The late Maurizio Costanzo was a well-known journalist, TV host, and author who passed away in Rome on Friday at the age of 84. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, paid tribute to him. Meloni lauded Costanzo as a “icon of journalism and TV” who bravely and skillfully described trying times while also bringing Italian culture, elegance, and generosity into their homes.
1938-born in Rome, Costanzo started his journalism career there at the age of 18 before founding the short-lived tabloid L’Occhio in 1979. He was also a radio and television host, best known for the well-liked Bontà Loro program on the state-run RAI. Afterwards, Costanzo became a host on The Maurizio Show on Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset network.
In addition, Costanzo co-wrote the lyrics to the 1966 hit song Se telefonando, which the singer Mina performed, and he wrote other screenplays for movies and novels.
He had a reputation for taking on the mob, and in 1993 he managed to escape a Cosa Nostra vehicle bombing in Rome.
On Monday, February 27, at 15:30, Costanzo’s funeral will take place at the Church degli Artisti in Piazza del Popolo.
