It was during the first theatrical experiences that he decided to place the name of Mary alongside his name, probably as an affectionate tribute to his mother Milka (corresponding to the Italian Maria).

[2] Among the most representative figures of the Italian show in the second half of the twentieth century, in his acting career he plays 102 theatrical performances, he shoots 92 films as performer, 3 as director, countless tv-movies, hundreds of hours of TV broadcasts, hundreds of hours of Radio.

In 1960, with Ivo Garrani and Giancarlo Sbragia, he founded the stage company "Nuova Compagnia degli Associati".

In 1966 he was the star of Byron's Manfred, in the role of an actor reciting the musical score by Schumann, conducted by Claudio Abbado, directed by Mauro Bolognini.

He had three brothers: Giovanbattista (artist & art professor), Fernando (music composer) and Vittorio (film director).