Antonio Colonnello was an Italian theater actor and voice actor, born in 1938. He began his show business career at the age of 18, leaving his native Milan to study at the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome, where his masters included Sergio Tofano and Wanda Capodaglio. Following his studies, he dedicated many years to the theater, performing with renowned companies such as the Compagnia dei Giovani and the Morelli-Stoppa company, where he interpreted the works of Luigi Pirandello.

Colonnello eventually transitioned from the stage to focus on dubbing, becoming a prominent voice in Italian media. He was the regular Italian voice for numerous major international stars, including Clint Eastwood, Leslie Nielsen, John Travolta, Steven Seagal, and Bruno Ganz. He is particularly remembered for two iconic television roles: he was the voice of Henry Winkler's character Fonzie in the series Happy Days, for which he famously invented the character's signature exclamation "Wow," and he dubbed Larry Hagman as the infamous J.R. Ewing in the hit series Dallas.

In the realm of anime and animated series, Colonnello contributed his voice to several Italian adaptations. His most notable role in this field was providing the first Italian voice for the male aspect of the dual-gendered villain Baron Ashura in the enduringly popular series Mazinger Z, a role he originated in the 1980 broadcast. He also voiced the male version of the character in the film Mazinga Z contro Devilman. Additionally, he was the Italian voice of Dr. Tenma in the 1980 series Astro Boy.

Antonio Colonnello passed away on May 30, 2005, in Rome at the age of 67. He left behind a significant legacy as the vocal personality behind some of the most beloved and iconic characters in Italian popular culture.