Luca Marinelli, born on October 22, 1984, in Rome, Italy, is a distinguished Italian actor known for his compelling performances across film and television. He is the son of voice actor Eugenio Marinelli. In 2009, he graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome.
Marinelli gained prominence with his role as Mattia in “La solitudine dei numeri primi” (2010). He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Guido Caselli in “Tutti i santi giorni” (2012), earning nominations for the David di Donatello and the Silver Ribbon awards. In 2015, he starred as Cesare in “Non essere cattivo,” a performance that won him the Pasinetti Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. That same year, his role as “Lo Zingaro” in “Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot” earned him the David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor.
Marinelli’s versatility is evident in his diverse roles, including his portrayal of Italian singer-songwriter Fabrizio De André in the miniseries “Fabrizio De André – Principe libero” (2018). He also played Primo, a member of the ‘Ndrangheta involved in the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, in the television series “Trust” (2018). His role as Martin Eden in the film of the same name (2019) earned him the Coppa Volpi for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.
In 2020, Marinelli joined the cast of “The Old Guard,” portraying Nicky alongside Charlize Theron. He also took on the role of Diabolik in the 2021 film adaptation by the Manetti Bros. More recently, he starred as Pietro Guasti in “Le otto montagne” (2022) and voiced Mufasa in Disney’s “Mufasa – Il re leone” (2024). In 2025, he portrays Benito Mussolini in the miniseries “M. Il figlio del secolo,” based on Antonio Scurati’s novel.
Marinelli’s dynamic range and dedication to his craft have solidified his status as one of Italy’s most esteemed actors.