Dottesio, Attilio

[PeplumParadise]

Attilio Dottesio, in Yellow - le cugine (1969)

Attilio Dottesio was a character actor active in mostly small roles in Italian films between 1940-1985.

Numerous souces give his date of birth as July 16th 1909 in Desenzano del Garda[1] (Italy), and his date of death as February 12th 1989, aged 79, in Rome. He was 1.73 tall, weighed 70 kg and he attended the Gymnasium lyceum.[1]

The mini-biography on his Wikipedia page says he began his career in France, where he had some degree of success as a singer. The bio also says he made his acting debut in Les Perles de la couronne (1937), however I was unable to spot him in the film so this remains unconfirmed. What is confirmed (from the C.S.C. website) is that he studied acting at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, graduating in 1942, at the age of 33. He had already been active in Italian films for 2 years by then, having made his Italian debut in La peccatrice (1940). For a while in the mid-40's it looked like he might break through to become a bigger star, but it wasn't to be. He continued working steadily in small character roles, uncredited bit parts and occasional larger roles for the next 40 years. During the 70's he appeared in "straight" roles (and occasionally "hot" roles) in many cult exploitation movies, meaning his face is probably better known today than many of his contemporaries.

Fairly easy to recognise from his high hairline and wide mouth. From the start of the 70's he maintained a mostly white beard with black moustache, giving him a more unique look. I have found a couple of undocumented appearances by Attilio, so I think it is quite possible there could be more, particularly from the late 50's where his filmography is currently a little sparse.

Filmography

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1940

1. La peccatrice .... Hotel porter (uncredited)
   
   1941
2. Il bravo di Venezia .... Painter (uncredited)
   
   1942
3. La bisbetica domata .... Film actor (uncredited)
4. La contessa Castiglione .... Theatre patron (uncredited)
   
   1943
5. Giacomo l'idealista .... Battistella (credited)
6. L'uomo dalla croce .... Injured tank soldier (credited as "A. Dottesio")
   
   1944
7. Aeroporto .... Gustavo Ferri (credited)
   
   1945
8. Fatto di cronaca .... unknown role (poster credit)
   
   1947
9. La revanche de Baccarat .... Count Luigi D'Orsino (credited, but not found)
10. Rocambole .... Count Luigi D'Orsino (credited)
    
    1948
11. La Certosa di Parma .... Ferrante Palla (uncredited)
    
    1949
12. Il lupo della Sila .... Man who starts a fight with Salvatore (credited)
13. La città dolente .... The fugitive (credited)
14. Riso amaro .... Radio Torino reporter (uncredited)
    
    1950
15. Cavalcata d'eroi .... Mazzini (poster credit - role unconfirmed)
16. Contro la legge .... unknown role (credited as A. D'Ottesio)
17. Gli inesorabili .... One of Sapassa's sons (uncredited)
18. I fuorilegge .... Captain of the carabinieri (credited)
19. Vogliamoci bene! .... Mario (credited)
    
    1951
20. Fuoco nero .... Stefano (credited)
21. I falsari .... Carlo Farina (credited)
22. Il tradimento .... Doctor Bianchini (uncredited)
23. La vendetta di Aquila Nera .... Officer in Boris's regiment (credited)
    
    1952
24. Camicie rosse .... Wounded Garibaldi soldier (uncredited)
25. La prigioniera della torre di fuoco .... Carlo Pepli (credited)
26. La ragazza di Trieste .... Baum (poster credit as "Dottesio")
27. La storia de Il Fornaretto di Venezia .... Aorgadore? (credited - still no pic)
28. Una madre ritorna .... Commissioner (credited)
    
    1953
29. La Gioconda .... Fernando (credited)
30. Gioventù alla sbarra .... Mimmo (credited)
31. La nave delle donne maledette .... Prosecuting attorney (credited)
32. Legione straniera .... Irene's brother (credited)
33. Noi peccatori .... Doctor (credited)
34. Non è mai troppo tardi .... Daniele (uncredited)
35. Perdonami! .... Police officer (credited)
36. Puccini .... Sampieri (credited)
    
    1954
37. La barriera della legge .... Commissioner Rodolfi (poster credit - unconfirmed role)
38. La prigioniera di Amalfi .... unknown role (no credit info)
    
    1955
39. Yalis, la vergine del roncador .... unknown role (poster credit)
    
    1956
40. Accadde di notte .... unknown role (poster credit)
    
    1957
41. Il segreto della Sierra Dorada .... unknown role (poster credit)
    
