Born in Monfalcone, Gorizia, Paolo Rossi graduated as a chemical expert, then he moved to Milan where he debuted on stage in 1978, in Dario Fo's Histoire du Soldat. After having been a member of the stage company "compagnia dell'Elfo" he started signing numerous theatrical monologues and stage plays of critical success that were paired in their style with the Commedia dell'arte, Brecht's and Molière's and for which he was referred to as "an Italic middle way between Dario Fo and Lenny Bruce". Rossi is also active on television, in successful variety shows such as Giù la testa and Il laureato, and in films, in which he debuted in 1986. Rossi's multifaceted career also include music: since early 1990s he released several albums and collaborated with several notable artists and groups including Enzo Jannacci, Emir Kusturica, Vinicio Capossela and Modena City Ramblers. He also entered the competition at the Sanremo Music Festival in two editions, in 1994 and in 2007. In 1996 Rossi won a Silver Ribbon for the screenplay of the Leone Pompucci's comedy film Camerieri.

Filmography

• 2026God Laughs — priore
• 2026Non è la fine del mondo — Oscar Tessai
• 2025Attitudini: Nessuna — Sé stesso
• 2025Circus
• 2025Gloria! The Making Of — Perlina
• 2025There Was A Comedian Called Cecchelin
• 2024Gloria! — Perlina
• 2024L'invenzione di noi due — Armando
• 2022Olimpia's Way — Gimmi
• 2022Travelling Ghosts — Porter
• 2021Notes from a Women Salesman — Daytona
• 2020Hidden Away
• 2020La mia banda suona il pop — Jerry
• TV Story Superstar — Self (archive footage, uncredited)
• 2018Arpad Weisz — Narratore (voice)
• 2018Si muore tutti democristiani — Fulvio
• 2017Poorly Richer — Libero
• 2013Free-go
• 2013Italian Movies — Screenplay
• 2012Trieste la contesa
• 2012Welcome to the North — Palmisan
• 2010Caffè Capo — Writer
• 2010Niente paura — Sé stesso
• 2010RCL - Ridotte Capacità Lavorative
• 2009Beket — Agente 08
• 2007Centravanti Nato
• Collezione di risate
• 2005Il circo di Paolo Rossi
• 2004Clan Banlieue, 1992-2004: La Grande Famiglia in Movimento
• 2003Il Signor Rossi e la Costituzione — Paolo Rossi, Writer, Director
• 2002Forbidden Grass
• 2000Il grande botto — Writer
• 1999Candlewick — Juror
• 1997Nirvana — Joker
• 1996Bits & Pieces
• 1996Silenzio... si nasce — Il Piccolo
• 1995Camerieri — Screenplay, Original Music Composer
• Su la testa — Se stesso
• 1989Musica per vecchi animali — Lee
• 1988Far North
• 1988I cammelli — Ferruccio Ferri
• 1987Kamikazen: Last Night in Milan — Walter Zappa
• 1987Montecarlo Gran Casinò — Paolo Borghini
• 1987Via Montenapoleone — Luca
• 1986The Ferrywoman — Ciro
• 1986The Malady of Love — Laurent Vita
• La crepa
• Una favola spinta

Appearances as themselves (4)

• StraMorgan — Self
• 2005Viva Zapatero! — Self
• 2002Il mondo alla rovescia: appunti sul cabaret milanese — Self
• Sanremo Music Festival — Self - Special Guest