Cemetery with crosses - legends lost but remembered: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:32, 15 April 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

FRESH GRAVES

BROWNE, Robin (Michael Robin Graham Browne) - 11/24/1941, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, U.K. - 3/28/2024, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S.A.

British cinematographer Robin Browne passed away at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on March 28, 2024. He was born Michael Robin Graham Browne in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England on November 24, 1941. , was a cinematographer specializing in aerial photography and special effects. His father was Bernard Browne, a director of photography who worked with Alexander Korda at Denham studios. A few of the films he worked on were: “Battle of Britain” (1969); “Catch 22” (1970); t”A Bridge Too Far” (1977); “Krull” (1983); “A Passage to India” (1984); “The Jewel of the Nile” (1985); “King Kong Lives” (1986); “Gorillas in the Mist” (1988). Browne worked as a model unit director and cameraman on the 1986 Euro-western “Sky Bandits”.

DUX, Eckart (Eckart Hermann Dux) - 12/19/1926, Berlin, Germany - 4/9/2024, Sassenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany

Veteran German actor and voice dubber Eckart Dux died in Sassenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany on April 9th he was 97. Born Eckart Herman Dux in Berlin on December 19, 1926. Dux completed his training as an actor with Else Bongers in Berlin and made his stage debut in 1948 at the city's Renaissance Theatre. He then had numerous roles on the Berlin stage and in theatres in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. He also had many roles as a character actor in film and television. From 1949, he became the longest active German-speaking voice actor, dubbing Hollywood films into German. In the 1950s and 1960s he was regularly the German voice of Audie Murphy. He also dubbed Anthony Perkins in many roles including Psycho, Steve Martin, Fred Astaire, George Peppard (in the action series The A-Team) and Jerry Stiller. He has also worked as an actor and narrator on radio and audio books. Dux was married to the actress Gisela Peltzer in the 1950s, and then later to the editor Marlies Dux [1945- ] in 1970. Dux’s work in Euro-westerns consisted of appearing as Jimmy in the 1964 TV western film ‘Prairie Saloon’ and he was the German voice of Mark Damon in “Ringo’s Golden Pistol” and Phillippe Leroy in “Yankee” both in 1966. Brad Harris in “Rattler Kid” 1967, George Hilton in 1968’s “The Ruthless Four”, Christian Duroc, J. P. Compain the 1969 TV mini-series “The Leatherstocking Tales”. He was Dean Reeds voice in “Adios, Sabata” and the voice of Lucky Luke in both the animated “Lucky Luke: Ballad of the Daltons” in 1978 and “Lucky Luke: The Daltons on the Run” in 1983 and as Sam Hawkens in 2009’s “WinneToons - Die Legende vom Schatz im Silbersee”.

CRUZ, Ernesto Gómez - 11/7/1933, Veracruz, Verazcruz, Mexico - 4/6/2024, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Veteran Mexican actor Ernesto Gómez Cruz died from complications of Alzheimer’s in Mexico City on April 6th. He was 90. Gómez Cruz was born in Veracruz, Mexico, on November 7, 1933. His first professional job was as a photographer; Later, through a friend, he was introduced to dramatic arts. Thus, he moved to the Aztec capital where he studied acting at the National Institute of Fine Arts. Although he had musical interests, he discarded them because he considered that he did not have enough preparation. He made his film debut in 1967 with the film “Los caifanes”, where his performance as El Azteca which earned him the national Silver Goddess Award. Subsequently, he would obtain other awards and recognitions such as the Ariel. Ernesto’s only Euro-western was as the witch in 2006’s “Bandidas” with Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek.

INANOGLU, Türker - 5/18/1936, Safranbolu, Turkey - 4/2/2024, Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish producer, director, and writer Türker İnanoğlu died in Istanbul, Turkey on April 2nd he was 87. İnanoğlu became interested in the cinema when he was a student at the Istanbul Academy of Applied Fine Arts in 1957. After working as an assistant to directors Ömer Lütfi Akat and Nişan Hançer in eleven movies, he directed his first feature Senden Ayrı Yaşayamam in 1960. After directing nine movies he founded his own film company Erler Film in 1960, which is today the oldest film production company in Turkey still in business. Since then, he produced 126 black-and-white and color films, among them 21 co-productions with Greece, Italy and Iran. He executed also the productions of American, Japanese, French and German filmmakers’ documentary films shot in Turkey. He directed 82 movies. He produced only Spaghetti western “Cowboy Kid” in 1973 directed by Guido Zurli in which his son was İlker starred.

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.

