Umberto Smaila

Umberto Smaila (born 26 June 1950) is an Italian actor, composer, comedian, television personality, entrepreneur, and musician.

Umberto Smaila
Umberto Smaila in 2008
Born
Umberto Smaila

(1950-06-26) June 26, 1950
Verona, Italy
NationalityItalian
Occupation(s)actor, singer
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)

Born in Verona to an Istrian family,[1] in the early-1970s Smaila co-founded together with Jerry Calà, Franco Oppini and Ninì Salerno a cabaret-ensemble, I Gatti di Vicolo Miracoli. The group, reduced to three components since 1982 following Calà's departure, appeared on several successful TV programs and films and released several songs, including the hit singles "Verona Beat" and "Singer Solitude".[2][3] After the disbandment of the group Smaila was the television presenter of a number of quiz and variety shows, most notably the late night show Colpo grosso .[2][3] In the 1990s, he founded the "U.S. Band", an orchestra with whom he performed in several television programs.[2]

Smaila has composed musical scores for a number of films including Beast with a Gun (1977), Il ragazzo del pony express (1986), Sweets from a Stranger (1987), Delitti e profumi (1988), and Chicken Park (1994). The main theme of Beast with a Gun was later included in the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown.[4]

Smaila also wrote and directed a musical comedy film, Italian Boys, released in 1982.[4] In 1990, he put on a theatre production on the life and music of Fred Buscaglione.

He is the founder of the brand Smaila's, a chain of restaurants and nightclubs specialized in live music.[3]

He's agnostic.[1]

References
  1. Giordano, Lucio (31 March 2023). "Credevo in Dio, ma L'ho abbandonato e non so se un giorno Lo ritroverò". Dipiù (in Italian). No. 13. pp. 84–87.
  2. Grasso, Aldo, ed. (1996). Enciclopedia della televisione (in Italian). Milan: Garzanti. ISBN 88-11-50466-X.
  3. Anselmi, Eddy (2009). Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana (in Italian). Modena: Panini. ISBN 978-88-6346-229-6.
  4. Giusti, Marco (1999). Dizionario dei film italiani stracult. Sperling & Kupfer. ISBN 88-200-2919-7.
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