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I Nostri Grandi! ... Famous Calabrians
Past & Present

This section of our website is dedicated to all of the Calabrians that have helped make the world better in some way.

Whether it has been through their celebrity status or by their contribution to the arts, nature, science or charity, each of these people has been a symbol of the dedication and commitment to quality that has been a mainstay of the Calabrian reputation. Undoubtedly, there are many who are not listed here so if you know of anyone who merits being on this page, please contact us here.

Famous Calabrians are divided into 3 categories: 20th and 21st century, historical and saints.

THIS PAGE IS CONTINUALLY UPDATED

20th & 21st CENTURY
Antonino Angileri, born 1950 in Acquaro di Cosoleto, RC. former president of "The United Charities Corporation", a Not-for-Profit company helping New York City's homeless population. Never forgetting Calabria, he wrote a book about his birthplace titled "Malinconia".
Charles Atlas a.k.a. Siciliano Angelo "NOBODY PICKS ON A STRONG MAN!" "The World's Most Perfectly Developed Man." America's most famous muscleman was born in Acri, Cosenza, in 1904.
Barranca Tony - born in Siderno, he is the president of Club Italia with over 20,000 members in Niagara Falls.
Bartucci Gino - Born in Rende, CS, he founded Chicago's famous "Little Italy" on North Harlem Avenue.
Brancati Rosario - Born in Palmi (RC) he is considered one of the top eye doctors in the world residing in Detroit and Milan's Ospedale San Raffaele.
Bonacci Frank - from Decollatura, Italy, led a tireless effort for UMWA recognition. After union recognition in the 1930s, Bonacci became the first Italian-American elected to the Utah House of Representatives.
*Barillari Rino "the king of Paparazzi"* born in Limbadi, in the province of Vibo Valentia. He resides in Rome and is famous (notorious) for his pictures of the stars.
Prof. Franco Crucitti - born in Reggio Calabria, he is the head surgeon at Ospedale Gemell in Rome. He operated on the Pope three times. Click here to read more.
Cucinotta Maria Grazia Born in Messina, Sicily and nationally known as the most beautiful woman in Italy. She starred in the Oscar winning film, Il Postino. (... ok, ok, so she was born in Sicily, but Messina is so close that we consider her to be Calabrian!) (photo by Gianmarco Chieregato)
Dulbecco prof. Renato - Born in Catanzaro, he won the Nobel Prize for Medice in 1975. Click here for more.
Laurito Marisa - anchorwoman for RAI National TV, her family is from Castrovillari (CS).
Mancuso Nick- Actor, born in the village of Mammola in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Giovanni Marziano internationally acclaimed fresco maestro - Born in Catanzaro
Mazza Gianni , born in Cortale, near Badolato, he is a TV director of "Domenica In", Italy's equivalent to Good Morning America.
Monorchio Andrea -Secretary of the Treasury of Italy, born in Reggio Calabria, 24 June 1939.
Mirigliani Enzo - Born in Santa Caterina sullo Jonio, 1 mile from Badolato, he is the creator and producer of Miss Italy and the Famous San Remo Festival.
Panetta Leon - former president Clinton's Chief of Staff, has ancestry from the villages of Gerace and Siderno in the provence of Reggio Calabria.
Paterno Joe , successful football coach at Penn State, whose father was from Ischia, Calabria, 3 miles from Badolato.
Philbin Regis whose family came from an arberesh village near Tiriolo, CZ.
Giovan Battista Rotella the "soul of the south" and the master at capturing Calabria - Born in Gimigliano
Mimmo Rotella The Calabria painter who conceived dècollage, a master of Pop Art - Born in Catanzaro
Scalfaro Oscar Luigi, former President of Italy, whose family is from Lamezia Terme.
SERRA José - Surgeon General of Brazil, whose parents emigrated from the province of Cosenza.
Settis Salvatore- John Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles - nato a Rosarno (RC) - Archeologo e studioso di fama internazionale. Click here for more.
Speziali Maurizio - Born in the province of Reggio Calabria, near Badolato, he is the former Director of the bank of Italy. In Italy there are two signatures on paper money, one from the Treasury Secretary and one from the Director of the Central Bank. For years both signatures were from two Calabrians.
Talese Gay - author, whose parents were from Maida, near Catanzaro.
Tyler, Steven - Rock group Aerosmith's "The Demon of Screamin'". His real name is Steven Tallarico. His grandfather was Giovanni Tallarico, born and raised in Nicotera, Calabria. Giovanni and his three brothers were all musicians so Steven's destiny as one of the greatest rock voices ever was just sweet destiny...
Gianni Versace Legendary Fashion Designer - Born December 2, 1946 in the province of Reggio
HISTORICAL FIGURES
Giovanni Paolo Parisio (1470-1522) Beside Gravina, Giovan Paolo Parisio (1470 -1522) from Cosenza is seen as an enlightened humanist and a more ingenious critic of his age. He was called"Parrisio"and was the founder and animator, together with Telesio, of the Academy of Cosenza. His eloquence, vocal for many years in Rome and Milan, spread a refined taste for the classical and the beautiful. His thoughts are condensed into his Epistles collected in "De Rebus per Epistulam Quaesitis".
Bernardino Telesio (1509 - 1588) Telesio was born in Cosenza in 1509 and died there in 1588. He was one of the most important exponents of Renaissance thought, particularly the naturalistic current. He undertook the study of nature by new means, overcoming the traditional Aristotelian schemes. According to Telesio, nature shows us the conflict between two opposing forces, heat and cold, molding the matter; heat is the principle of movement, of action, while the opposite, cold represents rigidity and stillness. From this physical theory, Telesio arrived at the moral conclusion that the inspiring and animating principles of our behavior are the conservation of heat and thus of our survival. Telesio's theories are explained in his masterpiece "De Rerum Natura".
Luigi Giglio (1510) Little is Known about Luigi Giglio's life; he was probably born in 1510 at Cirò. He studied medicine in Naples and subsequently he was at Earl Carafa's service. His name is more connected with astronomy than medicine and with the reform of the calendar in 1582 by Pope Gregorio XIII. His untimely death in 1576 did not allow him to carry out his "Compendium".
Tommaso Campanella, Philosopher and Writer (1568-1639) Tommaso Campanella was born in Stilo in 1568 and died in Paris in 1639. He is considered one of the most important Italian Philosophers and poets of the 17th century. At the age of 14 years, he entered the religious order of the Dominicans, but very soon he provoked many suspicions and was persecuted for his activity as a writer and scholar. He believed in the occult sciences and was an enthusiastic supporter of Telesio. He was confined first to prison in Naples where he underwent his sentence for heresy in 1591. After that he wandered throughout the North of Italy in search of a podium from which to spread his ideas. He was repeatedly tortured and persecuted by the Roman Inquisition. In 1598, he returned to Stilo with the intention of exploiting the widespread discontent against the Spanish Government in Southern Italy in order to carry out his ideal example of State -- a religious republic governed by a prince-priest and of which he should have been the legislator. In 1599 a plot was uncovered and Campanella. Known for his radical ideas and his support of a revolution was brought to Naples again, submitted to a trial for subversive action, judged mad and condemned to prison for all his life. He was kept in prison for 27 years during which time he was able to meditate, to study, to write poetry and to complete substantial works, the best known being "La Città del sole" which abridges his ideals of utopia. Released in 1626 he was allowed to live in Rome under the Inquisition's control. Pope Urban VIII facilitated his escape in France as a result of claims he was involved in a plot against the deputy of Naples. When he arrived in Paris, he was appointed court astrologer by Louis XIII and spent the last years of his life studying quietly in France.

