[1] Born in Milan, Bonagura was active on film, stage, television and radio.

He arrived at the threshold of a degree in philosophy, then in 1946 he abandoned his studies to attend the Silvio d'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Arts.

[4] He occasionally dubbed over the voices of Danny DeVito, Mel Brooks and Ian Holm for Italian-language versions of foreign films.

One of his most popular dubbing roles includes providing the Italian voice of Palpatine's alter ego, Darth Sidious in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

In his animated roles, he dubbed the voices of Uncle Waldo in The Aristocats and Mr. Snoops in The Rescuers.