According to a 2013 interview with Roberto Maccanti, he was living in a village in Parma and was an electrician.
He originally wanted to be a pilot, but later became an electrician craftsman.
At the age of ten he was cast as Alfredo Berlinghieri after saying, "Poems are not my forte, I tell you a joke" in front of Bernardo Bertolucci at the audition.
As a great fan of westerns he enjoyed working with Sterling Hayden.
He met Bernardo Bertolucci again when the director received an honorary degree.