Piero Angela Obituary

Piero Angela, an Italian television host, science journalist, writer and pianist has died. Piero died on August 13, 2022, aged 93 and his death comes four months away from his 94th birthday.

Piero is survived by his wife Margherita Pastore, whom he married when she was 19 years and their children; Christine and Alberto.

Piero gained critical acclaim in his program Investigation on parapsychology (1978) after he revealed methods and tricks used by mediums and gurus in their activities; the interest to debunk the quackery was the basis of the birth of CICAP (Italian Committee for the Control of Claims on Pseudosciences), and prior to his death, he was the Committee’s honorary president.

He was appointed Honorary President in 2016.

A slogan of the association, “We must always have an open mind, but not so open that the brain falls to the ground”, has become a phrase frequently attributed to him, although in reality it is attributed to many people and its exact source is unknown.

In 1996, Piero was presented with the Responsibility in Journalism Award by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP).

In 2000, Piero was sued for defamation by two homeopathic associations (FIAMO and SIMO in a civil case and a criminal case), following the broadcast of Superquark of 11 July 2000 in which the homeopathic medicine was said to have no scientific foundation.

Piero, defended by lawyers Giulia Bongiorno and Franco Coppi, was acquitted in both cases and the judge recognized the unscientific nature of the discipline.

Piero was also a prolific writer and he wrote thirty-three books, which sold over three million copies, received many honorary degrees, made over sixty documentaries and hundreds of television episodes, won seven Telegattos and eight times won the national television directing award.