Paolo Bonacelli

Paolo Bonacelli (born February 28, 1937, in Rome, Italy; died October 8, 2025) was an Italian screen and stage actor celebrated for bringing intelligence and menace to complex character roles. Working across Italian and international productions, he became a familiar face in bold, politically charged cinema as well as popular comedies.

Bonacelli is most widely associated with Pier Paolo Pasolini’s controversial Salò (1975), where his portrayal of the Duke de Blangis helped define the film’s chilling tone. He also appeared in major late-1970s titles including Midnight Express (1978) and Caligula (1979), playing Cassius Chaerea.

In the 1990s he continued to expand his range, co-starring with Roberto Benigni in Johnny Stecchino and turning up in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth (1991) as a priest. His later credits include Abraham, Lenin: The Train, Ciao, Professore!, and Le Guignolo, underscoring a career built on versatility and strong ensemble work.