Comedian Giorgio Bracardi dies at the age of 93

(ANSA) - ROME, 12 OTT - Comedian Giorgio Bracardi, whose surreal, over-the-top characters delighted generations of radio and TV audiences in Italy and who is perhaps best remembered for his appearances on mid-80s cult late-night variety show Quelli della Notte, has died at the age of 93, his family said Monday. Bracardi, who was also a musician and singer, was famous for characters such as the "Nicaraguan vulture" Scarpantibus and the pushy journalist Max Vinella from the cult 1970s radio show Alto Gradimento. He had been staying at a care home in Fiano Romano near his native Rome after breaking his femur last spring. Born in Rome on May 3, 1933, Bracardi grew up in the world of show business. His father was one of the first managers of Rome's Salone Margherita theater; his mother, Edvige, was a soprano, and his father, Glauco, was a tenor. All five of their children received a musical education and learned to play an instrument. Giorgio was a pianist who later became a composer, even participating in the Sanremo Festival as a songwriter. However, Bracardi rose to great popularity with Alto Gradimento, the radio program he co-created with Renzo Arbore, Gianni Boncompagni, and Mario Marenco. He later made the leap to television with Arbore in the 1985 show Quelli della notte, and also appeared on Pronto, chi gioca?, hosted by Enrica Bonaccorti and Giancarlo Magalli. In 1989, he hosted and starred in Chiappala chiappala on Rai 2. In 1995, he moved to Mediaset to join Striscia la Notizia, playing Lucio Smentisco, a fictional spokesperson for Silvio Berlusconi. In 2001, he was a featured performer on Marco Giusti's Rai 2 program Stracult. Bracardi also provided the voice for the character Cattivik in the animated series broadcast by Mediaset in 2008. With the surreal, chaotic characters created by Bracardi on Alto gradimento, his most famous catchphrases and character yells include: • "PATROCLOOO!" - His iconic, absurd shout performed as an unlikely Achilles wandering around looking for his lover/companion Patroclus. • "In galera! In galera!" (In jail! In jail!) - The signature aggressive chant of his character Ermanno Catenacci, a nostalgic, raging ex Fascist 'hierarch' (high-up official). • "Chettefrega!" (What do you care!) - A frequent, dismissive exclamation used across his sketches. • The screeching, bird-like squawks of Scarpantibus, a prehistoric, laceless-boot-wearing bird creature he created that spoke in chaotic noises. (ANSA).
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