Child Star Enzo Staiola Passes Away at Age 85, Known for His Role in "The Bicycle Thief" Film
A Glimpse into the Life of Enzo Staiola, the Child Star of 'Bicycle Thieves'
In sad news, Enzo Staiola, the 85-year-old actor known for his extraordinary portrayal of young Bruno Ricci in Vittorio De Sica's masterpiece 'Bicycle Thieves,' has passed away. La Repubblica reported the news on June 4, but the cause of his demise remains undisclosed.
Jumpstarting a Legacy
Staiola's cinematic journey began at the tender age of 9, when he starred alongside Lamberto Maggiorani in 'Bicycle Thieves.' Interestingly, this marked both actors' debut in the industry. Magnorani worked in a factory, and De Sica wanted to depict the working class authentically in his neorealist film, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
The Unexpected Leading Role
Staiola remembered that De Sica encountered him one day as he was returning from school. In an interview with La Repubblica in 2023, he recollected, "A grey-haired, very elegant man got out of the car following me and asked for my name. I stayed silent. And he said, 'But you don't speak?' 'I don't feel like talking,' I replied. My mother always told me not to be too familiar if someone stopped me..."
De Sica followed Staiola home, and his parents immediately recognized him. After a meal and some persuasion, Staiola's uncle took him to the studio, securing him the role without an audition.
The relentless pursuit of a stolen bicycle
'Bicycle Thieves' tells the heart-wrenching story of a down-on-his-luck father and his son scouring the streets of Rome in search of the father's stolen bicycle, their only means of livelihood. The film won the honorary award for best foreign-language film at the Oscars (the best international film category was yet to be created). However, De Sica did not cast Staiola in any of his subsequent projects.
De Sica discovered you, and that was it was Staiola's comment on De Sica's unique approach. If De Sica had offered him more roles, he might have continued acting as a profession. Following 'Bicycle Thieves,' he appeared in a few films, including 'Vulcano,' 'Corazones sin fronteras,' 'Los asesinos acusan,' 'Penne nere,' and 'La condesa descalza,' alongside Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner.
Moving on from the Limelight
Staiola eventually decided to leave the world of acting and took up teaching math for several years. He also worked in a property registry office. In interviews, he openly criticized his acting days, confessing that he was kept away from playing with friends to avoid getting injured or causing permanent damage to his face. "In the end, it was a real drag," he once admitted.
What a captivating journey! Don't miss out on watching 'Bicycle Thieves'De Sica's talent for spotting new talent was evident, but it seemed to end there for Staiola. After 'Bicycle Thieves,' Staiola's career in film remained relatively uneventful, and he eventually moved on to other pursuits.
Staiola's brief yet impactful career in entertainment also extended to the realm of movies-and-tv, with appearances in various movies post 'Bicycle Thieves.'
Interestingly, Staiola, along with other celebrities, shared screen space with notable figures such as Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner in some of his subsequent films.
