Nello De Rossi
Nello Roberto de Rossi | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 2, 1921 Rome, Italy |
| Died | June 25, 2013 (aged 92) São Paulo, Brazil |
| Occupations | Actor, Restaurateur |
| Known for | Founder of Nello’s Cantina |
| Spouse | Rina de Rossi (d. 2024) |
Nello Roberto de Rossi (May 2, 1921 – June 25, 2013) was an Italian-Brazilian actor and restaurateur best known for founding the Nello's Cantina in São Paulo, Brazil.
Before establishing his restaurant, De Rossi had a brief acting career in Italian cinema, working at the Cinecittà Studios.[1]
Early life and cinema career
Nello de Rossi was born in Rome, Italy, on May 2, 1921. He began his career acting in Italian films in the 1930s. He is credited with an appearance in The Little Adventurers (Piccoli naufraghi) (1939) and was an assistant director to Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio de Sica, Aldo Fabrizi and Mario Bonnard.[2]
De Rossi was the producer of Cassiopeia, a 1996 Brazilian animated feature film, produced and released by NDR Filmes in Brazil on April 1, 1996. It is considered one of the earliest CGI animated movies, if not the first one.[3]
De Rossi also produced and directed Jeitosa, Um Assunto Muito Particular (1984) and Festa (1989), which won the Festival de Gramado in 1989.[4]
Emigration to Brazil
In 1954, De Rossi moved to New York City, where he managed a restaurant. In the early 1970s, he relocated to São Paulo, Brazil, with his wife, Rina, and together they opened Nello’s Cantina e Pizzaria in 1974.[5][2]
Nello's Cantina
In 1974, Nello and his wife Rina founded Nello's Cantina e Pizzaria in the neighborhood of Pinheiros, São Paulo.[6]
Over the years, the cantina was especially recognized for its traditional dishes like lasagna, gnocchi and ossobuco as well as its décor, reminiscent of old Italian taverns.[7]
The restaurant created a division between smokers and non-smokers in the dining room, before the law made this to be mandatory in every restaurant.[8]
Nello De Rossi's "Bonita Camisa, Fernandinho"
In 1984, De Rossi starred in a Brazilian commercial for the clothing brand USTop that featured the now-famous line "Bonita camisa, Fernandinho" ("Nice shirt, Fernandinho").[9][10][11]
Personal life
Nello de Rossi was married to Rina de Rossi, who co-founded the restaurant with him. Rina died in June 2024 at the age of 95.[12]
Death
Nello de Rossi died on June 25, 2013, at the age of 92 in São Paulo. His death was reported in Brazilian media.[8][13][14]
The cantina remained in operation after his passing. The restaurant remained a family-run establishment, with their children—Massimo, Patricia, Daniela, and Marco—and son-in-law, Augusto Mello, taking roles in its management. A second location was opened in Vila Leopoldina in 2011.[15][16][17][18][19]
Awards and legacy
In 2005, Nello's Cantina was selected by the Veja Comer & Beber guide as one of the best traditional Italian restaurants in São Paulo.[6][15][12]
Filmography
- The Little Adventurers(Piccoli naufraghi) (1939)
- Other minor roles in Italian cinema (1950s)
- Jeitosa, Um Assunto Muito Particular (1984)
- Festa (1989)
- Cassiopeia (1996)
References
- ↑ "Rina De Rossi, que morreu em junho, deixa seu legado no cinquentão Nello's | Blog do Lorençato". VEJA SÃO PAULO (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- 1 2 "Morre Nello de Rossi, fundador da cantina Nello's". VEJA SÃO PAULO (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ↑ Paulo Camargo (February 1, 1996). "'Cassiopéia' disputa pioneirismo com 'Toy Story'". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ↑ "Festa (1989): Cine TVT exibe premiado filme de Ugo Giorgetti | TVT News" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ↑ "Nello Roberto de Rossi (1921–2013): Um ator italiano, dono de cantina". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- 1 2 "História – Nello's Cantina". Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Cantina de bairro com preços razoáveis e legado de Nello de Rossi". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- 1 2 "Morre Nello De Rossi, dono da tradicional cantina Nello's | Blog do Lorençato". VEJA SÃO PAULO (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ↑ Ferreira, Matheus (2015-01-05). "Recordar é Viver: Bonita camisa, Fernandinho, de 1984". GKPB - Geek Publicitário (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ↑ terra. "Morre, em SP, ator italiano famoso por bordão: 'bonita camisa, Fernandinho'". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- ↑ "As campanhas de Olivetto que inspiraram outros anúncios e ganharam reedições". Valor Econômico (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
- 1 2 "Morre Rina de Rossi, cofundadora do Nello's SP". Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Quem foi Nello de Rossi". Veja São Paulo. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Morre Nello de Rossi, fundador de tradicional cantina em SP". Exame. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- 1 2 "Morre Nello Roberto de Rossi". Estadão. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Morre em São Paulo Nello de Rossi, fundador da cantina italiana Nello's". Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Morre Nello de Rossi, ex-ator e dono de cantina em Pinheiros". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Aos 92 anos, morre em São Paulo fundador da Nello's Cantina". Terra. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Morre Roberto Nello, fundador de tradicional cantina paulistana". G1. Retrieved April 8, 2025.