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

From The Spaghetti Western Database
Jump to: navigation, search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(605 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
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...


<div style="border:1px solid black;width:92%;padding:6px;">
<div style="border:1px solid black;width:92%;padding:6px;">
Line 8: Line 8:


=== FRESH GRAVES ===
=== FRESH GRAVES ===
*'''ALIGHIERO, Carlo''' - 2/2/1927, Ostra Marche, Italy - 9/11/2021, Ostra, Marche, Italy
*'''WEPPER, Fritz''' - 8/17/1941, Munich, Bavaria, Germany - 3/25/2024, Munich, Bavaria, Germany


Italian theater, film, TV and voice dubber Carlo Alighero died in Ostra, Marche, Italy on September 11, 2021. He was 94. Born in Ostra on February 2, 1927. He first appeared on stage with “L’Agamennone” by Aeschylus directed by Gianfranco De Bosio. With the theater came his relationship with Elena Cotta, they married and had two daughters, Barbara and Olivia, and then came grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carlo appeared in only one Euro-western in 1969 as Captain Gutierrez “The 5-Man Army.” He specialized in dubbing and did yoeman’s work in the genre, voicing Craig Hill, Luis Induni and Anthony Quinn as well as many others.  
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”.




*'''GRAZIOSI, Franco''' - 7/10/1929, Macerata, Marche, Italy - 9/8/2021, Rome, Lazio, Italy
*'''BERETTA, Daniel (Daniel Jean Georges Beretta)''' - , Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France - 3/23/2024, France


Italian film and theater actor Franco Graziosi died in Rome, Italy on September 8, 2021 at the age of 92. Graziosi was born on 10 July 1929 in Macerata. He was an actor for both theater and cinema. The beginning of his artistic career is on the stage of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano directed by Giorgio Strehler, but the actor boasts in his curriculum various works directed by other leading directors, such as Orazio Costa, Luigi Squarzina, Luca Ronconi, Diego Fabbri, Giorgio Albertazzi, Vittorio Gassman, Mario Missiroli. He’s probably best remembered as Governor Don Jaime in 1970’s “Duck You Sucker” starring Rod Steiger and James Coburn. He also appeared in “One Damned Day at Dawn... Django Meets Sartana!” (1970) and as General Lucius Morton in “Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears” in 1972.
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.




*'''CASTELNUOVO, Nino (Francesco Castelnuovo)''' - 10/28/1936, Lecco, Lombardy, Italy - 9/6/2021, Rome, Lazio, Italy   
*'''CULVER, Michael (Michael John Edward Culver)''' - 6/16/1938, Hampstead, London, England, U.K. - 2/27/2024


Italian actor of stage, film and television has died in Rome on September 6, 2021. He was 84. Born in Lecco, Italy on October 28, 1936, after practicing artistic gymnastics and dance in 1955 he moved to Milan where he became a pupil of Giorgio Strehler's Piccolo Teatro school. He then began working for television in 1957, and made his film debut as the protagonist in Un cursed imbroglio in 1959 directed by Pietro Germi. He continued playing supporting roles as a young actor in films such as Il hunchback (1960) by Carlo Lizzani and Rocco and his brothers (1960) by Luchino Visconti. He also starred in one of the most awarded films, The English Patient (1996). Nino appeared in two Euro-westerns: “The Brute and the Beast” (1966) as Jason Scott Jr./Jonah/Junior) and “The 5-Man Army” (1969) as Luis.
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.




*'''WILLIAMS, Michael K.''' - 11/22/1966, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. - 9/6/2021, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
*'''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.


American actor Michael K. Williams was found dead in his New York City apartment on September 6, 2021. He was 54. Born Michael Kenneth Williams in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York on November 22, 1966. He found playing the role of Omar Little in award winning drama “The Wire”. Williams also appeared in such films as “Boardwalk Empire”, “Lovecraft County” and the 2013 Euro-western “They Die by Dawn” as Nat Love.  
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.




*'''MARTIN, George''' - 9/18/1937, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain - 9/1/2021, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
*'''MORRA, Gigio''' - 8/26/1945, Naples, Campania Italy - 3/10/2024, Naples, Campania, Italy


Spanish stuntman, director, writer and leading actor George Martin died in Miami on September 1, 2021. He would have turned 84 on September 18th. Born Francisco Martínez Celeiro in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain he was a member of the Spanish acrobatic team which led to him being cast in films in the late 1950s. His good looks and athletic ability led to lead roles in Spaghetti westerns and action films. George appeared in 40 films between 1956 and 1975. He also wrote scripts and directed a few films along the way. Some of his best known films were “A Pistol for Ringo” and “Return of Ringo” both in 1965. “A Taste of Killing” (1966); “Clint the Stranger” and “15 Scaffolds for a Killer” both (1967); “Return of Clint the Stranger” (1972) and “3 Supermen Out West” (1973). He ended his career abruptly and moved to Miami, Florida where he became a successful land developer. He was given an award in recognition of his contribution to the Spanish westerns at 2017 Almeria Western Film Festival and more recently married Mercedes Piedra in 2018.
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.  




