Writer, director, actor and TV host Luciano De Crescenzo died in Rome Thursday at the age of 90.
De Crescenzo was born in Naples on August 18, 1928.
He had been in hospital for the last few days.
His publishing house Mondadori, which published all his many
books, confirmed the news of his death.
Crescenzo, who left his day job as an engineer for the world
of culture and entertainment, died at Policlinico Gemelli
Hospital.
He debuted as a writer in 1977 with Cosi Parlò Bellavista
which sold over 600,000 copies, and he went on to pen
bestselling works on Neapolitan and ancient Greek philosophy.
Showman Renzo Arbore, who enlisted De Crescenzo among the
madcap gang of comic characters in his hit Quelli della Notte
show in the mid 80s, said "he was a master for all the beautiful
things he taught us.
"It's a very serious loss for Italian culture and for the
city of Naples of which he was a proud exponent".
Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris declared a day of civic
mourning for De Crescenzo's funeral when flags on public
buildings will fly at half mast.
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