Paolo Villaggio (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpaolo vilˈladdʒo]; 30 December 1932) is an Italian actor, voice actor, writer, director and comedian. He is noted for the characters he created with paradoxical and grotesque characteristics: Professor Kranz, the ultra-timid Giandomenico Fracchia, and the obsequious and meek accountant Ugo Fantozzi, perhaps the favourite character in Italian comedy. He has written several books, usually of satirical character.