Italian Actor Paolo Villaggio dies

Italian actor Paolo Villaggio, famous for the Fantozzi character he created, has died in Rome this morning, the Independent reports.

He was 84.

Villaggio was born in Genoa in 1932 and throughout his long career interpreted various roles such as Professor Kranz and Gioandomenico Fracchia.

He is also the author of eight books related to the Fantozzi character.

Villaggio had also taken part in films directed by Federico Fellini, Marco Ferreri, Lina Wertmüller, Ermanno Olmi and Mario Monicelli.