Ricky Memphis

Ricky Memphis
Born
Riccardo Fortunati

29 August 1968
Rome, Italy
OccupationActor
Known forHis role as Inspector Mauro Belli in the police drama series Distretto di Polizia broadcast by Canale 5

Ricky Memphis (stage name of Riccardo Fortunati; born 29 August 1968[1]) is an Italian television and film actor. He is best known for his interpretation of Inspector Mauro Belli, in the police drama series, Distretto di Polizia ("Police District"), which was broadcast weekly for eight seasons by Italian network Canale 5 from 2000 to 2009.

Career

Ricky Memphis was born in Rome, Italy. His career in the entertainment business began at the end of the 1980s with his first television appearance as an urban poet on the Maurizio Costanzo talk show. He chose his stage name "Memphis" in honour of American singer Elvis Presley.[2]

His first role in a major picture was in the 1990 film Ultra, directed by Ricky Tognazzi. Memphis won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Red at the European Film Awards.[3]

He followed with roles in Pugni di rabbia, La scorta and Il branco. Memphis received national popularity with his interpretation of the compassionate Inspector Mauro Belli in Mediaset's Canale 5 television police drama series Distretto di Polizia ("Police District"), which aired for eight seasons from 26 September 2000 to November 2009. His character left the series in the sixth season of the series. There was talk of Memphis returning to the series in his former role of Inspector Mauro Belli.[4][5] Memphis's television work also includes the Canale 5/Italia 1 production of Crimini bianchi ("White Crimes"), in which he played the role of lawyer Claudio Bruni, and Rai 1's Caccia al re - La Narcotici in 2011.

Filmography

Film

Television

  • 1998: Ultimo (TV Movie) - Solo
  • 1999: Ultimo II - La sfida (TV Movie) - Solo
  • 1999: Excellent Cadavers (TV Movie) - Mafioso #1
  • 1999: Il morso del serpente (TV Movie) - Sante Venuti
  • 2000-2006: Distretto di Polizia - Ispettore capo Mauro Belli
  • 2001: Sindone - 24 ore, 14 ostaggi (TV Movie) - Alberto
  • 2008: Crimini bianchi ('White Crime') - Avvocato Claudio Bruni
  • 2010: Un paradiso per due (A Paradise For Two) (TV Movie) - Nerone
  • 2011: Caccia al re - La Narcotici - Livio Vitale
  • 2011: Come un delfino (TV Movie) - Don Luca
  • 2022: Everything Calls for Salvation - Pino

Short

  • 1998: Taxi
  • 2005: Storia di Mario - Ricky

References

  1. ^ IMDB Listing
  2. ^ "Ricky Memphis: ringrazio Dio e quella giornalista chi mi salvò". TGCom. Panorama.it. Article by Antonella Piperno. 18-01-11
  3. ^ IMDB
  4. ^ Excite Magazine, October 17, 2006, retrieved on 15 January 2009
  5. ^ Scavicchia la Notizia, La Voce Della-Emittenza, 14 November 2008, retrieved on 15 January 2009