    1961
42. Il sicario .... Not found (credited)
43. Il trionfo di Maciste .... Arsinoe (credited)
44. La grande vallata .... unknown role (poster credit)
45. La vendetta di Ursus .... Afro (credited)
46. Vanina Vanini .... Scipione (uncredited)
47. Viva l'Italia .... Francesco Crispi (credited)
    
    1962
48. Un branco di vigliacchi .... German prisoner (credited)
49. Venere imperiale .... Officer (uncredited)
    
    1963
50. Brenno il nemico di Roma .... Petulus / Prisoner being tortured (credited)
51. La ballata dei mariti .... Police commissioner (credited)
52. La smania addosso .... Public prosecutor (credited)
53. Sansone contro i pirati .... Alvarez (credited)
54. Zorro contro Maciste .... General Saveria (credited)
    
    1964
55. Amore mio .... P.S. agent (credited as "Emilio Dottesio")
56. E...la donna creo l'uomo .... Hotel employee (uncredited)
57. Ercole contro Roma .... Satiro (credited)
58. I due evasi di Sing Sing .... Tony Agnetto (credited)
59. I predoni della steppa .... Army commander (credited)
60. Il colosso di Roma .... Pagan priest (credited)
61. La jena di Londra .... Brown (credited as "William Burke")
62. Maciste alla corte dello zar .... Rebel chief (credited)
63. Maciste e la regina di Samar .... Xelon (credited)
64. Panic Button .... Gangster (uncredited)
65. Se permettete parliamo di donne .... Police inspector (credited)
    
    1965
66. 30 Winchester per El Diablo .... Sheriff Webb (credited as "William Burke")
67. Come inguaiammo l'esercito .... Hotel manager (uncredited)
68. Il mistero dell'isola maledetta .... Lieutenant Esteban (credited)
69. Un tango dalla Russia .... Fred (credited)
    
    1966
70. 100 ragazze per un playboy .... Psychiatrist (credited)
71. Agente 070: Thunderbay missione Grasshopper .... Drixer (credited)
72. Le spie amano i fiori .... Inspector's assistant (credited)
73. Missione apocalisse .... Schwarz (credited)
74. Uccidete Johnny Ringo .... Doc (credited as "William Burke")
75. Un tango dalla Russia .... Fred (credited - role unconfirmed)
    
    1967
76. Come rubare un quintale di diamanti in Russia .... Russian security agent monitoring surveillance cameras (uncredited)
77. I criminali della metropoli .... Jordan (credited as "William Burke")
78. I diamanti che nessuno voleva rubare .... Maresciallo (credited)
79. I racconti del risorgimento (TV series) - ep. : "Addio, mia bella, addio" .... Massimo (credited)
80. Il ragazzo che sapeva amare .... unknown role (credited)
81. L'immorale .... Shoe shop owner (uncredited)
82. L'uomo del colpo perfetto .... Police commissioner (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
83. Uccideva a freddo .... Prosecutor (credited)
    
    1968
84. Black Jack .... Moreno (uncredited)
85. Corri uomo corri .... Manuel Etchevaria (credited)
86. Giurò... e li uccise ad uno ad uno... Piluk il timido .... Judge Everett (uncredited)
87. I lunghi giorni dell'odio .... Barnaby (credited)
88. I racconti del maresciallo (TV series) - season 1, ep. 3: "Il sospetto") .... Maresciallo Quarati (credited as "Attilio Dottesi")
89. Italian Secret Service .... Captain of the Russian ship (uncredited)
90. Le inchieste del commissario Maigret (TV series) - season 3, ep. 4: "La chiusa" .... Jacques (credited)
91. Stasera Fernandel (TV series) - season 1, ep. 3: "A me gli occhi" .... Man consulting fortune teller (uncredited)
    
    1969
92. Barbagia .... Nino's father (credited)
93. C'era una volta un gangster .... Commissioner Mazzano (credited)
94. I diavoli della guerra .... The priest (uncredited)
95. Il magnaccio .... Laura's father (credited)
96. La monaca di Monza .... Prison warden (uncredited)
97. Raptus .... Police commissioner (credited)
98. La taglia è tua... l'uomo l'ammazzo io .... Sheriff (uncredited)
99. Le sorelle .... Train ticket inspector (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
100. Oliver Cromwell - Ritratto di un dittatore (TV mini-series) - eps. 1, 2 (credited, but not found)
101. Yellow - le cugine .... Romolo (credited)
102. Zorro alla corte d'Inghilterra .... Judge (uncredited)
     
