Thanks for the nominations guys. Deadline is Boxing day or at least until we have enough nominations. I have finally finished Rada Rassimov’s bio and here are all the 2011 inductee bios all in one post.
Lead actors
ANTHONY GHIDRA
June 13, 1933 (Kragujevac, Kingdom of Yugoslavia now Serbia)- November 11, 1993 (Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia)
Known by his nickname “Gidra” in his homeland, this talented Serbian actor put forth several memorable performances as a Spaghetti Western leading man. His real name was Dragomir Bojanić, but he was billed as Anthony Ghidra in all of his Spaghetti Western films. His first western was a small role in the German Karl May western Among Vultures aka Frontier Hellcat (1964). He then went on play the lead in five Spaghetti Westerns, of which the best known is probably the unofficial “Django” Sequel, Django the Last Killer, as “Django”, a mentor to George Eastman. Perhaps his best performance was as a cowardly and alcoholic Sheriff in Tequila Joe (1968). Outside of the Spaghetti Western genre, he had over 100 film and television credits, usually in Yugoslavian cinema. He gained considerable fame throughout the Eastern Bloc, starring as the character “Zika” in the popular “Lude godine” series of comedy films. He played the character a total of ten times from 1978 to 1992, and it remains his best known role. He also had a supporting role in Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972). He continued to act until his death.
ROBERT WOODS aka ROBERT WOOD
July 19th, 1936 (Colorado, USA)-
Out of the numerous American lead actors who made a living in Italy making Spaghetti Westerns, the most prolific is Robert Woods. Often billed without the ‘S’ in his last name, he starring in a total of 21 such films, playing a variety of characters. The most commercially successful of these was Seven Guns for the MacGregors (1966), which was popular enough to spawn a sequel, but without Woods. Although most of Wood’s films were only moderate successes at the Italian box office, a few of his films have gained cult followings over the years. His film Gatling Gun (1968), is a favorite of director Quentin Tarantino. Others include Black Jack (1968), a memorable performance as a drunken gunfighter in El Puro (1969), and the notorious Demofilo Fidani western, His Name Was Sam Walbash, But They Call Him Amen aka Savage Guns (1971). Outside of the Spaghetti Western genre, he modeled for Pierre Cardin, worked at an Italian dubbing studio, and sang and performed in theatre productions. He also had roles in a number of Jesus Franco films. He had a small role in Battle of the Bulge (1965), and continues to act to this day.
Non-Participants/Miscellaneous Crew
CARLO SIMI
November 7, 1924 (Tuscany, Italy)- November 26, 2000 (Rome, Italy)
An architect by trade, Simi contributed greatly to the distinct look of the Spaghetti Western, 22 films in total, including some of the most famous examples of the genre. Working as a production designer, costume designer, art decorator and set decorator, his unique wardrobe and set designs can be seen in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), For a Few Dollars More (1965), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), Django (1966), Keoma (1976), A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (1975), The Big Gundown (1966), Sabata (1969) and Face to Face (1967). Outside of the western genre, he was the Art Director for yet another Sergio Leone masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in America (1984), for which he won a Silver Ribbon award. For the film For a Few Dollars More, he built the town of ‘El Paso’ in Almeria, Spain, which still exists today as a tourist attraction called “Mini Hollywood”. Some of his work was also seen at the Sergio Leone exhibit at the Autry National Museum in Los Angeles, in 2005, as well as his own exhibit at the Church of the Artists in Rome, in 2011.
Actresses
RADA RASSIMOV
1938 (Triest, Italy)-
The ravishing beauty with the steely gaze is best known for her small but important and memorable role as Maria, the prostitute that gets beaten by Lee Van Cleef in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). Of Serbian heritage, her brother was Spaghetti Western leading man, Ivan Rassimov. Her other well known role was opposite Anthony Steffen as the money hungry lead heroine in Django the Bastard aka The Strangers Gundown (1969). She starred in three other westerns including Don’t Wait, Django…Shot! (1967), opposite her brother Ivan. Besides westerns she also had roles in The Seed of Man (1970), Dario Argento’s The Cat o’Nine Tails (1971) and Mario Bava’s Baron Blood (1972). She also starred in the popular French television mini-series Michel Strogoff (1975). Later on, she served as an executive producer for several television specials, two of which one her Primetime Emmy awards, Tosca (1992), and La Traviata (2000).
