Lorenzo Crespi

Actor Lorenzo Crespi began his career as a male model and after some high profile clashes with producers and co-stars, he has in some circles become nearly as well known for his flinty personality as for his rugged good looks. Born in Messina on the island of Sicily and raised by a single mother, Crespi had a difficult adolescence, culminating in being arrested for murder at the age of 15; following 18 months in juvenile detention, he was acquitted at his trial. After moving to the fashion center of Milan, Crespi began working as a model for Giorgio Armani while studying to become an actor. His first big break came with a supporting role in the comedy "I buchi neri," followed by the romantic drama "Italiani" and his first high-profile film, Dario Argento's horror hit "The Stendhal Syndrome." After co-starring in Lina Wertmuller's "The Nymph," Crespi garnered his first leading role in the post-World War II drama "Porzus." Other notable films included the historical drama "Once Upon a Time In Sicily," the television miniseries "Pompei," and supporting roles in two popular television series, "Carabinieri" and "Gente di mare." He left the latter series acrimoniously near the beginning of its second season. In 2010, Crespi garnered headlines for truculent behavior while appearing in the Italian version of "Dancing with the Stars," culminating in his walking off the show during a live broadcast and resulting in his dismissal from the competition.