Peppino Mazzotta

Peppino Mazzotta, born on 20 May 1971 in the Calabrian town of Domanico, has become one of Italy’s most recognizable character actors, especially famed for his role as the diligent police officer Giuseppe Fazio in the long‑running television series Il commissario Montalbano. Growing up in the province of Cosenza, he initially pursued studies in architecture at the University of Reggio Calabria before a decisive turn toward the dramatic arts, enrolling in a drama school in Palmi where his passion for performance blossomed. After graduating, he co‑founded the Naples‑based theatre company Rosso Tiziano with five fellow alumni, a collective that allowed him to explore both classical and contemporary repertoires and cement his reputation on the Italian stage. In 2003 he launched Teatri del Sud with playwright Francesco Suriano, dedicating the troupe to productions in the Calabrian dialect, although financial constraints forced its closure after three years; nevertheless, Mazzotta remained a vigorous presence in regional theatre, frequently directing and acting in Greek tragedies and modern works alike. His breakthrough on the small screen arrived in 1999 when he was cast as Giuseppe Fazio, the steadfast right‑hand man to Commissioner Salvo Montalbano, a role he has sustained across dozens of episodes and become synonymous with the cultural phenomenon surrounding Andrea Camilleri’s novels. Beyond Montalbano, he has displayed versatility in television dramas such as Solo (2016), portraying the *Ndrangheta boss Bruno Corona, and has earned critical acclaim on stage, notably receiving the Annibale Ruccello Prize for his production Radio Argo at the Positano Theatre Festival in 2012. Today Mazzotta balances a demanding schedule that spans cinema, television, and theatre, continuing to enrich Italian performing arts with his distinctive blend of intensity, humor, and regional authenticity.