DIANA LORYS
October 20, 1940 (Madrid, Spain)-
Born Ana María Cazorla Vega, this Spanish dynamo brought her steely, penetrating gaze and fiery Latin passion to 17 European westerns, many of them Spanish co-productions. Originally trained in dance, flamenco, ballet and theatre, she had supporting roles in Euro-westerns such as Chino (1973), Bad Man’s River (1971), Django Shoots First (1966), and California (1977). She also appeared in two Spain-filmed Hollywood westerns, the Texican (1966), where she played the female lead opposite Audie Murphy, and Villa Rides (1968). She was a leading lady in several other lesser known Euro-westerns as well. Outside of the western genre, she is known for her roles in Spanish horror, starring in Jess Franco’s The Awful Dr. Orloff (1962) and Nightmares Come at Night (1970), Amando de Ossorio’s Malenka aka Fangs of the Living Dead (1969) and Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll aka House of Psychotic Women (1976) opposite Paul Naschy. She also appeared in the Hill and Spencer comedy swashbuckler, Blackie the Pirate (1971). Her career declined in the late seventies and she retired from film.
Supporting Actors
JACK PALANCE
February 18, 1919 (Lattimer Mines PA, USA)- November 10, 2006 (Montecito CA, USA)
In an acting career that spanned half a century and well over 100 film and television appearances, one of Hollywood’s most accomplished character actors also lent his formidable height, menacing glare, prominent cheekbones and acting talent to 7 Euro- Westerns, usually playing the lead villain. Born Volodymyr Palanyuk, this former professional boxer and decorated World War II veteran was well suited for westerns and gave two highly memorable performances in two of Sergio Corbucci’s hugely successful Zapata masterpieces, The Mercenary (1968), opposite Franco Nero and Companeros (1970), alongside Nero and Tomas Milian. He also appeared in God’s Gun (1975) and It Can Be Done, Amigo (1972) among others. His work outside the Euro-Western genre is both prolific and renowned. He gave Oscar nominated performances in Sudden Fear (1952) and Shane (1953) and also appeared in Panic in the Streets (1950), Attack (1956) and the Professionals (1966). In later decades his work included supporting appearances in films such as Batman (1989), Tango and Cash (1989) and Young Guns (1988). Perhaps his best known role was his Academy Award winning performance as Curly Washburn in City Slickers (1991). Palance continued to act in a wide variety of films and television productions, including City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly’s Gold (1994) up until his death.
PETER MARTELL
September 30, 1938 (Bolzano, Italy)- February 4, 2010 (Bolzano)
Born Pietro Martellanza, the former Mr. Italy came within an inch of superstardom. During the 60’s and 70’s, the handsome former model and sailer landed roles in dozens of productions, including 16 Italian Westerns. His most memorable Western role was playing opposite Leonard Mann in Ferdinando Baldi’s The Forgotten Pistolero (1969). He also had supporting roles in Long Days of Hate (1968), and Enzo Barboni’s The Unholy Four (1970). Martell was then cast to play ‘Trinity’ in the first of Barboni’s “Trinity” films, but a broken foot suffered during a dispute with his girlfriend led to him being replaced by Terence Hill. The ‘Trinity” films turned out to be hugely successful, possibly denying Martell of a more lucrative film career. Outside of the Spaghetti Western genre, he made his mark in the Italian Horror genre, appearing in The Bloody Judge (1970), Death Walks at Midnight (1972), as well as the Euro-Crime film, Street People (1976). In more recent times, Martell had fallen on hard times, and a documentary about his life was produced in 1997. This led to a minor career revival, as he made appearances in a couple of horror films including Tears of Kali (2004).
