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 ===
-*'''MILLS, Alec''' - 5/10/1932, London, England, U.K. - 2/12/2024, U.K.
+*''' BROWNE, Robin (Michael Robin Graham Browne)''' - 11/24/1941, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, U.K. - 3/28/2024, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S.A.
-Alec was born in London, England on May 10, 1932, and had a keen interest in the cinema as a boy. Leaving school at 14, he got a job as a tea boy at Carlton Hill Studios, a small outfit in Maida Vale and later, clapper loader. He worked there for two years mostly on B movies such as “Eyes That Can Kill” (1947) and “The Monkey’s Paw” (1948) before he was called up for National Service. Alec worked a lot for Walt Disney; as focus puller on “Kidnapped” (1960), “Greyfriars Bobby” (1961) and “The Moon-Spinners” (1964). He also worked on 20 episodes of the television series ‘The Saint’ (1966). In 1969, Alec operated his first James Bond movie; “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, followed by five more Bond features. Mills was a cameraman on two Euro-westerns: “The Valley of Gwangi” (1969) and “The Hunting Party” (1971).
+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”.
-*'''GARRONE, Sergio''' - 4/15/1925, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 7/?/2023, British Virgin Islands
+*''' DUX, Eckart (Eckart Hermann Dux)''' - 12/19/1926, Berlin, Germany - 4/9/2024, Sassenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany
-Claudia Garrone Nibbs reported on Facebook on February 13th that her father producer, director, writer Sergio Garrone, brother of the late actor Riccardo Garrone [1926-2016] died in the British Virgin Islands last July. He was 98. Sergio was born in Rome on April 15, 1925, and began his career in 1948 working as assistant director, documentary filmmaker, and production assistant. In 1953, he abandoned the cinema industry, but in 1965 he resurfaced as a producer of low-budget genre films. Starting in 1968, Garrone was also active as a director and a screenwriter, specializing in Spaghetti westerns. Garrone was usually credited as Willy S. Regan. He directed and wrote “If You Want to Live... Shoot!” (1967); “No Graves on Boot Hill” (1968); “The Stranger’s Gundown”, “No Room to Die” both in 1969; “Kill Django... Kill First” 1970 and “Vendetta at Dawn” (1971) and “Dirty Dollars” a film that was scheduled to be made in 1970 but was never completed. He co-wrote screenplays for “Degueyo” (1965); “Killer Kid” (1967) and “Bastard, Go and Kill” 1971.
+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”.
-*'''DORVAL, Alain (Alain Bergé)''' - 8/9/1946, Algiers, Algeria - 2/13/2024, Villejuif, Île-de-France, France
+*'''CRUZ, Ernesto Gómez''' - 11/7/1933, Veracruz, Verazcruz, Mexico - 4/6/2024, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico
-French actor and voice actor Alain Dorval died on February 13 of cancer in Villejuif, Ile-de-France, France. Born Alain Bergé in Algiers on August 9, 1946. He began his career in the theater after completing the Simon course, he entered the Paris Conservatory of Dramatic Art. He discovered dubbing and voice acting by chance. Alain became the French voice of Sylvester Stallone beginning with the 1976 film “Rocky” but also was the voice of Nick Nolte. His voice was also used to cover the airwaves of Skyrock and ADO radio stations. At the end of the 1980s, Dorval criticized the dubbing conditions, which tended to deteriorate. As a result, several studios put the actor on a blacklist, which led to Stallone being dubbed by Michel Vigné at first and then by Richard Darbois, notably in films produced by Warner Bros. Alain Dorval continued to dub the iconic American actor every other film, only to voice him fully again in the 2000s. He created a company specializing in the management of speakers. Dorval was the French voice of William Berger in 1967’s “Face to Face” with Tomas Milian and Gian Maria Volonte, the voice of Luigi Casellato in 1971’s “The Price of Death” with Gianni Garko and of Miguel Ángel Fuentes in “Triumphs of a Man Called Horse”.
+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.
-*'''SUZUKI, Damo (Kenji Suzuki)''' - 1/16/1950, Kobe, Japan - 2/9/2024, Germany
+*'''INANOGLU, Türker''' - 5/18/1936, Safranbolu, Turkey - 4/2/2024, Istanbul, Turkey
-One time lead singer of the rock group Can, Damo Suzuki, who also played guitar, died of cancer in Germany on February 9th he was 74. Born Kenji Suzuki on January 16, 1950, in Kobe Japan he relocated as a teenager to Europe, where he became a street musician. Can had been playing for two years and had already parted ways with original singer Malcolm Mooney when Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit discovered Suzuki singing outside a cafe in Munich. They convinced him to play a show with them that night, and he remained in Can until 1973 when he left the band to marry his girlfriend, Elke Morsbach. Can composed the score for 1970’s “Deadlock” starring Mario Adorf, Anthony Dawson and Marquard Bohm.
+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.
-*'''MURRAY, Don (Donald Patrick Murray)''' - 7/31/1929, Hollywood, California, U.S.A. - 2/2/2024, Goleta, California, U.S.A.
+*'''WEPPER, Fritz''' - 8/17/1941, Munich, Bavaria, Germany - 3/25/2024, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
-Veteran American film and television actor Don Murray died on January 2, 2024. He was 94. Born Donald Patrick Murray in Hollywood but was raised in New York. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He then made it into the cast of the original 1951 Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’ Tony Award-winning “The Rose Tattoo”. Universal offered him a contract for $150 a week, but he turned it down. “They could put you in whatever picture they wanted,” he said, and he wanted none of that, choosing to work in live TV.
