Giuliano Gemma

Renowned Italian actor Giuliano Gemma made his mark as an actor starring in a number of spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s, though he has been able to endure as a performer in other genres. He began working as a stuntman before being offered a role in the 1958 comedy, "Venice, the Moon and You." Several years later, Luchino Visconti offered him a significant part in the historical drama, "The Leopard." Based on an acclaimed novel, the large-scale production featured Gemma in the role of Garibaldi's General. In the mid '60s when the Italian film industry began producing its own brand of Westerns, Gemma became one of the genre's stars, appearing often under the pseudonym Montgomery Wood. He had starring roles in "The Return of Ringo" in 1965, "Blood for a Silver Dollar" a year later, and "For a Few Extra Dollars," films that gained him an international reputation. After the Western craze waned, Gemma continued working steadily. He logged a starring role in the 1976 wartime drama "Il deserto dei tartari," earning a David di Donatello, the Italian equivalent of an Academy Award, for his portrayal of Major Mattis in the film. Gemma continued working into his 70s, appearing in both Italian and foreign-language productions.