The evening point on the news of the day
Sign up and receive news via email
The actor has died – after a long illness Adam Dionysisknown for the role of Manfredi Anacleti in the series Subura. Dionisi was 59 years old and had a stormy life behind him: born in Rome on 30 September 1965, he had been among the leaders of Lazio’s Irriducibili ultras. In 2001 he was arrested for drugs: locked up for a few years in Rebibbia he discovered his passion for acting in prison, taking part in some theater projects. His debut was in the film ‘Who is born tondo…’ (2008), which he also co-wrote. In 2014 Abel Ferrara chose him for a part in the biographical film ‘Pasolini‘, while Garrone wanted him in ‘Dogman’ while the following year Stefano Sollima wanted him in ‘Suburra‘ in the role of the boss Manfredi Anacleti, one of the main antagonists, role which will also resume in the Netflix series of the same name.
INSIGHTS
Although he was arrested again in 2017 for a case of violence against his ex-wife, his acting career had not stopped. In addition to the series for which he became famous, Dionisi has in fact acted in recent years in Brutti e Cattivi (2017), Morrison (2021) and recently Enea (2023) and Tuesday and Friday (2024), films by Fabrizio Moro and Alessio De Leonardi released in cinemas last February. Among the TV series, he also appeared in the cast of Rocco Schiavone. His latest performance, a cameo in Maurizio Lombardi’s short film «Marcello».
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Remembering Adam Dionisi: A Life Full of Twists and Turns
The evening point on the news of the day
Sign up and receive news via email!
Well, folks, we’ve lost another one. Adam Dionisi, the man who played the unforgettable Manfredi Anacleti in the series Subura, has passed away at the age of 59 after a long illness. Born in Rome—where splendour meets chaos, much like a bad marriage—the guy lived a life that could be pitched as a gritty drama but probably had more plot twists than a soap opera on steroids.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the journey of this man. Born on September 30, 1965, he started off as one of the notorious leaders of Lazio’s Irriducibili ultras. Yes, you heard it right—the hooligan life and just a dash of drama. I mean, what did he want to be when he grew up? A professional flag-waver? A human billboard for chaos? Either way, it had to be entertaining! Life as an ultra probably prepared him for the egos in showbiz, or at least for people throwing things on stage. But then again, if you can survive the terraces, acting is a breeze.
In 2001, our dear Adam found himself on the wrong end of the bars—locked away for drug-related issues. I know, “no surprise there,” right? But here’s the kicker—while rediscovering his life in the slammer, he also discovered acting and, thank heavens for all of us, participated in prison theater. Who knew prison could turn into a stage? I can see the headline now: “Acting the Hard Time: A New Dramatic Genre!”
His debut film, Who is born tondo… (2008), was one he co-wrote—talk about a multi-talented felon! Who needs to keep a low profile when you can just casually write your own destiny? His talent didn’t go unnoticed; Abel Ferrara cast him in Pasolini and Garrone enlisted him for Dogman. But let’s be honest, his moment of glory arrived when he transformed into Manfredi Anacleti in Suburra. And how about that Netflix saga? Oh yes, he was back and cheeky!
Life on the Edge, Literally
Now, life wasn’t all roses for Dionisi. He had another run-in with the law in 2017, being arrested for a violent altercation with his ex-wife. Because why leave the drama to the scripts, am I right? It’s almost as if he was trying to keep up with his character’s chaotic vibe—but let’s not give the tabloids any more ammunition, shall we?
Despite the bumps in the road, Adam kept his acting dreams alive. Recent years saw him in Brutti e Cattivi (2017), Morrison (2021), and a couple of films released in 2024. Did I mention he popped up in Rocco Schiavone? The man’s resume is not short on flavour—what a mix of roles! The cherry on top of his acting journey was his cameo in Maurizio Lombardi’s short film Marcello. This guy just knew how to squeeze every last drop out of life!
