Mario Riva | |
|---|---|
 Mario Riva (on the left) and Riccardo Billi (on the right) in It Happened at the Police Station (1954) | |
| Born | Mario Bonavolontà 26 January 1913 Rome, Italy |
| Died | 1 September 1960 (aged 47) Verona, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, television presenter |
| Years active | 1941–1960 |
Mario "Mariuccio" Bonavolontà (26 January 1913 – 1 September 1960), professionally known as Mario Riva was an Italian television presenter and actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960.[1]
Born in Rome as Mario Bonavolontà, the son of composer Giuseppe Bonavolontà (1886–1957) and his wife Teresa Chinzari. His father composed over 500 popular tunes including "Fiocca la neve". Mario attended the Collegio San Giuseppe in Piazza di Spagna in Rome.[2]
Riva debuted at young age as a dubber and a radio actor.[3] His film debut was in 1941 in Due cuori sotto sequestro (Two Hearts Seized). He became first known as presenter of the stage show Clan (1942).[3]
After a long season of successes on stage (often in couple with Riccardo Billi) Riva reached the peak of his career with the RAI variety television Il Musichiere (1957–1960), the Italian version of Name That Tune.[3] He also appeared on several films, usually in supporting roles. While he was presenting from the Verona Arena the Secondo Festival del Musichiere (a special event linked to the TV program), he inadvertently fell into a hole in the stage covered with a tarpaulin and died from his injuries a few days later.[3]
