Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor known for his influential work in neorealism. He began his career as an actor in the 1920s before transitioning to directing in the 1940s. Some of his notable films include "Bicycle Thieves" (1948), "Umberto D." (1952), and "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis" (1970). De Sica's work garnered critical acclaim, earning him several awards including four Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. He is considered one of the greatest directors in cinema history.