Directors
GIUSEPPE COLIZZI
1925 (Rome, Italy)- August 23, 1978 (Rome)
He made only three Spaghetti Westerns in a comparatively sporadic career, yet each of the three instalments of the “Cat Stevens” trilogy were massive hits, making Colizzi one of the highest grossing Spaghetti Western directors ever while making stars out of both Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. Starting out as an assistant director in the late 1940’s, and later as a production manager of which his credits include Federico Fellini’s Il Bedone (1955), Colizzi would also publish several novels. It was his first Spaghetti Western however, God Forgives, I Don’t (1967), of which he also co-wrote the screenplay , that would land him major prominence. The film was a massive box office hit in Europe and was the first ever pairing as leading actors for the legendary duo of Hill and Spencer. Colizzi would go on to collaborate with the pair on two equally successful sequels, writing, producing and directing Ace High (1968), which also starred Eli Wallach, and Boots Hill (1969) of which he also contributed creatively to the soundtrack. Outside of the western genre, Colizzi would direct just three more films, including another Hill and Spencer collaboration, All the Way Boys (1972). He went on to be the director of Rome’s first private Television channel and was working on a script for a fifth Hill and Spencer collaboration before death took him prematurely in 1978.
ROMOLO GUERRIERI
December 5, 1931 (Rome, Italy)-
Guerrieri is not only accomplished as a director, but also as an assistant director and as a screenwriter. Afterall, making films is in his blood. Born Romolo Girolami, he is the brother of Marino Girolami, as well as the uncle of actor Ennio Girolami and director and fellow SWDB hall of fame inductee Enzo G. Castellari. Starting out as an assistant director, he served in this capacity for three early (uncredited in one) Spaghetti Westerns, including Minnesota Clay (1964). Perhaps eager to break out of his family’s shadow, he began directing films using the last name “Guerrieri” instead of his birth name. He helmed three Spaghetti Westerns as a main director including Johnny Yuma (1966), which he also co-wrote. He also directed a highly regarded classic of the genre, $10,000 Blood Money aka $10,000 for a Massacre (1967). The film marked Gianni Garko’s very first role as a lead protagonist in a western and is regarded by many to be the finest of the unofficial Django sequels. He also co-wrote the box office hit, Any Gun Can Play (1967), directed by Enzo. Besides westerns, he also directed the Giallo, The Sweet Body of Deborah starring Carroll Baker, and the Euro-crime classic, Young, Violent and Dangerous aka Young, Violent and Desparate (1976), starring Tomas Milian.
Composer
GIANNI FERRIO
November 15, 1924 (Vizenza, Italy)-
In career spanning over 60 years, Ferrio has well over 120 credits to his name as a film composer and television. Working as a conductor, arranger, and composer, Ferrio provided scores for a total of 27 Euro-westerns, many of them box office hits starring Giuliano Gemma, including One Silver Dollar (1966), A Man Called Sledge (1970), A Bullet for Sandoval (1969), Don’t Turn the Other Cheek (1971), Ben and Charlie (1971), Death Sentence (1968), Tex and the Lord of the Deep (1985), Find a Place to Die (1968), California (1977), Wanted (1967) and Fort Yuma Gold (1966). Outside of the western genre he was the composer for films from a variety of genres and directors, but mostly comedies. His other film work includes I Fidanzati (1963), Tony Arzenta aka Big Guns (1973), Death Ray (1967), Death Walks at Midnight (1972) and The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971). He was a favourite of director’s Duccio Tessari, Michele Lupo and Georgio Ferroni. He has also performed in concerts with the Rome Symphony Orchestra and has written several hit songs in Italian Pop, collaborating extensively for Italian songstress Mina and Brazilian Singer Marina Moran.