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 === FRESH GRAVES ===
-*'''BLUDAU, Jochen''' - 7/2/1941, Krefeld-Hüls, North Rhine-Westfalen Germany - 3/9/2023, Elspe, Sauerland, Germany
+*''' BROWNE, Robin (Michael Robin Graham Browne)''' - 11/24/1941, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, U.K. - 3/28/2024, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S.A.
-German producer, director, playwright, writer and actor Jochen Bludau died in Elspe, Sauerland, Germany on March 9, 2023. He was 82. Bludau was the heart and soul of the Elspe Karl May Festival and played many roles on stage and behind the curtains, He wrote all the plays from the Karl May novels, appeared as Winnetou for many years and then switched to playing villains. He was instrumental in getting Pierre Brice to play the stage character of his film character of Winnetou. Bludau was also a co-producer on the 1993 Euro-western "Texas - Doc Snyder hält die Welt" in Atem. In the summer of 2013, Jochen Bludau was presented with the aforementioned "Scharlih", the honorary award of the Karl May Archive, which until then had mainly only been awarded to participants in the Karl May films. This showed the special status that the festival maker from the Sauerland enjoyed in the scene and will probably always enjoy.
+British cinematographer Robin Browne passed away at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on March 28, 2024. He was born Michael Robin Graham Browne in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England on November 24, 1941. , was a cinematographer specializing in aerial photography and special effects. His father was Bernard Browne, a director of photography who worked with Alexander Korda at Denham studios. A few of the films he worked on were: “Battle of Britain” (1969); “Catch 22” (1970); t”A Bridge Too Far” (1977); “Krull” (1983); “A Passage to India” (1984); “The Jewel of the Nile” (1985); “King Kong Lives” (1986); “Gorillas in the Mist” (1988). Browne worked as a model unit director and cameraman on the 1986 Euro-western “Sky Bandits”.
-*'''TOPOL (Chaim Topol)''' - 9/9/1935, Tel Aviv, Palestine - 3/9/2023, Tel Aviv, Israel
+*''' DUX, Eckart (Eckart Hermann Dux)''' - 12/19/1926, Berlin, Germany - 4/9/2024, Sassenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany
-Oscar-nominated actor, an Israel Prize laureate, gained global recognition for his role as the grumbling ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ milkman, Chaim Topol, died on March 9, 2023, at the age of 87 in Tel Aviv after a multi-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Topol was a prolific actor with a wide range of credits including one Euro-western 1969’s “A Talent for Loving” (aka “Gun Craz”) starring Richard Widmark and Cesar Romero where he played a Mexican bandit.
+Veteran German actor and voice dubber Eckart Dux died in Sassenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany on April 9th he was 97. Born Eckart Herman Dux in Berlin on December 19, 1926. Dux completed his training as an actor with Else Bongers in Berlin and made his stage debut in 1948 at the city's Renaissance Theatre. He then had numerous roles on the Berlin stage and in theatres in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. He also had many roles as a character actor in film and television. From 1949, he became the longest active German-speaking voice actor, dubbing Hollywood films into German. In the 1950s and 1960s he was regularly the German voice of Audie Murphy. He also dubbed Anthony Perkins in many roles including Psycho, Steve Martin, Fred Astaire, George Peppard (in the action series The A-Team) and Jerry Stiller. He has also worked as an actor and narrator on radio and audio books. Dux was married to the actress Gisela Peltzer in the 1950s, and then later to the editor Marlies Dux [1945- ] in 1970. Dux’s work in Euro-westerns consisted of appearing as Jimmy in the 1964 TV western film ‘Prairie Saloon’ and he was the German voice of Mark Damon in “Ringo’s Golden Pistol” and Phillippe Leroy in “Yankee” both in 1966. Brad Harris in “Rattler Kid” 1967, George Hilton in 1968’s “The Ruthless Four”, Christian Duroc, J. P. Compain the 1969 TV mini-series “The Leatherstocking Tales”. He was Dean Reeds voice in “Adios, Sabata” and the voice of Lucky Luke in both the animated “Lucky Luke: Ballad of the Daltons” in 1978 and “Lucky Luke: The Daltons on the Run” in 1983 and as Sam Hawkens in 2009’s “WinneToons - Die Legende vom Schatz im Silbersee”.
-*'''BAUMANN, Heinz''' - 2/12/1928, Oldenberg, Lower Saxony, Germany - 3/4/2023, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
+*'''CRUZ, Ernesto Gómez''' - 11/7/1933, Veracruz, Verazcruz, Mexico - 4/6/2024, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico
