Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo dies in Milan at 90

The Nobel Prize winning writer, actor, painter, composer and director died this morning in Milan at the age of 90. He was born on 24 March 1926 in San Giano, a small town on Lago Maggiore in Lombardy in the north of Italy.

Performing and writing until a few weeks ago, even with a new television programme in Italy, he lived an extraordinarily full and creative life. He said recently, “I don't fear death but I don't court it either”.

He entered Milan's Sacco Hospital 12 days ago because of lung problems. Although he was wearing an oxygen mask it didn't stop his humour. “It's like playing rummy: you can win or lose, but what matters is the game!”

Fo's wife, Franca Rame, with whom he shared his life and work, on and off stage, died in 2013; they had been married since 1954. The creator of Mistero Buffo (1969) and Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970), credited her with having the ideas for much of his work.

As a student he moved to Milan to study at the city's Brera Art Academy and remained tied to the Academy and the city throughout his life.

He was the recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Dario Fo:  24 March 1926 (Leggiuno Sangiano, Varese) – 13 October 2016 (Milan)

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.