     1970
103. Arrivano Django e Sartana... è la fine .... Old miner (credited as "Dean Reese")
104. Buon funerale amigos!... paga Sartana .... Joe Benson (uncredited)
105. Don Franco e Don Ciccio nell'anno della contestazionea .... Onerevole de Gaetano (uncredited)
106. I giovedi della signora Giulia (TV mini-series) - eps. 3, 4, 5 .... Agent Polito (credited)
107. I vendicatori dell'Ave Maria .... Sheriff Ferguson (no credit info)
108. Il magnifico Robin Hood .... Sir William Prescott (uncredited)
109. Inginocchiati straniero... i cadaveri non fanno ombra! .... Sanchez (credited as "Dean Reece")
110. La sfida dei MacKenna .... Bob, Laredo sheriff (credited)
111. Quel maledetto giorno d'inverno... Django e Sartana all'ultimo sangue .... Willy McLean (credited as "Dan Reesy")
112. Shango, la pistola infallibile .... Fernandez (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
113. Una coccarda per il re (TV movie) .... Sergeant (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
     
     1971
114. Arriva Durango... paga o muori .... Peter (credited)
115. E tornato Sabata...hai chiuso un'altra volta! .... Organ player (uncredited)
116. Il ritorno del gladiatore più forte del mondo .... Manilo (credited)
117. Il tredicesimo è sempre Giuda .... General (credited)
118. Per una bara piena di dollari .... Charles Benson (credited as "Dean Reece")
119. Quelle sporche anime dannate .... Sheriff (credited)
120. Rimase uno solo e fu la morte per tutti! .... Prison director (credited)
121. Tara Poki .... Priest (credited)
122. Trastevere .... Tavern customer (uncredited)
123. Una stagione all'inferno (credited, but not found)
     
     1972
124. Bianco, rosso e... .... Man in demonstration parade (uncredited)
125. Il santo patrono .... The mayor (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
126. Il West ti va stretto, amico... è arrivato Alleluja .... Barman (uncredited)
127. L'età di Cosimo de Medici (TV mini-series) - ep. 3 .... Weapons constructor (credited as "Attilio Dottavio")
128. La colt era il suo dio .... Sheriff Bill Harris (credited)
129. La lunga cavalcata della vendetta .... Mr. Drummond (credited)
130. Lo scopone scientifico .... The carpenter (uncredited)
131. Meo Patacca .... Jew (uncredited)
132. Karzan, il favoloso uomo della jungla .... Mr. Reed (credited)
133. Seminò morte... lo chiamavano il Castigo di Dio! .... Barman (uncredited)
134. Sollazzevoli storie di mogli gaudenti e mariti penitenti .... Raffaello (credited)
135. Un Bounty Killer a Trinità .... John (credited)
136. Una colt in mano al diavolo .... Jeremy Scott (credited)
137. Zambo, il dominatore della foresta .... Professor Woodworth (credited)
     
     1973
138. ...altrimenti vi ammucchiamo .... Outlaw in Chinese restaurant (uncredited)
139. ...e continuavano a mettere lo diavolo ne lo inferno .... Cardinal Ronconi (credited)
140. 4 caporali e ½ e un colonnello tutto d'un pezzo .... Colonel Lupinacci (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
141. All'ultimo minuto (TV series) - S3, ep. 4: "Scala reale" .... unknown role (credited)
142. Diario di una vergine romana .... Lucius (credited)
143. Fra' Tazio da Velletri .... Bellarmino (credited)
144. Il brigadiere Pasquale Zagaria ama la mamma e la polizia .... Man from Molise (uncredited)
145. Il giustiziere di Dio .... Tim Robson (credited)
146. Il tuo piacere è il mio .... Viscount of Turenna (uncredited)
147. Il vero coraggio (TV movie) .... Euripontide (credited on Radiocorriere TV)
148. Kid il monello del west .... Mackenzie (credited)
149. La morte ha sorriso all'assassino .... Inspector Dannick (credited)
150. Novelle licenziose di vergini vogliose .... Doctor (credited)
151. Paolo il caldo .... Doctor Mondella (uncredited)
152. Pugni, pirati e karatè .... Governor (credited)
153. Sei bounty killers per una strage .... Cemetery (credited)
     