-German actor Heinz Baumann has died. The native of Oldenburg died March 4 at the age of 95. Baumann was best known as an actor in crime roles. In "Adelheid und ihre Mörder" he played alongside Evelyn Hamann the somewhat goofy Chief Inspector Ewald Strobel, who could only solve his cases with the help of his resourceful secretary Adelheid. In the ZDF series "Soko 5113" he played the detective chief inspector Jürgen Sudmann. He was married to actress Gardy Brombacher who died in 2003. He leaves a son and a daughter (1963-2003) father of a son, and a daughter actress, singer Beatrice Richter born in 1948. Baumann appeared as Antonio Colani in the 1972-1973 German western TV series ‘Stadt ohne Sheriff’.
+Veteran Mexican actor Ernesto Gómez Cruz died from complications of Alzheimer’s in Mexico City on April 6th. He was 90. Gómez Cruz was born in Veracruz, Mexico, on November 7, 1933. His first professional job was as a photographer; Later, through a friend, he was introduced to dramatic arts. Thus, he moved to the Aztec capital where he studied acting at the National Institute of Fine Arts. Although he had musical interests, he discarded them because he considered that he did not have enough preparation. He made his film debut in 1967 with the film “Los caifanes”, where his performance as El Azteca which earned him the national Silver Goddess Award. Subsequently, he would obtain other awards and recognitions such as the Ariel. Ernesto’s only Euro-western was as the witch in 2006’s “Bandidas” with Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek.
-*'''BARKER, Les''' - 1/30/1947, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, U.K. - 1/15/2023,  Oswestry, West Midlands, England, U.K.
+*'''INANOGLU, Türker''' - 5/18/1936, Safranbolu, Turkey - 4/2/2024, Istanbul, Turkey
-Les Barker, who died on January 15, 2023 in Oswestry, West Midlands, England, U.K., was a poet/performer and author much admired on the folk scene. Born in Manchester, England on January 30, 1947, the only child of Miriam (nee Crabtree) and George Barker, who owned a newsagent shop, Les attended Manchester grammar school. He was a bright lad and after training at Manchester College became a chartered accountant, working at the city’s town hall until 1982. But he found it boring. His real talent was in writing silly poems, which he would perform at local folk clubs. He soon became a regular at folk clubs and festivals all over Great Britain. In 1989, he formed the Mrs Ackroyd Band with Hilary Spencer, Alison Younger and Chris Harvey, putting his words to music. Barker appeared in the futuristic Euro-western “Welcome to Blood City (1976) starring Jack Palance in the credited role of 3rd citizen.
+Turkish producer, director, and writer Türker İnanoğlu died in Istanbul, Turkey on April 2nd he was 87. İnanoğlu became interested in the cinema when he was a student at the Istanbul Academy of Applied Fine Arts in 1957. After working as an assistant to directors Ömer Lütfi Akat and Nişan Hançer in eleven movies, he directed his first feature Senden Ayrı Yaşayamam in 1960. After directing nine movies he founded his own film company Erler Film in 1960, which is today the oldest film production company in Turkey still in business. Since then, he produced 126 black-and-white and color films, among them 21 co-productions with Greece, Italy and Iran. He executed also the productions of American, Japanese, French and German filmmakers’ documentary films shot in Turkey. He directed 82 movies. He produced only Spaghetti western “Cowboy Kid” in 1973 directed by Guido Zurli in which his son was İlker starred.
-*'''HADJI-LAZARO, François''' - 6/22/1956, Paris, Île-de-France, France - 2/25/2023, Paris, Île-de-France, France
+*'''WEPPER, Fritz''' - 8/17/1941, Munich, Bavaria, Germany - 3/25/2024, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
-Hadji-Lazaro, founder of the French rock band Les Garçons Bouchers. He was a guitarist and singer, who had also founded the group Pigalle, died on February 25, 2023, at the age of 66. Born in 1956 in Paris, he is best known for founding Les Garçons Bouchers. With the Wampas or Bérurier noir, it was one of the flagship bands in the French alternative rock scene of the 1980s. It was formed in 1986 under the leadership of François Hadji-Lazaro before being dissolved in 1997. François Hadji-Lazaro then pursued his solo career, directing the independent record company Boucherie Productions and performing children's songs. François appeared in one Euro-western 2004’s “Lucky Luke and the Daltons” playing the role of the grocer.
+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”.
-*'''PINSENT, Gordon (Gordon Edward Pinsent)''' - 7/12/1930, Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada - 2/25/2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
+*'''BERETTA, Daniel (Daniel Jean Georges Beretta)''' - , Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France - 3/23/2024, France
