Cemetery with crosses - legends lost but remembered

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This page is our personal hall of faml'e. A reminder to us all that even though considered a B-genre, Spaghetti Westerns were full of great characters, played by great people. Many have passed away, and while we are young growing up re-watching all these classics, many more will probably leave us. May they be remembered. What follows, is a work-in-progress, a growing list of legends who have passed away...

Sorted by last name: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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FRESH GRAVES

  • CULVER, Michael (Michael John Edward Culver) - 6/16/1938, Hampstead, London, England, U.K. - 2/27/2024

British actor Michael Culver died on February 27, 2024. He was 85. Born Michael John Edward Culver in Hampstead, London, England on June 16, 1938. The son (and nephew) of actors Culver was destined to delve into acting himself. Culver attended Gresham's School in Holt, North Norfolk, UK, then went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Culver was married to actress Lucinda Curtis from 1962-1986, they have two sons, Roderic (an actor), and Justin, and a daughter, Sue. He is currently married to actress Amanda Ward. Culver appeared in several television series in recurring roles, as Squire Armstrong in ‘The Adventures of Black Beauty’ (1972–74), Major Erwin Brandt in the BBC drama ‘Secret Army’ (1977–78), crooked banker Ralph Saroyan in the second series of ‘The House of Eliott’ (1992) and the strict Prior Robert ('Brother Prior') in ‘Cadfael’ (1994–98). Culver appeared as Aragan in one episode of thee 1991 Euro-television series ‘The New Zorro’ starrin Duncan Regehr.


  • McCOURT, Malachy (Malachy Gerard McCourt) - 9/20/1931, New York City, New York, U.S.A. - 3/11/2024, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A.

Veteran American actor Malachy McCourt died in a Manhattan hospital on March 11th he was 92. Malachy Gerard McCourt was born in New York City on September 20, 1931. He was an American actor and writer of Irish ancestry. McCourt was the 2006 Green Party candidate for governor of New York, losing to the Democratic candidate Eliot Spitzer. He was the younger brother of author Frank McCourt [1930-2009]. Raised in Limerick, Ireland he acted on stage, on TV and in various films. These included “The Molly Maguires”, “Beyond the Pale”, “Ash Wednesday” and he also used to make an annual festive appearance in’ All My Children’ as Father Clarence. Malachy appeared in one Euro-western in an uncredited role in 1976’s “Montana Trap” aka “Potato Frits” with Hardy Krüger and Stephen Boyd.


  • MORRA, Gigio - 8/26/1945, Naples, Campania Italy - 3/10/2024, Naples, Campania, Italy

Italian theater, film and TV actor Gigio Morra died at his home in Naples, Italy on March 10th. He was 78. Born in Naples on August 26, 1945. He graduated in 1966 from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Naples. He made his debut in theater with Eduardo De Filippo, with whom he worked from 1970 to 1980. As a character actor, he was present in about twenty films including his only Spaghetti western “Arrapaho” in 1984 in the role of Pierpaolo.


  • LEONI, Roberto - 11/16/1940, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 3/5/2024, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Italian director and screenwriter Roberto Leoni died in Rome on March 5, 2024. He was 83. Leoni scripted more than seventy films some of which have become real cult movies such as “Santa Sangre” (1989) by Alejandro Jodorowsky and “My Dear Killer” (1972) by Tonino Valerii. He also wrote and directed TV films. Beginning in August 2017 he reviewed new and classic movies on his talk show ‘Roberto Leoni Movie Reviews’. Leoni was co-writer of the 1977 Spaghetti western “California” starring Giuliano Gemma and William Berger.


  • NICOTRA, Angelo - 4/10/1948, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 3/8/2024, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Italian actor and voice dubber Angelo Nicotra died in Rome on March 8th. He was 75. He was the brother of the director Giancarlo Nicotra. Angelo made his screen debut as a child actor in the 1950s. He was better known for his dubbing and was the official voice of American actor Morgan Freeman after the retirement of Renato Mori. He was also the voice of Mr. Potato in the four “Toy Story” films. Nicotra was the Italian voice of Simón Andreu in 1971’s “Bad Man’s River; Chris Chitell in 1971’s “They Call Him Cemetery”; Pedro Sanchez in 1972’s “My Horse, My Gun, Your Widow; Alberto Dell’Acqua in 1972’s “Panhandle .38”; Antonio Marsina in 1976’s “Keoma” and Walter Lucchini in 1981’s “Buddy Goes West”.


  • Charles Dierkop (Charles Richard Dierkop) - 9/11/1936, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, U.S.A. - 2/25/2024, Sherman Oaks, California

American character actor Charles Dierkop died February 25th at Sherman Oaks, after a recent heart attack and bout with pneumonia. He was 87. After portraying an uncredited pool-hall hood in the Paul Newman-starring “The Hustler” (1961), Dierkop got to work with Newman again in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) when he was hired to play Hole in the Wall Gang outlaw George “Flat Nose” Curry. Dierkop had broken his nose in fights several times as a kid, so he was rather suited for the part. Charles Richard Dierkop was born on Sept. 11, 1936, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Dierkop was married to Joan Addis from 1958 until their 1974 divorce. They had two children, Charles Jr., who died in 1990 at age 29, and Lynn. Dierkop appeared in only one Euro-western as Cooper in 1989’s “Blood Red” starring Dennis Hopper and Giancarlo Giannini.