     1974
154. A pugni nudi .... Doctor (uncredited)
155. Commissariato di notturna .... Man chained to the lamp post (uncredited)
156. Dieci bianchi uccisi da un piccolo indiano .... Smith (credited)
157. Eroi all"inferno .... Jean (uncredited)
158. Il giovane Garibaldi (TV mini-series), ep. 1: "Il fratello Borel" .... unknown role (credited)
159. La badessa di Castro .... Doctor (uncredited)
160. La polizia chiede aiuto .... Coroner (uncredited)
161. Le scomunicate di San Valentino .... Prison guard (credited)
162. Nucleo centrale investigativo (TV series) - ep. 5: "Il falso Tiziano" .... Restoration director (credited)
163. Scusi, si potrebbe evitare il servizio militare? ...No! .... The colonel (credited)
164. Sotto il placido don (TV mini-series) - ep. 4 .... Ivan (credited)
165. The Arena .... Spectator (uncredited)
166. Un certo Marconi (TV movie) .... A sailor (credited)
167. Un uomo, una città .... Coroner (credited)
168. Virilità .... Judge in the dream (uncredited)
     
     1975
169. ...a tutte le auto della polizia... .... Coroner (credited)
170. Che botte ragazzi! .... Village elder (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
171. Furia nera .... The commissioner (credited)
172. I sette del gruppo selvaggio .... Banker
173. Il richiamo del lupo .... Jim and Mary's father (credited)
174. Il tempo degli assassini .... Brigadier (uncredited)
175. La bolognese .... Don Calogero (credited)
176. La supplente .... Priest celebrating Professor Teresa Scifuni's funeral (uncredited)
177. Prete, fai un miracolo .... role??? (credit status unknown)
178. Profondo rosso .... Gardener (uncredited)
179. Roma drogata: la polizia non può intervenire .... Lawyer (uncredited)
180. Roma violenta .... Bus passenger (uncredited)
181. Lo sgarbo .... Man killed in the gambling room (uncredited)
182. Zanna Bianca alla riscossa .... Stagecoach driver (credited)
     
     1976
183. Bluff - storia di truffe e di imbroglioni .... The professor (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
184. Cuore di cane .... Man reading newspaper (credited)
185. Emanuelle nera n° 2 .... The general (credited)
186. Emmanuelle bianca e nera .... Doctor (credited)
187. Italia a mano armata .... Theft victim (uncredited)
188. Lager SSadis Kastrat Kommandantur .... Doctor Steiner (credited)
189. Roma, l'altra faccia della violenza .... Mugging victim (uncredited)
190. Telefoni bianchi .... Partisan (uncredited)
     
     1977
191. Canne mozze .... Don Carrara (credited)
192. Gola profonda nera .... Guru (uncredited)
193. I peccati di una giovane moglie di campagna .... Rev. Clemente Argonni (credited)
194. La bravata .... Desk employee who pays criminals (credited)
195. Kakkientruppen .... Role unidentifiable (credited as "Attilio Dottosio")
196. Mogliamante .... Luigi's secretary (credited)
197. Nerone .... Centurion (uncredited)
198. SS Lager 5: L'inferno delle donne .... Professor Abraham (credited)
199. Gli uccisori .... Professor (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
     
     1978
200. I vecchi e i giovani (TV mini-series) - eps. 1, 3, 4, 5 .... Liborio (credited)
201. Il commissario Verrazzano .... Notary Bruni (uncredited)
202. Il grande attacco .... Pierre (credited)
     
     1979
203. Con gli occhi dell'occidente (TV mini-series) - eps. 1, 3 .... Laspara (credited)
     
     1980
204. Eva man .... The professor (uncredited)
205. Orinoco: Prigioniere del sesso .... Moreno (uncredited)
206. Sono fotogenico .... Turchese (credited)
     
     1981
207. Dei miei bollenti spiriti (TV mini-series) - ep. 3 .... Father Onofrio (credited)
208. Giochi erotici nella terza galassia .... Village elder (uncredited)
209. I ragazzi di celluloide (TV mini-series) - ep. 1 .... Party guest (uncredited)
210. La nouvelle malle des Indes (TV mini-series) .... Barbarin (credited as "Attilio D'Ottesio")
211. La Salamandra .... Guest At Bruno Manzini's Party (uncredited)
212. Pierino contro tutti .... The doctor (credited)
     
     1982
213. Cercasi Gesù .... The carpenter (credited)
214. Colomba (TV mini-series) - ep. 3 .... Dr. Pauli (credited)
215. El regreso de Eva Man .... Doctor (credited)
216. La Traviata .... Party guest (uncredited)
     
     1983
217. Sfrattato cerca casa equo canone .... Army veteran on the bus (uncredited)
218. The Lonely Lady .... Man at the award ceremony (uncredited)
     
     1984
219. Cuore (TV mini-series) - eps. 2, 6 .... School inspector (credited)
220. Dagobert .... Cardinal Basilius (uncredited)
     
     1985
221. Massimamente folle .... Real or fake monk in police lineup (credited)

More Attilio!

