Alberto Lionello

{{Infobox person

| image = Alberto Lionello and his wife.jpg

| caption = Lionello (right) with his second wife Gabriella Vannotti in 1975

| name = Alberto Lionello

| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|07|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Milan, Kingdom of Italy

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1994|07|14|1930|07|12|df=y}}

| death_place = Fregenae, Italy

| othername =

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|voice actor|television presenter}}

| yearsactive = 1950–1983

| height = {{convert|1.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Margaret Axon|1959|1962|end=her death}}
{{marriage|Gabriella Vanotti|1964|1977|end=div}}

}}

| children = 2, including Gea Lionello

}}

Alberto Lionello (12 July 1930 – 14 July 1994) was an Italian actor, voice actor, singer and television presenter.

Life and career

Born in Milan into a family of Venetian origins, after studying acting at the Accademia dei Filodrammatici Lionello started his career in 1949, in the stage company of Antonio Gandusio. He got his first personal success in the stage play La pulce all' orecchio in 1951, then for several years he was part in the Wanda Osiris' stage company.Dario Salvatori. "Lionello, Alberto". Gino Castaldo (ed.). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore, 1990.{{cite news|last1=Rodolfo di Giammarco|title=E' morto Lionello antidivo con humour|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/15/morto-lionello-antidivo-con-humour.html|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=La Repubblica|date=15 July 1994}}

Lionello had his breakout in 1960 as presenter of the RAI Saturday night musical show Canzonissima together with Lauretta Masiero and Aroldo Tieri. He also performed the opening theme song "La la la", which became a hit ranking 13th on the Italian hit parade.Dario Salvatori. "Lionello, Alberto". Gino Castaldo (ed.). Dizionario della canzone italiana. Curcio Editore, 1990.{{cite news|last1=Rodolfo di Giammarco|title=E' morto Lionello antidivo con humour|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/15/morto-lionello-antidivo-con-humour.html|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=La Repubblica|date=15 July 1994}} In 1961 he started a 7-years-long collaboration with the Teatro Stabile in Genoa, where he got large critical acclaim, particularly for his performances in Zeno's Conscience, which he later also played in a television adaptation, and in Carlo Goldoni's The Venetian Twins, which he performed in 33 countries including in Broadway.{{cite news|last1=Rodolfo di Giammarco|title=E' morto Lionello antidivo con humour|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/15/morto-lionello-antidivo-con-humour.html|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=La Repubblica|date=15 July 1994}}

Lionello had a long relationship, from 1978 until his death, with the actress Erika Blanc. His daughter Gea is also an actress.{{cite news|last1=Rodolfo di Giammarco|title=E' morto Lionello antidivo con humour|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/15/morto-lionello-antidivo-con-humour.html|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=La Repubblica|date=15 July 1994}}