  • RIEDEL, Georg (Georg Martin Ludvig Riedel) - 1/8/1934, Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia - 2/25/2024, Stockholm, Sweden

Czech born Swedish composer Georg Riedel died in Stockholm on February 25, 2024, at the age of 90. Riedel, a name synonymous with the enchanting background scores of Astrid Lindgren's cherished tales, leaves behind a legacy that has been an integral part of Scandinavian childhoods and beyond. His compositions, including the beloved 'Idas Sommarvisa,' have not just entertained but also shaped the musical landscape of children's literature in Sweden. He was born Georg Martin Ludvig Riedel on January 8, 1934, in Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia. Riedel's journey to musical prominence began upon his family's relocation to Stockholm. Here, a young Riedel transitioned from the violin to the double bass, uncovering a passion for jazz that would eventually intertwine with the world of children's stories. His induction into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame and the recognition with the Children’s Culture Award are testaments to his enduring impact on children's films and music. Georg composed the score for the 1964 Euro-western “Wild West Story”.


  • MESSINA, Roberto (Roberto S. Messina) - 1/2/1934, Casablanca, Morocco - 1/9/2024, Venice, Florida, U.S.A.

Assistant director, stunt coordinator, stuntman, master of arms, film, TV, voice actor Roberto Messina died in Venice, Florida on January 9, 2024. He was 90. Roberto was the brother of stuntman and actor Emilio Messina [1936-2007]. Roberto’s grandson posted on Facebook of his passing. Along with his brother Emilio, alongside whom he often appeared, he first appeared in peplums, then continued working steadily through the cycles of the eurospy, spaghetti western and police genres. On those occasions where he was credited it was often under the pseudonym of Bob or Robert Messenger. He also worked as an Italian dubbing artist for Italian films and later as a stunt coordinator. At the start of the 1980’s both brothers relocated to Venice, Florida, and throughout the next decade he continued to work as a stuntman and stunt coordinator, predominantly for Italian productions shot in Florida. Roberto appeared in 35 Spaghetti westerns from “Badmen of the West” in 1964 to “White Fang and the Kid” in 1977.


  • PAVESE, Paila - 9/23/1942, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 2/22/2024, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Italian film, TV and voice actress Paila Pavese died in Rome on February 22. She was 81. Paila came from a family of artists from Asti engaged in theater and cinema as actors and dubbers: daughter of actor Nino Pavese and Jolanda Peghin, and granddaughter of Luigi Pavese, she entered the world of entertainment at the age of twelve. After graduating from the National Academy of Dramatic Art, she made her debut as a young theatrical actress in 1960 working with Gabriele Ferzetti. He then acted alongside well-known actors including Gigi Proietti, Laura Adani, Vittorio Gassman and Orazio Costa. From the early seventies her career as a theatre actress was developed. For television she directed the Italian dubbing of American series, while for radio she worked in the drama Madame Bonaparte. As a voice actress she lent her voice to numerous famous actresses, including Anjelica Huston, whom she voiced in the first two films of the film versions of “The Addams Family”. She has been the voice of numerous cartoon and animated film characters - such as the voice of Jessica Rabbit in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and Fatima Blush in the movie “Never Say Never”. Paila was the voice of Valeria Cavalli in the 1983 modern Euro-western “Thunder” starring Mark Gregory”.


  • PRESLE, Micheline (Micheline Nicole Julia Emilienne Chassagne) - 8/22/1922, Paris, Île-de-France, France - 2/21/2024, Val-de-Marne, Paris, Île-de-France, France

Legendary French actress Micheline Presle died on February 21 in Val-de-Marne, Paris, Île-de-France, France. She was 101. Born Micheline Nicole Julia Emilienne Chassagne in Paris on August 22, 1922. Taking acting classes as a teen, she was discovered by Georg Wilhelm Pabst and cast in Jeunes filles en détresse (1939) (portraying Jacqueline Presle, whose last name she chose as her own marquee name). Very early into her film career, she was awarded the Prix Suzanne Bianchetti as the" most promising young actress" in French cinema. She was among the most successful French screen actress of the '40s along with her friends Danielle Darrieux and Michèle Morgan. After a brief post-war marriage to Michel Lefort, Micheline's second marriage to American actor-turned-producer William Marshall in 1949 led her to attempt Hollywood pictures. Divorced in 1954, Micheline never truly adjusted to the Hollywood way of life and returned quite willingly to Paris with her daughter, the future actress/director Tonie Marshall. She would, however, return briefly to America in the early 1960's to appear in the Dee/Darin comedy fluff “If a Man Answers” (1962) and the spy drama “The Prize” (1963). Presle appeared in only one Spaghetti western as Aun Amelie in 1971’s “The Legend of Frenchie King” starring Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Cardinale.


  • von Fürstenberg, Ira (Virginia Carolina Theresa Pancrazia Galdina Prinzessin zu Fürstenberg) - 4/17/1940, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 2/19/2024, Italy

Princess Ira von Fürstenberg died on February 19, 2024. She was 83. She was born Virginia Carolina Theresa Pancrazia Galdina zu Fürstenberg in Rome on April 17, 1940, and was Chiara Agnelli and Prince Tassilo von Furstenberg’s eldest daughter. Ira was an undisputed protagonist of the worldliness of the last century. Her marriage in Venice to Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, in 1955, when she was just 15 years old, was the first major post-war event. Ira, a restless girl, after having given birth to two children, ran away with the Basilian millionaire and playboy Baby Pignatari, from whom she separated a few years later. She spent part of her youth tackling the adventure of cinema and then dedicated herself to public relations in the fashion sector. Her only Spaghetti western was as Hester McDonald Morton in “Deaf Smith and Johnny Ears in 1973.