughout a career that spanned almost seven decades, Alighiero remained an influential presence, not only as an actor but also as a voice actor, director and playwright, contributing to the richness of Italian popular culture. He persisted in artistic activity well into his later years, exemplifying a lifelong commitment to the performing arts until his death in Rome on 11 September 2021 at the age of 94.