[1] Born in Turin, Campanini attended a technical school and a course of singing,[2] then he started his career at nineteen entering the company of prose Casaleggio, with whom he toured six months in Argentina.

alongside Macario, then he soon became a very usual presence in comedy films, in roles of sidekick or as a character actor.

[2][3] In 1945 he had his only film leading role, in the critically appreciated Mario Soldati's drama His Young Wife.

[2][3] In 1945, Campanini was initiated in the regular Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge Fulgor Ortis in Rome, affiliated to the Grand Orient of Italy.

[4] Some years later, he was converted to the Roman Catholic faith by Padre Pio of Pietralcina and according to then canon law, he left Freemasonry.