*'''VILARINO, Matilde F. (Matilde Fernandez Vilariño)''' - 8/13/1921, Madrid, Madrid, Spain - 8/20/2021, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
*'''LEONI, Roberto''' - 11/16/1940, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 3/5/2024, Rome, Lazio, Italy


Spanish theater, film, radio TV actress and voice actress Matilde Vilariño died in Madrid, Spain on August 20, 2021. She was 100. Born Matilde Fernandez Vilariño in Spain in 1921 she began her career as a stage actress then appeared in a few films and then radio and television but found her niche as a voice actress especially in dubbing children’s voice. For 16 years she was the radio voice of Periquin on the popular radio series “Matilde, Perico and Periquin” between 1955 and 1971. She’s best remembered as the voice of child actor Pabito Calvo aka Joselito in all his films. She was also the Spanish voice of Maya the Bee a popular 1978 Japanese TV series. She was the Spanish voice of Monica Randall in 1965’s “Charge of the 7th”; Maria Badmajew in 1966’s “Two Violent Men”; Solvi Stubing in 1966’s “The Sheriff Won’t Shoot”; Miguelito in 1975’s “Zorro” with Alain Delon.
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.




*'''GERICKE, Gerd''' - 4/20/1935, Behnsdorf, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany - 8/7/2021, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany 
*'''NICOTRA, Angelo''' - 4/10/1948, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 3/8/2024, Rome, Lazio, Italy


East German screenwriter and script editor Gerd Gericke died on August 7, 2021 in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany after a long illness. He worked as at East Germany’s ‘Hollywood studios’ – Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft, better known as DEFA – and worked on the Oscar-nominated book adaption, Jakob der Lügner. Gericke was born in Behnsdorf, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany on April, 20, 1935. After his DEFA career he became a professor at the University in Potsdam. He was married to Gabriele Herzog and was the father of singer and DJ Nik Sleazy (Henryk Gericke). Gerd wrote the screenplay for 1979’s “Blue Bird” and was a script advisor on “Sing, Cowboy, Sing” (1981), “The Scout” (1983) and “Bloody Heart” (1986).
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”.
 
 
*'''LOPEZ, Giorgio''' - 2/16/1947, Naples, Campania, Italy - 8/10/2021, Rome, Lazio, Italy
 
Italian voice actor and director Giorgio Lopez died in Rome on August 10, 2021. He was 73. Giorgio Lopez, was actor Massimo Lopez older brother, has died. He was 74 born in Naples on February 16, 1947, he had voiced, among others, Danny DeVito  and  Dustin Hoffman. Like many voice actors, Giorgio Lopez was first of all a great actor. After graduating in Literature at the Sapienza University of Rome, in 1974, he entered the Silvio D'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art where he obtained his diploma. His theatrical activity began in early 1969 RIP and continued until 2016. He then landed in directing in recent years. A career that has seen him compete with authors such as Shakespeare and Beckett, passing through Totò and dialect theater. In 2009, he won the Leggio d'oro award for directing the dubbing of the film “Houdini - The Last Magician” and in 2015 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Festival of Acting Voices. Giorgio was the voice of Ennio Gioroliam in 1994’s “Jonathan of the Bears”
 
 
*'''CORD, Alex (Alexander Viespi Jr.)''' - 5/3/1933, Floral Park, New York, U.S.A. - 8/9/2021, Valley View, Texas, U.S.A.
 
American actor Alex Cord who became best known in Hollywood for his 1960s and 1970s work in action-adventure roles, died in his sleep on August 9, 2021. He was 88. Born Alexander Viespi Jr. in Floral Park, New York on May 3, 1933, he was riding horses from the age of 2. Stricken with polio at the age of 12, he was confined to a hospital for a long period of time before he overcame the illness. He was left with one leg shorter and a damaged lung. He held his dream of becoming a jockey until realizing he would soon be too tall. He then was determined to be a cowboy. Anything that would put him near horses. Prodded by an interest in acting, Alex studied with some of the best teachers in New York. He began his professional career in summer stock (The Compass Players in St. Louis, Missouri) and at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut where he played “Laertes” in a production of “Hamlet”. At every opportunity he pursued his passionate love of horses with endless hours of training to become the best all-around horseman he could. He guest-starred in TV classics such as ‘Route 66’, ‘Naked City’, ‘Branded’, ‘Murder She Wrote’, ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Fantasy Island’, ‘Laramie’, ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’, ‘Police Story’, Police Woman’. He gained his most TV fame as Archangel in 1984’s ‘Airwolf’ alongside Jan-Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine. He’s probably best remembered for his film role as the “Ringo Kid” in the remake of “Stagecoach” with Ann-Margret, Bing Crosby, Van Heflin and Bob Cummings. Cord made one Euro-western: 1968’s “A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die” as Clay McCord.
 
 
 
[[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”.

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.