-Iconic Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent died at his Toronto, Ontario home surrounded by his family on February 25th. He was 92. He starred opposite Julie Christie as a husband losing his wife to Alzheimer’s disease in Sarah Polley’s “Away From Her”. Born on July 12, 1930, in Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada he was a household name in his country, Pinsent also appeared on the big screen in Norman Jewison’s “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1968), Lasse Hallström’s “The Shipping News” (2001), Michael McGowan’s “Saint Ralph” (2004) and Don McKellar’s “The Grand Seduction” (2013). On television, he played Possum Lake resident Hap Shaughnessy, a teller of tall tales, on the Canadian comedy ‘The Red Green Show’ from 1991-2004 and was Chicago-based Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant Bob Fraser on the CTV/CBS series ‘Due South’ from 1994-99. Pinsent appeared on the Euro-western TV film “Red River” (1996) as Mr. O’Malley.
+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.
-*''' MIRISCH, Walter (Walter Mortimer Mirisch)''' 11/8/1921, New York City, New York, U.S.A. - 2/24/2023, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
-American producer Walter Mirisch, the Oscar-winning producer for “In the Heat of the Night,” died February 24, 2023, in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 101. He was born Walter Mortimer Mirisch in New York City on November 8, 1921. In the mid-20th century, Mirisch was one of the most lauded and powerful producers in Hollywood. In 1957, he founded The Mirisch Company with his brothers Harold and Marvin — the banner was tied to such classics as “Some Like It Hot” (1959), “The Magnificent Seven” (1960), “The Great Escape” (1963), “The Pink Panther” (1963) and “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1968). The Mirisch Company was also a producer on three best picture winners — “The Apartment” (1960), “West Side Story” (1961) and “In the Heat of the Night” (1967), for which Mirisch received the Academy Award for best picture. Mirisch was the producer on the 1974 Euro-western “The Spikes Gang” starring Lee Marvin and Ron Howard.
-*'''COSTANZO, Maurizio''' - 8/28/1938, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 2/24/2023, Parioli, Rome, Lazio, Italy
-Italian journalist, TV host, author and screenwriter Maurizio Costanzo died in a Rome clinic on February 24, 2023. Costanzo was born in Rome on August 28, 1938 and participated in the screenplays of many films, some of which directed by Pupi Avati: “Bordella” (1976), “Cinema!!” (1979), “Jazz Band” (1978), “La casa dalle finestre che ridono” (1976) - which over time became a real cult of the horror genre. “Except the Dead” (1977) and “Zeder” (1983). Married four times he is the father of director Saverio Cosntanzo. Maurzio co-wrote the screenplay for the 1969 Spaghetti western “In the Name of the Father”.
-*'''STEVENS, Stella (Estelle Caro Eggleston)''' - 10/1/1938, Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.A. - 2/17/2023, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
-Stella Stevens, the actress best known for her roles in “The Nutty Professor” and “The Poseidon Adventure” and starring opposite Elvis Presley in “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and Jason Robards in “The Ballad of Cable Hogue”, died in Los Angeles on February 17, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84. Born Estelle Caro Eggleston on October 1, 1938 in Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.A. A former Playboy centerfold from January 1960, Stevens was modeling in her hometown of Memphis when she was discovered and given a screen test by 20th Century Fox. She went on to stardom in both film and television in over 140 productions. She appeared in only one Euro-western as Alvira in 1971’s “A Town Called Hell” with Robert Shaw and Telly Savalas.
-*'''BERNER, Erwin (Erwin Strittmatter)''' - 1953 E. Berlin, Germany - 2/17/2023, Berlin-Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
-German actor and author Erwin Berner died in Berlin-Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany on February 17, 2023. He was 69. The son of Erwin Strittmatter he wrote down his memories of his parents, Erwin and Eva Strittmatter, and of his childhood in Schulzenhof late – the confrontation with the "Schulzenhof system" determined his life. The eldest of three sons of the writer couple Eva and Erwin Strittmatter. At the age of 18, he dropped out of the extended secondary school in Rheinsberg against his father's will. He left his home farm in Schulzenhof in Brandenburg, where the family lived from 1954, next to the city apartment in Berlin's Stalinallee, "his father played the farmer and family patriarch and his mother pursued her lifelong dreams". He went to the Staatliche Schauspielschule Rostock. At this time, he adopted the stage name Erwin Berner – based on his great-grandmother's maiden name – in order to be able to live and work without prejudice. [5] Already during his acting studies he appeared in 1972 in a leading role in Gesichter im Zwielicht, a film of the series Polizeiruf 110, alongside Horst Drinda, before he played theater activities on stages in Freiberg, Weimar, Rudolstadt and Neustrelitz, especially in television productions of the German television (DFF). Berner appeared in only one Euro-western the 1987 television series ‘Prairie Scout in Mexico’in the role of Kaiser Maximilian.