Giovannino Oliviero Giuseppe Guareschi ( ; 1 May 1908 -- 22 July 1968 ) was an Italian journalist , cartoonist and humorist whose most famous creation is the priest Don Camillo .
Giovannino Oliviero Giuseppe Guareschi ( ] ; 1 May 1908 -- 22 July 1968 ) was an Italian journalist , cartoonist and humorist . He was known for creating the priest Don Camillo and the production of its movies .