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This page is our personal hall of fame. 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...
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...


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=== FRESH GRAVES ===
=== FRESH GRAVES ===
*'''WEPPER, Fritz''' - 8/17/1941, Munich, Bavaria, Germany - 3/25/2024, Munich, Bavaria, Germany


*'''BUCCI, Flavio''' - 5/25/1947, Turin, Piedmont, Italy - 2/18/2020, Passoscuro, Lazio, Italy
German actor Fritz Wepper died in Munich, Germany on March 25, 2024. He was 82. He started his acting career in a production of Peter Pan at the age of eleven. He got his first important film role in Tischlein deck dich, a film adaption of the Brothers Grimm fairytale The Wishing Table. Fritz is best known for his role as Inspector Harry Klein in the long-running crime series ‘Derrick’ (1974–1998). Wepper is also remembered for his roles in the films “Cabaret” (1972) and “The Bridge” (1959) and as Mayor Wöller in the TV series ‘Um Himmels Willen’ (2002–2021). Wepper appeared in one Euro-western as Tampico in the 1963 television production of “Ein Sheriff für den Sarg”.


Italian actor Flavio Bucci died of a heart attack in his home in Passoscuro, Lazio, Italy on February 18, 2020. He was 72 years old. He was a producer, theatrical, film, TV and voice actor. Born in Turin, Piedmont, Italy on May 25, 1947,  everyone remembers him in some of his memorable roles in equally unforgettable films: Il Marchese del Grillo, alongside Sordi, Suspiria by the master of terror Dario Argento, and Il divo by Paolo Sorrentino, just to name a few. He was married to actress Micaela Pignatelli and had two sons Alessandro and Lorenzo. He also had another son Rube from a relationship with Dutch director Loes Kamsteeg. He appeared in one Euro-western as Kansas in 1985’s “Tex and the Lord of the Deep” starring Giuliano Gemma and William Berger.


*'''BERETTA, Daniel (Daniel Jean Georges Beretta)''' - , Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France - 3/23/2024, France


*'''ZIEMAN, Sonja''' - 2/8/1926, Eichwalde bei Berlin, Germany -  2/17/2020, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
French singer, actor and voice dubber Daniel Beretta died on March 23rh. He was 77. Beretta was born on December 24, 1946 in Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. He started his career as a Chanson Singer-Songwriter, having given several concerts at the Olympia and Bobino concert halls and wrote several songs for the likes of Mireille Mathieu and Nino Ferrer. He also notably adapted and performed songs for the French version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” as well as the stage adaptation of “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”. Having trained as a musician also allowed him to sing in his animation dubs (such as Lumière's music numbers in “Beauty and the Beast”, again). He dubbed Arnold Schwarzenegger in the French versions of all his films since 1987. Daniel was also the announcer for the French radio RFM from 2000 to 2008. His daughter, Barbara Beretta, is also a professional voice actress. He quietly retired for health reasons in the early 2020s. Daniel Beretta appeared in one Euro-western “In the Dust of the Sun” in 1971 as Hawk Bradford.


German actress, singer, dancer Sonja Zieman died in an Munich retirement home on Monday February 17, 2020. She had just turned 94. Born Alice Toni Selma Ziemann in Eichwalde bei Berlin, Germany on February 8, 1926 she left school at the age of 14 to start dancing. She appeared in her first film “Ein Windstoß” as Gina Galassi and made her final appearance after 92 films television shows  as Vera Stern in TV’s ‘Park Hotel Stern’ in 1997. Zieman appeared in one Euro-western; 1958’s “Texas Serenade” as Sylvia.


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


*'''MIMICA, Vatroslav - 6/25/1923, Omis, Croatia, Yugoslavia - 2/15/2020, Zagreb, Croatia
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.


