Cemetery with crosses - legends lost but remembered

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...

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

• MANKOFSKY, Isidore - 9/22/1932, New York City, New York, U.S.A. - 3/11/2021, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

American cinematographer Isidore Mankofsky died on March 11, 2021. He was 89. Born in New York City. A three-time Emmy nominee, Mankofsky got his start at Encyclopedia Britannica Films, then made his feature debut on the AIP sequel Scream Blacula Scream (1973), starring William Marshall. He’d go on to photograph The Muppet Movie, Somewhere in Time and dozens of telefilms including the Farrah Fawcett-starring The Burning Bed. Isidore was a cameraman on 1972’s “The Proud and the Damned with Chuck Connors.

• DARROW, Henry (Enrique Tomás Delgado) - : 9/15/1933, New York City, New York, U.S.A. - 3/14/2021, Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.A.

American film and TV actor Henry Darrow died March 14, 2021 at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was 87. Born Enrique Tomás Delgado in New York City of Puerto Rican heritage on September 15,1933, he appeared in over 150 films and television performances. Best known as Manolito Montoya for 5 seasons on TV’s ‘The High Chaparral’ he also appeared in the Euro-western TV series ‘The New Zorro’ as Don Alejandro de la Vega for 4 seasons from 1990-1993. The series was filmed in Spain and starred Duncan Regehr.

• HRGOVIC, Stjepan (Stjepan Mladen Hrgović) - 4/25/1944, Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia - 3/9/2021, Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian stuntman Stjepan Hrgović died in Zagreb, Croatia on March 9, 2021. Born Stjepan Mladen Hrgović in Zagreb on April 25, 1944 he was a stuntman in five of the Karl May Winnetou’s westerns. He was married to Bidou Hrgovic and the father of Mark Hrgovic. His western film include “Apache Gold” (1963), “Frontier Hellcat” and “Last of the Renegades” (both 1964), “The Halfbreed” and “Thunder at the Border” (both 1966).

• De SRATIS, Franca (Francesca De Stratis) - 4/23/1939, Italy - 3/9/2021, Rome, Lazio, Italy

According to Il Mondo dei Doppiatori film, TV and voice actress Franca De Stratis died in Rome, Italy on March 9, 2021. She was 81. Born Francesca De Stratis on April 23, 1939 in Italy. She began her career as an actress in theater, radio, television and in films. However, she was not particularly active in any of these professions, usually playing minor roles. From the mid-seventies she devoted herself almost exclusively to dubbing, and is remembered mainly for having given the voice to Lindsay Wagner on the TV series ‘The Bionic Woman’ and of the main series from which this spin-off was based, ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’. She retired from acting in the early 1990s and appeared in the theatrical play “In the Hour of the Lynx” directed by Claudio Frosi and occasionally as a director of dubbing. Frana appeared in one Euro-western as Carmen Morales in “The Price of Death” (1971).

• VEGA, Isela (Isela Vega Durazo) - 11/5/1939, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico - 3/9/2021, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Mexican, actress, singer, songwriter Isela Vega died on March 9, 2021. She was 81. Born Isela Vega Durazo in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico she was chosen “Princess of the Carnival” in 1957 which led to a modeling career. In 1960 she began her acting career which she continued until her death. Her most best known role was that of Elita in Sam Peckinpah’s “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. She also wrote the song, "Bennie's Song", which appears in the film. She was subsequently photographed nude for the July 1974 issue of Playboy magazine. In the 1980s, Vega made her debut behind the camera by writing, producing and directing a number of films. Vega appeared in the 1981 Euro-western “Bordello” (aka Garden of Venus).

• BAILIE, Davoid - 12/4/1937, Springs, Gauteng, South Africa - 3/6/2021, South Africa

South African born British stage, film and TV actor David Bailie died March 5, 2021 in South Africa. Bailie, born in Springs, Gauteng, South Africa on December 4, 1937, is perhaps best known for his appearance as Taron Capel in Robots of Death, who also appeared in Blake's 7 ("Project Avalon"), Cotton in the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, and the voice of The Celestial Toymaker in Big Finish audio adventures, has passed way. He was 83. Bailie appeared as Sheriff Snow in the 2015 Euro-western “The Timber”.

