A renowned Sicilian actor, writer, and director, who captivated European audiences, yet remained relatively unknown in the Western world, except for his iconic portrayal of the cunning SPECTRE agent "Emilio Largo" in the thrilling James Bond film, Thunderball, released in 1965. Despite his impressive performance, Celi's distinctive voice was dubbed by Robert Rietty, due to his thick accent. Two years later, he made a memorable appearance in the humorous James Bond spoof, Operation Kid Brother, starring Neil Connery, brother of the legendary Sean Connery.
Beyond his numerous film credits in Italian productions, Celi spent many years honing his craft on stage in South America, receiving widespread critical acclaim. In addition, he ventured into filmmaking, directing three projects in South America, including Caiçara, released in 1950, Tico-Tico no fuba, released in 1952, and L'Alibi, released in 1969.
Tragically, Celi's life was cut short when he passed away on February 19th, 1986, due to a heart attack.