Croatian producer, director, writer Vatroslav Mimica died in Zagreb, Croatia on February 15, 2020. He was 97. Mimica was born on June 25, 1923 in Omis, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He studied at the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb and was a participant in the anti-fascist movement in World War II. He had been working in films since 1950, first as director of Jadran Film, of which he is one of the artists. Croatian cinema will remember him primarily for feature films such as “Prometheus from the Island of Visevica”, the internationally acclaimed “Kai, I'll Kill You”, Monday or Tuesday”, “Event”, “Peasant Revolt” and “Banović Strahinja”.  Mimica co-wrote the story and screenplay for 1957’s short film “Cowboy Jimmy”.


*'''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.


*'''MARCHENT, Rafael Romero''' - 5/3/1926, Madrid, Madrid, Spain - 2/13/2020, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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.


Legendary Spanish filmmaker Rafael Romero Marchent died in Madrid, Spain on February 13, 2020. He was 94. The director, writer, actor along was born into a family of filmmakers and along with his brothers Joaquin., Carlos and his sister Ana were pioneers in the Euro-western genre that brought international cinema and film making to Spain. He was involved with 20 Euro-westerns as production manager, director, assistant director, writer and actor. Some of the titles are: “The Shadow of Zorro”; “Zorro the Avenger” both 1962; “Sign of the Coyote” (1963); “Gunfight at High Noon” (1965); Two Crosses at Danger Pass” (1967); “Dead Men Don’t Count” (1968), “The Dead are Countless” (1969) and he finished his western career with “The Black Wolf” and “Revenge of the Black Wolf” in 1981. One of the greats of the genre has passed. 


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


*'''DOUGLAS, Kirk (Issur Danielovitch)''' - 12/9/1916, Amsterdam, New York, U.S.A. - 2/5/2020, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
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.  


Although Kirk Douglas never made a Euro-western a couple of his westerns had scenes that were filmed in Europe. Mike Ferguson e-mailed me the following information. A Gunfight (bullfight ending shot outside Madrid. They couldn't kill the bull Stateside or in Mexico, so they went to Spain. Rest of the film shot in US)
Light at the Edge of the World (flashback scene filmed in Madrid, set in a typical western saloon, has American actor John Clarke as the town sheriff confronting, I think Douglas, who has stolen the man's wife as I recall. Or they used to be bandits together? I think Douglas shoots him? Anyway they're both dressed in frontier garb. Of course some western aficionados count his appearance as Peg in 1973’s Scalawag as a western because the action takes place in 1840’s California. 


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


*'''MINERVINI, Gianni (Giovanni Minervini)''' - 10/26/1928, Naples, Campania, Italy - 2/4/2020, 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.


Italian producer, production manager and supervisor Gianni Minervini died in\ Rome, Italy on February 4, 2020. Born Giovanni Minervini in Naples, Italy on October 26, 1928, he was the son of the journalist Roberto (1900-1962) and brother of the sculptor Annamaria. He began his film career as an actor and then debuted as a producer in 1976, when he co-founded with the brothers Antonio and Pupi Avati the production company A.M.A. Film. The Avati brothers left the company in the late 1983, leaving the sole Minervini leading the company. He won a best foreign film Oscar in 1991 for “Mediterraneo”. He was a production manager on “The Sign of the Coyote” (1963) and “Death Rides a Horse” (1967), a production supervisor on “Blood and Guns” (Tepepa)” (1969) and a producer of “Night of the Serpent” (1969).


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


*'''FRANK JR., Harriet - 3/2/1917, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. - 1/28/2020, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
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”.
 
American writer Harriet Frank Jr. died in Los Angeles, California on January 28, 2020. She and her husband, Irving Ravetch, collaborated on provocative screenplays that explored the social conflicts and moral questions of postwar American life in movies like “Hud” and “Norma Rae,” died on Tuesday January 28, 2020 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 96. Harriet co-wrote the screenplay for 1974’s Euro-western “The Spike’s Gang”.
 
