| Net Worth: | $10 Million |
|---|---|
| Name: | Diego Abatantuono |
| Salary: | $0.7 Million + |
| Monthly Income: | $50,000 + |
| Date of Birth: | May 20, 1955 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.84m. (6’0″) |
| Weight: | 91 kg or 198 lbs |
| Profession: | Italian theatre actor |
| Nationality: | Italian |
| Age: | 70 Yrs |
🎬 Early Life & Background
Diego Abatantuono was born on May 20, 1955, in Milan—specifically the Gianbellino suburb— to parents Matteo, a shoemaker from Vieste in Apulia, and Rosa, a wardrobe attendant originally from Como (Wikipedia). He grew up immersed in Milan’s vibrant cultural scene, frequented the family-owned Derby Club, where his mother worked and his uncles owned the venue. From a young age, he gravitated toward stage work and joined the club’s staff as a lighting technician, later becoming an artistic director.
Despite average academic performance, his early involvement with Derby connected him with local cabaret talent, such as members of “I Gatti di Vicolo Miracoli,” by way of Giorgio Porcaro. He crafted his first memorable character—the “Terruncello,” a caricature of a Southern Italian immigrant—speaking in a comically exaggerated dialect, which gained traction on Milan’s cabaret circuit.
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🎥 Ascent in Cinema
In 1976, Abatantuono debuted in film with a small role in Young, Violent, Dangerous (a.k.a. Liberi armati pericolosi) (IMDb). Over the next few years, he appeared in comedies like Saxofone (1978), Fantozzi contro tutti (1980), and I fichissimi (1981), gradually establishing his comedic presence—often embodying rough-around-the-edges characters (IMDb).
A major breakthrough arrived in 1980, when he was cast by Renzo Arbore in Il Pap’occhio after being noticed at Derby. However, it was his 1982 role in Eccezzziunale… veramente, which he co-wrote, that cemented his fame. His performance—playing three different die-hard football fans of Milan, Inter, and Juventus—became a cult classic. He even reprised the roles in the 2006 sequel Eccezzziunale… veramente – Capitolo secondo… me, featuring cameo appearances from A.C. Milan players.
🛠 Transition to Drama & Career Expansion
Abatantuono pivoted to dramatic roles in 1986 with Pupi Avati’s Regalo di Natale (Christmas Present), earning him a Nastro d’Argento for Best Supporting Actor (Wikipedia). His performance marked a reputation shift from comic relief to versatile lead actor.
He followed this success with significant roles in Luigi Comencini’s Un ragazzo di Calabria (1987), where he played a poor farmer, and films by Gabriele Salvatores, such as Marrakech Express (1989), Turné (1990), and Mediterraneo (1991) which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Subsequent collaborations with Salvatores include Puerto Escondido (1992), Nirvana (1997), Amnèsia (2002), Io non ho paura (I’m Not Scared, 2003), Happy Family (2010), and Volare (2019).
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🏆 Awards & Recognition
Abatantuono’s achievements are notable:
- Nastro d’Argento (Silver Ribbon awards):
- 1987: Best Supporting Actor, Christmas Present
- 1993: Best Actor, Puerto Escondido
- 2004: Best Supporting Actor, I’m Not Scared
- Plus several nominations
- 1987: Best Supporting Actor, Christmas Present
- Ciak d’Oro:
- 1991: Best Actor, Mediterraneo
- 2003: Best Supporting Actor, I’m Not Scared
- 1991: Best Actor, Mediterraneo
- Multiple nominations for David di Donatello: Best Supporting Actor (Christmas Present, 1987), Best Actor (Mediterraneo, 1991), and others. In 2021, he received a David Special Award.
- Additional honors include Golden Goblet and Golden Ciak awards.
🎭 Theatre, Television & Business Ventures
Beyond film, Abatantuono continued to work across mediums:
- Theatre: He performed in plays including Molière’s Don Giovanni in 1984.
- Television: Popular figure in shows like Il giudice Mastrangelo (2005–2007) and Colorado Café Live (2003–2007)—which he also co-created and later co-hosted (). He returned as a guest host in a 2014 special, celebrating the show’s 10th anniversary. Further TV appearances include culinary program Enjoy – Ridere fa bene (2020) and game show Che tempo che fa in 2024.
- Entrepreneurship: Co-founded Colorado Film production company and the restaurant chain Meatball Family in Milan (inaugurated 2013..
🎂 Personal Life
- Married to designer Rita Rabassini (1984–1987); they had one daughter, Marta (b. 1985).
- Since 1987, partnered with Giulia Begnotti, with whom he has two children: Matteo (b. 1995) and Marco (b. 1997).
- A lifelong A.C. Milan fan, often expressing strong emotional ties to the club .
📊 Physical Stats & Zodiac
- Height: 1.84 m (6′0″)
- Weight: Approximately 91 kg (198 lbs).
- Hair & Eyes: Salt-and-pepper hair and brown eyes.
- Zodiac: A Taurus, born May 20, 1955.
💰 Net Worth & Income
Estimating net worth can vary widely:
- Many profiles, including LuxLux and caknowledge sources, estimate his net worth at around $10 million.
- In contrast, People AI places his net worth at approximately $1.73 million as of July 2025, growing from $1.04 million in 2021.
- Salary and monthly income figures are not officially documented, though earlier sources mention a potential annual salary of ~$0.7 million and monthly income of ~$50,000—but such estimates lack verification.
Given the consistent $10‑million figure across several celebrity net‑worth sites, plus longstanding career earnings from acting, writing, producing, live entertainment, and restaurant business, $10 million seems a fair ballpark figure.
