Mario Fabrizi

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
Died	5 April 1963(1963-04-05) (aged 38–39) Neasden, London, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1956–1963
Spouse	Katherine Boyne ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	1

Life

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]

On 5 April 1963 Fabrizi died of an 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 to become an advertising executive because he had not had a job in four months.^[6]

His son Anthony is now a businessman based in the City of London.^[7]

Career

On ITV, Fabrizi was well known for his role in Granada Television's popular series The Army Game, as Corporal "Moosh" Merryweather,^[8] while on BBC television, he was a regular member of the ensemble cast of the Tony Hancock sitcom Hancock's Half Hour.^[9][10] His most notable film role was as Neville Shanks, the photographer, in Hancock's 1963 film, The Punch and Judy Man.^[11] He also worked frequently with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.^[12]

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

Selected filmography

• The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) - Actor in 'The Mystery of Hell Valley' (uncredited)
• The Naked Truth (1957) - Man in Autograph Crowd (uncredited)
• Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) - Deputy Minister (uncredited)
• The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1960) - (uncredited)
• Two-Way Stretch (1960) - Jones
• The Rebel (1961) - Coffee Bar attendant
• Postman's Knock (1962) - Villager
• Operation Snatch (1962) - Tall Man
• Village of Daughters (1962) - Antonio Durigo
• It's Trad, Dad! (1962) - Spaghetti Eater
• Carry On Cruising (1962) - Second Cook
• On the Beat (1962) - Newspaper Seller
• Just for Fun (1963) - Diner
• The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) - Van Driver (uncredited)
• The Punch and Judy Man (1963) - Nevil Shanks
• The Mouse on the Moon (1963) - Mario - the Valet
• The Pink Panther (1963) - Hotel Manager (uncredited) (final film role)