There are plenty more titles where Attilio is rumoured to appear that I have not yet checked, so if anybody has any of the titles below you know what to do.

• Les Perles de la couronne (1937) This title is mentioned in the mini-biography on Wikipedia as being Attilio's acting debut, however the title is not included in his filmography there or anywhere else. I had no luck finding him, however it is one of those films where practically every actor is wearing a wig or a hat, so it could be possible I missed him.
• Il cavaliere senza nome (1941) - ANICA
• L'amore canta (1941) - ANICA
• Piccolo mondo antico (1941) - ANICA as Companion of Franco. I didn't find him, but may possibly have missed him.
• Soltanto un bacio (1942) - IMDb
• L'angelo del miracolo (1945) - ANICA
• Ti ritroverò (1949) - IMDb as The gunrunner head
• Operazione mitra (1954) - ANICA
• Amazzonia terra sconosciuta (1955) - This documentary is mentioned on Wikipedia as being Attilio's only directorial credit
• Além do Rio das Mortes (1959), as "Wayand" (Cinemateca brasileira). This is a Brazilian film. Given this credit and the documentary above maybe it's possible Attilio spent some time in South America in the mid-late 50's which could account for his lack of Italian credits during this time?
• Te lo leggo negli occhi (1965/6) - ANICA
• Il sole è di tutti (1968) - IMDb as Direttore delle incisioni
• La donna scomparsa (1971) - ANICA
• I ragazzi di celluloide (TV series, 1981) - ep. 3

No Dottesio!

As always seems to be the case with little-known actors with large online filmographies, there are a few titles where he is credited somewhere online, but either he does not appear or else I was unable to find him for some reason.

• Il lupo della frontiera (1951) - IMDb with no role. Searched for multiple times, but not found.
• Europa '51 (1952) - ANICA with no role. Searched for multiple times, but not found.
• Il Leone di San Marco (1963) - ANICA. I've been through this film thoroughly head-shotting and Attilio is nowhere to be seen and not credited.
• Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966) - IMDb as 3rd Sombrero Onlooker at Tuco's 1st Hanging. I didn't see him anywhere as an onlooker at the 1st hanging (nor the 2nd hanging for that matter)
• La resa dei conti (1966) IMDb as Mexican officer. There's an actor in a role fitting this description who bears a very loose resemblance to Attilio, but unanimous agreement is that it isn't him.
• Ray Master l'inafferrabile (1966) - ANICA. Not credited and not found
• La Traviata (1967) - ANICA. Not credited and not found.
• Nero Wolfe (1969) TV series, ep. "Per la fama di Cesare". IMDb as Primo allevatore. Not credited and not found.
• La polizia accusa: il servizio segreto uccide (1975) - IMDb. Uncredited and not found. There's a corpse who looks somewhat like Attilio, but the corpse is clean-shaven and as far as I'm aware Attilio was always bearded in the 70's

Notes and sources

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1. Dante Lazzaro. Cineguida 1949.

[PeplumParadise]

La peccatrice (1940) as Hotel porter

[PeplumParadise]

Il bravo di Venezia (1941) as Painter

[PeplumParadise]

La bisbetica domata (1942) as Film actor

[PeplumParadise]

La contessa Castiglione (1942) as Theatre patron

[PeplumParadise]

L'uomo dalla croce (1943) credited as A. Dottesio, as The injured tank soldier

[PeplumParadise]

Aeroporto (1944) credited, role uncertain.

You Tube only had the opening credit sequence for this film, however it is of note since he has the male lead role.

[PeplumParadise]

Fatto di cronaca (1945) credited on the poster, role uncertain.

This was the final film of ill-fated stars Osvaldo Valenti and Luisa Ferida before their politically-motivated assassinations.

[PeplumParadise]

Rocambole (1947) credited, as Count Luigi D'Orsino

[PeplumParadise]

La revanche de Baccarat (1947) credited on the poster and onscreen. This is the second half of Rocambole, released the same year, so Attilio presumably plays the same role of Count Luigi D'Orsino. But he couldn't be found.