Mario Caiano was born on February 13, 1933, in Rome, Italy. After completing his elementary education, he enrolled in college under the pseudonym Mariano Cajano, simultaneously pursuing his university studies in philology alongside an apprenticeship in the film industry. He honed his skills as an assistant director and occasional scriptwriter for renowned directors such as Sergio Grieco, Fernando Cerchio, Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, Vittorio Sala, Riccardo Freda, Edgar G. Ulmer, and Camillo Mastrocinque.
Caiano made his directorial debut in 1962 with the film "Ulysses Against Hercules." From then on, he directed films across various genres, including the first Italian western, "The Sign of the Coyote," released in 1963. His other notable works include the gothic horror film "Nightmare Castle" (1965),starring Barbara Steele, the psychological thriller "Eye in the Labyrinth" (1972),and the captivating detective thriller "A tutte le auto della polizia..." (1975).
In addition to his film endeavors, Caiano wrote the script for "Nelle pieghe dellacarne" (1966),directed by Sergio Bergonzelli. He has remained active in Italian television, contributing to various shows such as "Un'estate, un inverno" (1971),"Diagnosi" (1975),"Astuzia per astuzia" (1979),and many more, continuing to work in the industry to this day.