• MATZ, Katharina - 6/11/1930, Haindorf, Czechoslovakia - 3/3/2021, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Czech born German actress Katharina Matz died in Berlin, Germany on March 3, 2021 at the age of 90. The actress appeared on stage, film and television since the mid- 1950s. She appeared in the 1970 Euro-western TV movie ‘Maximilian von Mexiko’ as Kaiserin Eugenie.

• KLEVENOW Jr., Heinz - 8/28/1940, Prague, Czech Republic – 3/4/2021, Germany

German actor Heinz Klevenow Jr. died on Thursday March 4, 2021. He was 80. Heinz was the son of the acting couple Marga Legal and Heinz Klevenow and was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on August 8, 1940, He completed his acting training at the State Drama School in Berlin before joining the Landestheater Halle appearing in engagements in Weimar, Stendal and Senftenberg. He later became artistic director of the Halle Puppet theater from 1978-1982. He appeared in only one Euro-western as Arrowhead in the 1967 DEFA western “Chingachgook, the Great Snake”.

• CORTIZAS, José Manuel (José Manuel Cortizas Valladares) - 1963, Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain - 2/27/2021, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain

Spanish sports commentator and voice actor José Manuel Cortizas died in a hospital in Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain of Covid-19. He was only 58. He was a well-known sports commentator and the Spanish voice of the cartoon character Crayon Shin-chan. Cortizas was the Spanish voice of Serge Marquand in 1967’s “Wanted” starring Giuliano Gemma and the voice of Klaus Kinski in 1971’s “Black Killer”. 2/27/2021, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain

• RATICI, Danilo - 1950, Italy - 2/26/2021, Naples, Campania, Italy

Italian guitarist Danilo Rustici, founding member of Osanna, one of the most important Italian progressive bands ever, died at the age of 72. The musician, whose health had already been weakened in the past, died at the Cardarelli Hospital in Naples due to complications deriving from Covid, as reported by Repubblica. Rustici gave life, with Osanna, one of the most important Italian musical experiences, bringing the music of our country far beyond national borders and becoming one of the world reference points of prog. Danilo was the brother of fellow musician Corrado Ratici. As a member of Osanna Ratici appeared on the soundtrack to the Spaghetti western “Stay Away from Trinity… When He Comes to Eldorado” (1972).

• SANTI, Giancarlo - 10/7/1939, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 2/19/2021, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Jean Francois Gire announced on Sunday February 21, 2021 the passing of director Giancarlo Santi in Rome. He was 81. Santi was born in Rome, Italy on October 7, 1939. Santi began his career as production assistant for Gian Vittorio Baldi and later became and assistant director of Marco Ferreri on “L’ape regina”, La Donna scimmia” “Controsesso” and “Marcia nuziale” Santi collaborated with Sergio Leone on “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “Once Upon a Time in the West”. He was chosen by Leone to direct “Duck You Sucker! After Peter Bogdanovich was fired, but the American production rejected this decision and Leone was forced to direct the movie. At any rate, Santi was the second unit director. He finally debuted as director in 1972, with the spaghetti western “The Grand Duel”.

• CHATEL, Philippe - 2/23/1948, Paris, Île-de-France, France - 2/19/2021. Paris, Île-de-France, France

French author, composer and performer Philippe Chatel died in Paris on Febraury 19 at the age of 72, his family announced to Agence France-Presse. "My father died last night of a heart attack, at his home in Paris," said his daughter Émilie, to whom was dedicated this world-famous musical tale, created in 1979 and which has been the subject of several versions in forty years. Born in Paris on February 23, 1948, he was a writer on the 1994-1995 TV series ‘Davy Crockett’.

• CHATEL, Philippe - 2/23/1948, Paris, Ile-de-France - France 2/19/2021, Paris, Isle-de-France, France

French author, composer and performer Philippe Chatel died in Paris on Febraury 19 at the age of 72, his family announced to Agence France-Presse. "My father died last night of a heart attack, at his home in Paris," said his daughter Émilie, to whom was dedicated this world-famous musical tale, created in 1979 and which has been the subject of several versions in forty years. Born in Paris on February 23, 1948, he was a writer on the 1994-1995 TV series ‘Davy Crockett’.