Biography
BIFA-nominated Anglo-Italian Actor-Writer-Director born in London to immigrant parents from Ariano Irpino. He was raised in North London and Queens, New York. He attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School and the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute before carving a niche as a character actor in predominantly American films shot in Europe. He is the founder and director of Contro Vento Films (since 2014).
He has been fortunate to work as an actor with notable directors including Ron Howard ('Rush'), Micheal Apted ('Unlocked'), Richard Attenborough ('In Love And War') and Mike Nichols ('Wit'). In 2019 he appeared opposite Rebel Wilson in Chris Addison's 'The Hustle'. Upcoming roles include playing Dr. Kagan opposite Dave Batista in action-comedy 'The Killer's Game' and playing antagonist Ricardo in road trip comedy 'The Monk, The Mermaid and Molise' opposite Sally Phillips and Pink Floyd's Guy Pratt. Recent television roles include playing Jamie's agent in 'Ted Lasso'.
In 2010 Raff wrote and directed his first 30min drama 'The Other Side of My Sleep', inspired by the deaths of his father and grandmother. Following the film's success in opening the Boston Film Festival, Raffaello went on to direct and star as Ravi in his first feature-length film 'Flim The Movie', a mockumentary based around improvisation and satire of the indie film world. 'Flim' was nominated for a Moet British Independent Film Award following its selection for the Raindance Film Festival and the New York Independent Film Festival.
Heavily influenced by the Danish Dogme 95 rules of film-making, Italian Neo Realism and New York cinema of the 70's & 80's, Raff went on to write and direct his first dramatic feature-length film. 'Transference: A Love Story' won the Jury Award from SRFF 2020, NYC. The bipolar love story received global attention after going viral on YouTube. It has now been viewed over 23M times. The film's viral success encouraged him to write and direct another obsessive love story inspired by mental health. 'To Love A Narcissist' stars Lyndsey Marshal alongside him. The film wrapped production in Lake Garda, Italy, April 2024 and is now in post-production.