 
*'''PARSONS, Nicholas (Christopher Nicholas Parsons) - 10/10/1923, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, U.K. - 1/28/2020, Aylesbury, Buckinhamshire, England, U.K.
 
Born Christopher Nicholas Parsons in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England on October 10, 1923, he was an British actor and radio and television presenter. He was the long-running presenter of the comedy radio show ‘Just a Minute’ and hosted the game show “Sale of the Century” during the 1970s and early 1980s. His Euro-western connection was the English voice of Sheriff Tex Tucker, telegrapher Dan Morse and Billy Pinto in the 1960 British TV western series “Four Feather Falls”. He was married to actress Denise Bryer from 1954-1989, who was the voice of Martha 'Ma' Jones and Little Jake on the same series.
 
 
*'''SANS, Santi''' - 7/?/1933, Gràcia, Barcelona, Cataluna, Spain - 1/22/2020, Barcelona, Cataluna, Spain
 
The humorist and actor Santi Sans died January 22, 2020 in the Hospital de Mataro, Barcelona, Cataluna, Spain, after more than half a century career, as reported by his family to Europa Press. He was 86. He was born in July 1933 in the Barcelona neighborhood of Gràcia, where, as a child, he was already an amateur actor; and debuted professionally in 1956 with a small role in the play Just Married, Do Not Disturb , directed by Adolfo Marsillach at the Windsor Theater in the city. In the party halls he also performed in the 60s with singers such as Julio Iglesias and Raphael, whom he presented and imitated, entertaining the shows. One, two, three and Filiprim . In the 70s he performed in various spaces of TVE Catalunya, especially humorist, and also in the first stage of the 'One, two, three' contest, when presented by Kiko Ledgard. In the 80s Sans became very popular on TV3, with humorous performances and imitations in various programs, among which Filiprim and Tres i l'astròleg stand out , in addition to acting later in the drama series Laberint d'ombres. His only Euro-western appearance was in the film short “Peacemaker” in 2005.
 
 
 
[[Category:Resources]][[Category:Obituaries]][[Category:People]]

Latest revision as of 14:24, 25 March 2024

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

Cemetery.jpg

FRESH GRAVES

  • WEPPER, Fritz - 8/17/1941, Munich, Bavaria, Germany - 3/25/2024, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

German actor Fritz Wepper died in Munich, Germany on March 25, 2024. He was 82. He started his acting career in a production of Peter Pan at the age of eleven. He got his first important film role in Tischlein deck dich, a film adaption of the Brothers Grimm fairytale The Wishing Table. Fritz is best known for his role as Inspector Harry Klein in the long-running crime series ‘Derrick’ (1974–1998). Wepper is also remembered for his roles in the films “Cabaret” (1972) and “The Bridge” (1959) and as Mayor Wöller in the TV series ‘Um Himmels Willen’ (2002–2021). Wepper appeared in one Euro-western as Tampico in the 1963 television production of “Ein Sheriff für den Sarg”.


  • BERETTA, Daniel (Daniel Jean Georges Beretta) - , Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France - 3/23/2024, France

French singer, actor and voice dubber Daniel Beretta died on March 23rh. He was 77. Beretta was born on December 24, 1946 in Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. He started his career as a Chanson Singer-Songwriter, having given several concerts at the Olympia and Bobino concert halls and wrote several songs for the likes of Mireille Mathieu and Nino Ferrer. He also notably adapted and performed songs for the French version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” as well as the stage adaptation of “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”. Having trained as a musician also allowed him to sing in his animation dubs (such as Lumière's music numbers in “Beauty and the Beast”, again). He dubbed Arnold Schwarzenegger in the French versions of all his films since 1987. Daniel was also the announcer for the French radio RFM from 2000 to 2008. His daughter, Barbara Beretta, is also a professional voice actress. He quietly retired for health reasons in the early 2020s. Daniel Beretta appeared in one Euro-western “In the Dust of the Sun” in 1971 as Hawk Bradford.


  • 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”.

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