Ugo Fantozzi

Ugo Fantozzi
Fantozzi character
Ugo Fantozzi (Paolo Villaggio) in the film Fantozzi
First appearance	Fantozzi (novel - 1971) Fantozzi (1975 film)
Last appearance	Fantozzi 2000 - La clonazione (film - 1999) Tragica vita del ragionier Fantozzi (novel - 2012)
Created by	Paolo Villaggio
Information
Nickname(s)	Fantocci, Pupazzi, Bambocci, Bacarozzi
Species	Human
Occupation	accountant
Spouse(s)	Pina Fantozzi
Significant other(s)	Miss Silvani
Children	Mariangela Fantozzi (daughter)
Relatives	Uga Fantozzi (granddaughter)
Nationality	Italian

Ugo Fantozzi is a fictional character, appearing in Italian literature and film, created by Paolo Villaggio.

Fantozzi was created in 1968 out of a television program in which Villaggio played a stereotypically unlucky Italian salaryman.

The first collection, Fantozzi, was published in 1971, and introduced a hapless accountant, fighting with the vices, the tortures and the changes in Italian society. He is an extravagant exaggeration of customs and habits of Italy's lower middle class.

Fantozzi has an ugly and slovenly wife named Pina who is never satisfied, particularly in bed. He also has a daughter named Mariangela who is so ugly that everyone mistakes her for a monkey. To spare her feelings Fantozzi pretends that she is the most beautiful girl in the world.

Since Fantozzi's family atmosphere is so bad, he attempts to escape by having fun with his colleagues at Megaditta ("Mega-Company"), the large company where he works. However, the dynamics of the workplace are just as dysfunctional as his personal life but, while Fantozzi's colleagues sell out their dignity and compete with each other to allow themselves to be treated like floor mats, Fantozzi always tries to maintain his honor.

Fantozzi is not always submissive, and can sometimes react ruthlessly, often having the courage to rebel and assert his dignity, and also that of his colleagues, when others cannot. It is, however, his superiors who always retain the power and Fantozzi, due to his dignity and gentle soul, is forced to endure the worst possible suffering.