Nino Vingelli was part of the multi-coloured world of the Neapolitan stage from as early as 1916 (he debuted at the age of 9 at the San Ferdinando Theatre). Initially working in “avanspettacolo” and Neapolitan melodrama, then in theatrical companies (the De Filippos) and variety acts (Totò), he entered the cinema as early as the 40s, and soon established himself as one of Italy’s greatest character actors. He worked with just about all the best-known directors, from Zampa (Processo alla città) to Fellini (I clowns), from Comencini (Pane amore e fantasia) to De Sica (L’oro di Napoli), from Steno (L’uomo, la bestia e la virtù) to Jules Dassin (La legge) and from De Santis (Italiani brava gente) to Rosi (La sfida), picking up prestigious awards such as the Laceno d’Oro and the Nastro d’Argento, without ever renouncing the stage. The history of the last seventy years of Neapolitan Theatre is present in the work of this man.