Clearco da Reggio (500 B.C.)	Pitagora 570/580
Agatocle (360 B.C.)	Ibico (5th C.)
Flavio Magno Aurelio Cassiodoro 480	Giacchino da Fiore (1130 - 1202)
Gian Vincenzo Gravina (1664)	Mattia Preti 1613
Giuseppe Poerio 1775	Pasquale Galluppi 1770
Guglielmo Pepe 1783	Florestano Pepe 1778
Giovanni Nicotera 1790	Michele Morelli 1790
Umberto Boccioni 1882	Francesco Cilea 1866
Corrado Alvaro 1895	Nicolo Manfroce - Musician-Composer from 1800's Palmi, RC
SAINTS
San Francesco da Paola (1268) The Angevin rule (1268 - 1442) marked a domestic setback for all of Southern Italy. This situation was further accentuated under the Aragoneses (1442 - 1502) with the added development of a feudal institution in which the barons, powerful and overbearing, burdened people with taxes and compulsory services. In 1461, the common people rose unsuccessfully, unable to relieve the yoke of oppression. Eventually, a steady and authoritative voice was raised against all the abuses -- that of Saint Francisco d'Alessio, the Monk from Paola. He founded the order of "Minimi" (1435) that was characterized by a penitent life and by the saying "Charitas." Francisco from Paola died in France and was declared Blesser Soul in 1513 and proclaimed a Saint in 1519. San Nilo (910)

I Nostri Grandi! ... Famous Calabrians Past & Present

I Nostri Grandi! ... Famous Calabrians
Past & Present