Mario Edgio Pantaleone Fabrizi (25 June 1924 – 5 April 1963) was an English comedian and actor of Italian descent, noted for his luxuriant moustache. He was active in Britain in the 1950s and early 1960s.[1][2]

Mario Fabrizi
Born
Mario Edgio Pantaleone Fabrizi

(1924-06-25)25 June 1924
Holborn, London, England
Died5 April 1963(1963-04-05) (aged 38–39)
Neasden, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1956–1963
Spouse
Katherine Boyne
(m. 1960)
Children1

Life

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Fabrizi was born to Italian parents in Holborn, London, England, in 1924, his mother's maiden name being Pisani.[3] His father was a Vicomte (Italian: visconte), a title that Mario inherited on his father's death in 1959.[4] He married Katherine Boyne of Leeds on 28 May 1960.[4] They had a son, Anthony, in 1961.[5][6]

On 5 April 1963 Fabrizi died of a stress-related illness at his home in Neasden, London; his wife and son survived him. A week before his death, he had announced that he was leaving show business.[7]

His son Anthony is now a businessman based in the City of London.[8]

Career

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On ITV, Fabrizi was well known for his role in Granada Television's popular series The Army Game, as Corporal "Moosh" Merryweather,[9] while on BBC television, he was a regular member of the ensemble cast of the Tony Hancock sitcom Hancock's Half Hour.[10][11] His most notable film role was as Neville Shanks, the photographer, in Hancock's 1963 film, The Punch and Judy Man.[12] He also worked frequently with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.[13]

He was buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, W.10.

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Mario Fabrizi". www.aveleyman.com.
  2. ^ "Mario Fabrizi". Archived from the original on 15 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS.
  4. ^ a b Daily Mirror 27 May 1960 p26 "Mush Takes a (Real-Life) plunge!"
  5. ^ Pellegrineti claim to fame[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ LucyWho Mario Fabrizi and 5 month old son
  7. ^ Mario Fabrizi at IMDb
  8. ^ "Market profile".
  9. ^ "ITV's First Sitcom - The Army Game". 31 March 2020.
  10. ^ Perry, Chris (3 February 2016). The Kaleidoscope British Christmas Television Guide 1937-2013. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781900203609 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ BBC. "Hancock's Half-Hour".
  12. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Punch and Judy Man, The (1962) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  13. ^ Sikov, Ed (19 August 2011). Mr Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 9781447207146 – via Google Books.
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