Born in Civitanova Marche, the son of a tobacconist and a housewife, Massi studied at the Macerata Art Institute, and later at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma.
[1] He entered the cinema industry in 1952 as assistant camera operator, and in 1954, he became a cameraman.
[2] Ten years later, he began to work as cinematographer, and in 1973, he debuted as film director with Macrò.
[2] He obtained a great commercial success with the Mark il poliziotto film series, then with a series of poliziotteschi starred by Maurizio Merli.
Massi also worked on television, directing the 1987 TV series Due assi per un turbo.