ROME (AP) — The publishing house Mondadori says Italy's popular writer, actor and director Luciano De Crescenzo has died in Rome at 90 after being hospitalized for a few days.

Born in Naples on August 20, 1928, De Crescenzo gained famed in 1977 with his best-seller "Così parlò Bellavista" ("Thus spoke Bellavista"), a collection of anecdotes about his beloved Naples.

Over the years, De Crescenzo became an internationally successful author. His books sold almost 20 million copies in Italy and abroad and were translated in 25 countries.

De Crescenzo was particularly successful in delivering philosophy to the general public with his books. In the 1980s he debuted as actor in "Il pap'occhio," ("In the Pope's Eye"), a comedy directed by Renzo Arbore and starring Oscar-winning actor Roberto Benigni.