+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”.
-Murray was a conscientious objector during the Korean War, but he spent nearly three years working in German and Italian refugee camps in the Brethren Volunteer Service, a forerunner to the Peace Corps. He came back to the U.S. in 1955. When he appeared opposite Marilyn Monroe in “Bus Stop” (1956) tt was his first movie, and he was 26 at the time. Television audiences will best remember Murray as Sid Fairgate, the husband of Michele Lee’s character, on the CBS primetime soap ‘Knots Landing’. Murray appeared in one Spaghetti western 1966’s “Kid Rodelo” in the lead role with Broderick Crawford and Janet Leigh. He was to appear in a previous Spaghetti called “Talion” in 1964 but it was never filmed.
-*'''MILO, Sandra (Salvatrice Elena Greco)''' - 3/11/1933, Tunis, French Protectorate - 1/29/2024, Rome, Lazio, Italy
+*'''BERETTA, Daniel (Daniel Jean Georges Beretta)''' - , Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France - 3/23/2024, France
-One of Italy’s most popular film and television actresses Sandra Milo died in Rome on January 29th at the age of 90. She was born Salvatrice Elena Greco in Tunis on March 11, 1933. Sandra made her film debut at age 20 in 1955 co-starring alongside Alberto Sordi in “Lo scapolo”. For the next full decade, she unleashed her fiery figure on a number of tempted male players in scores of saucy comedies, feisty costumers and steamy melodramas. Such films included “Nero's Mistress” (1956), “The Mirror Has Two Faces” (1958), “Toto in the Moon” (1958), “General Della Rovere” (1959), and the period comedy romp “The Green Mare” (1959) starring the great French actor Bourvil. Milo appeared to fine advantage in two of Fellini's greatest masterpieces “8½” (1963) and “Juliet of the Spirits” (1965). Leaving films in 1968, Sandra was little seen on camera and did not return to the big screen until over a decade later, now sporadically appearing as severe-looking blondes. Milo was married twice and had three children. She appeared in two Spaghetti westerns: as Gwenda Skaggel in 1967’s “Bang Bang Kid” with Guy Madison and Tom Bosley and as Liz in 1968’s “Dead for a Dollar” starring George Hilton and John Ireland.
+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.
-*'''JEWISON, Norman (Norman Frederick Jewison)''' - 7/21/1926, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 1/20/2024, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
-Oscar-nominated film director and producer Norman Jewison, who steered the 1967 racial drama “In the Heat of the Night” to a best picture Oscar and also helmed such popular films as “Moonstruck,” “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming” and “The Thomas Crown Affair,” as well as film musicals “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” died January 20th at his Los Angeles home. He was 97. He was born Norman Frederick Jewison on July 21, 1926, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a producer on 1974’s “Billy Two Hats” starring Gregory Peck and Desi Arnaz Jr.
-*'''LIFANTE, José (José Ruiz Lifante)''' - 6/3/1943, Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain - 1/16/2024, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
-Spanish theater, film and TV actor José Lifante died in Madrid, Spain on January 16, 2024, from a blood clot. He was 89. With a long career as a supporting actor Lifante worked with directors such as Luis García Berlanga, Pilar Miró, Jorge Grau or Eloy de la Iglesia and his face became known thanks to series and television programmes such as 'Cuéntame' or 'La bola de cristal'. He made his film debut with two small roles in “Juventud a la intemperie” (1961) by Ignacio F. Iquino and “Los amugadores” (1962), by Francisco Rovira Beleta, but his early years were mainly dedicated to the theater. During the 1970s he made a career in fantasy cinema and B films of the time, including the cult film “No profanar el sueño de los Muertos” (Let Sleeping Corpses Lie) in 1974 by Jorge Grau, one of the first zombie films made in Spain. Lifante appeared in only one Spaghetti western as Verdugo in 1995’s “The Sons of Trinity” directed by Enzo Barboni and starring Heath Kizzier and Keith Neubert.
-*'''GHIA, Dana (Felicita Ghia)''' - 7/13/1932, Milan, Lombardy, Italy – 1/15/2024, Mori, Trentino, Italy
-Italian actress Dana Ghia died in Mori, Trentino, Italy on January15, 2024. She was 91. Born Felicita Ghia on July 13, 1932, in Milan, Italy. As a singer she was discovered by Luciano Taioli participating in the radio program "Tajoli presents". In 1957 she toured with some of the great singers of Milan. Her career was mainly developed in the early years in show business, largely under the guidance of composer Carlo Savina, director of the orchestra of RAI where she recorded a few singles on Radio Vis and participated in the festival of Naples 1959. As an actress in film and television she was sometimes credited with several pseudonyms (Ghia Arlen, Arlen Ghia, Ghia Felicita, Diana Madigan). She was often used as a character in B-movie genres such as musicals among others, “Vacanze sulla Costa Smeralda”, with Lucio Flauto and Little Tony. She appeared in eight Spaghetti Westerns: “Deguello” 1965 as Jenny Slater; “$4.00 of Revenge” 1966 as Mercedes; “The Dirty Outlaws (1967) as Lucy, “Django, the Last Killer” (1967) as Lola; "Today We Kill… Tomorrow We Die!" (1968) (Mirana Kiowa) [as Diana Madigan]; “The Wrath of God” (1968) as Lena/Jane Harris; “You're Jinxed, Friend You've Met Sacramento” (1970) as Rosy/Rosie; “Trinity Is STILL My Name!” (1971) as Perla’s/Pearl’s mother and “California” (1977) as Mrs. Preston.