From theatre to prime time, Bonaccorti became one of the most familiar and versatile personalities of Italian broadcasting.Enrica Bonaccorti, one of the most recognisable and enduring figures in Italian television, has died at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer. The news of her death, on Thursday, March 12, was confirmed by Clemente Mimun, director of Tg5.Born in Savona on November 18, 1949, Bonaccorti began her career in theatre before moving into television and cinema, eventually becoming one of the defining personalities of Italian broadcasting across the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Her career stood out for both its longevity and its versatility.She became a household name on Rai through popular programmes such as Pronto, chi gioca? and Italia Sera, before later moving to Mediaset where she appeared on shows including Non è la Rai. Over the decades, Bonaccorti also worked as a writer, lyricist, and radio host, demonstrating a rare ability to move across different media and generations. One of the lesser-known episodes of her career dates back to when she was just 19 years old. Inspired by diary entries about a teenage love, she co-wrote a song with Italian music legend Domenico Modugno. Modugno reportedly believed immediately that the song would become a hit. Bonaccorti, by her own admission, was less convinced. He turned out to be right. In September 2025, Bonaccorti publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After months away from the public eye, she posted a photograph of herself in a wheelchair alongside her daughter Verdiana. “I have been hiding for four months, even from my closest friends,” she wrote at the time. “But now that I have managed to tell you, I already feel stronger.” She spoke openly about her illness, explaining that the diagnosis had come almost unexpectedly after routine medical tests following a minor procedure. Within days, she had already begun chemotherapy. In January, appearing on the television programme Verissimo, she told host Silvia Toffanin that the first treatments had not worked as hoped and that she had been forced to restart chemotherapy. During the same interview she made one final request regarding her funeral: “I do not want flowers. Flowers that have been cut give me a feeling of death. Leave them in the wind.” Throughout her illness, Bonaccorti remained close to her daughter Verdiana and her grandson Teo, who were frequently by her side. In her final interviews she spoke about her desire to spare her daughter suffering and her hope that Verdiana would find peace and happiness. Even in the final years of her life, Bonaccorti maintained a strong bond with her audience. In 2019 she returned to daily television presenting with the programme Ho qualcosa da dirti on TV8, reconnecting with viewers who had followed her career for decades. As news of her illness spread, fans responded with an outpouring of affection on social media. Bonaccorti said she tried to respond to as many messages as possible. “You have overwhelmed me with your affection,” she wrote. “I have started breathing life again since I stopped hiding.” With her passing, Italian television loses one of its most authentic and enduring voices.

Enrica Bonaccorti, one of the most recognisable and enduring figures in Italian television, has died at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer. The news of her death, on Thursday, March 12, was confirmed by Clemente Mimun, director of Tg5.Born in Savona on November 18, 1949, Bonaccorti began her career in theatre before moving into television and cinema, eventually becoming one of the defining personalities of Italian broadcasting across the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Her career stood out for both its longevity and its versatility. She became a household name on Rai through popular programmes such as Pronto, chi gioca? and Italia Sera, before later moving to Mediaset where she appeared on shows including Non è la Rai. Over the decades, Bonaccorti also worked as a writer, lyricist, and radio host, demonstrating a rare ability to move across different media and generations. One of the lesser-known episodes of her career dates back to when she was just 19 years old. Inspired by diary entries about a teenage love, she co-wrote a song with Italian music legend Domenico Modugno. Modugno reportedly believed immediately that the song would become a hit. Bonaccorti, by her own admission, was less convinced. He turned out to be right. In September 2025, Bonaccorti publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After months away from the public eye, she posted a photograph of herself in a wheelchair alongside her daughter Verdiana. “I have been hiding for four months, even from my closest friends,” she wrote at the time. “But now that I have managed to tell you, I already feel stronger.” She spoke openly about her illness, explaining that the diagnosis had come almost unexpectedly after routine medical tests following a minor procedure. Within days, she had already begun chemotherapy. In January, appearing on the television programme Verissimo, she told host Silvia Toffanin that the first treatments had not worked as hoped and that she had been forced to restart chemotherapy. During the same interview she made one final request regarding her funeral: “I do not want flowers. Flowers that have been cut give me a feeling of death. Leave them in the wind.” Throughout her illness, Bonaccorti remained close to her daughter Verdiana and her grandson Teo, who were frequently by her side. In her final interviews she spoke about her desire to spare her daughter suffering and her hope that Verdiana would find peace and happiness. Even in the final years of her life, Bonaccorti maintained a strong bond with her audience. In 2019 she returned to daily television presenting with the programme Ho qualcosa da dirti on TV8, reconnecting with viewers who had followed her career for decades. As news of her illness spread, fans responded with an outpouring of affection on social media. Bonaccorti said she tried to respond to as many messages as possible. “You have overwhelmed me with your affection,” she wrote. “I have started breathing life again since I stopped hiding.” With her passing, Italian television loses one of its most authentic and enduring voices.