Massimo Troisi began his acting career in the theater and became famous for roles in television series He is best known for his roles in his own film Ricomincio da tre 1981 and in Michael Radfords The Postman Il Postino 1994 The filmmaker Ettore Scola has also made him one of his leading performers with three consecutive works Splendor What time is it and The Voyage of Captain Fracasse Heart disease when he had to shoot The Postman His doctor had advised him not to do the filming to have the operation He decided to postpone the operation after the shooting this film being close to his heart He died of a heart attack barely twelve hours after the end of filming He was posthumously nominated for two Oscars and two Golden Globes