RIP Francesc Garrido

 

Theatre, television and film actor Francesc Garrido, who participated in films such as “Mar adentro y este año” (The Sea Inside) and this year in “El anfitrión” (The Host), starring Willem Dafoe, has died in Spain at the age of 56 due to a heart attack, sources in the film sector told EFE on Monday. Born in Barcelona on September 7, 1969, Francesc Garrido had made his debut in the theater in 1990 with the play “Alfons Quart”, on television he began his career in the TV3 series ‘Estació d'enllaç’ in 1996 and, in the cinema, he appeared in 1999 in the film “La ciudad de los prodigios”. In the cinema he participated in some thirty films including 'Te doy mis ojos', 'Smoking Room', by Roger Gual and Julio D. Wallovits, with which he won the Silver Biznaga at the Malaga Festival. Garrido appeared as Riko in 2015’s Euro-western “Twice Upon a Time in the West” starring Claudia Cardinale.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Oktar Durukan

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Oktar Durukan was born in Istanbul, Turkey on October 6, 1938. He appeared in around two hundred and fifty films and television shows between 1950 and 2004. He was also an assistant director on the 1975 Turkish film “Halime'nin Kizlari”.

Durukan graduated from Haydar Pasha High School. He started acting in 1958 with the movie “O Günden Sonra”, then “Yak Bir Sigara” (1960), “10 Korkusuz Adam” (1964), “The Sinless” (1968), “The Owner of My Heart” (1969), “Bloody Mill” (1972), “The Last Duel” (1972), “Tosun Pasha” (1976), “Töre” (1978), “The Unfortunate People” (1987), “Love Birds” (1994) and “Bulutlari Beklerken” (2004). After taking the lead roles for a while, he then played character roles. In the following years, he appeared in newspapers and magazine photo-novels and later in television films and series. Durukan passed away in Istanbul in 2007.

He married and separated from Erden Ener, the singer and actress who was the daughter of actor Mümtaz Ener. Contrary to popular belief, he is not related to Magnificent Durukan.

Durukan passed away in Istanbul in 2007 a month before turning 69.

Oktar Durukan appeared in one Euro-western, “Küçük Kovboy” (Cowboy Kid) in 1972 and six Turkish westerns: “Cango: Korkusuz Adam” and “Kanunsuz kahraman - Ringo Kid” both in 1967” Vahsetin Esirleri” in 1971 and “Çilginlar Ordusu”, “Kara Bomba” and “Son Düello” all in 1972.

DURUKAN, Oktar (aka Oktay Durukan) [10/6/1938, Istanbul, Turkey – 9/20/2007, Istanbul, Turkey] – film, TV actor, married to singer, actress Erden Ener [1936-    ] (1986-????).

Cango: Korkusuz Adam – 1967

Kanunsuz kahraman - Ringo Kid - 1967

Vahsetin Esirleri – 1971

Çilginlar Ordusu - 1972

Cowboy Kid – 1972

Kara Bomba - 1972

Son Düello - 1972

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

 Spaghetti Western Director ~ Jozef Klyk

Józef Kłyk was born in Bojszowy near Pszczyna on April 13, 1950. He is a Silesian amateur filmmaker, author of over 80 films on, among others, western and historical. On the set, he performs all possible functions, from the director, through the makeup artist, actor and set designer, to the camera operator and producer. Józef Kłyk not only films the Wild West, but also paints it.

He discovered his love of film in his teens. In 1967, as a seventeen-year-old boy, he found employment in a traveling cinema, helping a cinematographer. At the same time, he made his first film, a parody of Charlie Chaplin, then it was the turn of Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and other silent stars.

As a teenager, he was interested in westerns, so he made Wild West in Bojszowy. At that time, he came across literature on Silesians in Miss Maria in Texas and this is how the film "The Emigrant" was made in 1970. Then he deepened his studies on Silesian Texans, inspiring the filmmaker to make a larger production, which later turned into a trilogy. The first part is entitled "Man from Nowhere". It is the story of a Silesian, Wawrzyn Złotka, who fled to America during the partitions and lands in Texas, where he meets his compatriot. The film received the journalists' award at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Józef Kłyk was honored for "reaching the roots of cinema and for outstanding artistic values".

Jozef Klyk was a director of twelve Euro-westerns: “The Stagecoach Robbery” in 1968, “The Stagecoach to Kansas” in 1969, “Towards Poland” from 1976-1978, “Deadly full” from 1977-1979), “Man Out of Nowhere - The Trail of Lawlessness” in 1980-1983, “Full Śmierci” (Full Death - The Trail of Lawlessness) in 1984 “Wolny człowiek” (Free Man) from 1988-1991, “A Free Man - The Trail of Lawlessness” from 1988-1991, “Rosary Made of Barbed Wire” from 1998-1999, “Four Sons of the Father” from  2001-2003, “Brothers” in 2006 “The War Has Not Taken Everything Away From Me” in 2009 and “Slaski Szeryf” in 2010.

KLYK, Józef [4/13/1950, Bojszowy, Slaskie, Poland -     ] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, actor.

The Stagecoach Robbery – 1968

The Stagecoach to Kansas - 1969

Towards Poland - 1976-1978

Deadly full - 1977-1979)

Man Out of Nowhere - The Trail of Lawlessness - 1980-1983

Full Death - The Trail of Lawlessness - 1984-1986

Free Man - 1988-1989

A Free Man - The Trail of Lawlessness - 1988-1991

Rosary Made of Barbed Wire - 1998-1999

Four Sons of the  Father” - 2001-2003

Brothers" - 2006

The War Has Not Taken Everything Away From Me - 2009

Slaski Szeryf - 2010

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ David De Reszke

David De Reszke is/was a screenwriter of unknown origin. His last name is of Polish abstraction.  He only has one credit according to the IMDb and that was also his only Euro-western as a co-screenwriter on “Winnetou und sein Freund Old Firehand” (Thunder at the Border) with Harald G. Petersson and C.B. Taylor in 1966.

De RESZKE, David – writer.

Thunder at the Border – 1966 (co)

 

Spaghetti Western ~ The Noruzi Brothers

The Noruzi Brothers, Amir Reza and Amirmohammad Norouzi, are Iranian animation simulators based in Qom Province, Iran. They have only been credited with the two Euro-westerns below and I can find no biographical information on them

The Noruzi Brothers were animators on two Euro-westerns: “فیلم فرعی ماجراهای بوشوگ: فرار دالتون ها” (The Adventures of Rantanplan: Escape of the Daltons) in 2021 and “فیلم لوک خوش شانس: پایان افسانه (نسخه موزیک ویدئو” (Lucky Luke: End of Legend) in 2022.

NORUZI BROTHERS [Iranian] (Amir reza Norouzi [2/10/2007, Iran -    ] director, writer, editor, animator, Amirmohammad Norouzi,  – animator, voice actor, founded the Phoenix Factory.

The Adventures of Rantanplan: Escape of the Daltons – 2021

Lucky Luke: End of Legend - 2022

Who Are Those Guys? ~ Augusto Funari

 

Augusto Funari was an Italian character actor and stunt performer active in the film industry from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s. He was born in Rome on June 25, 1942, and was widely recognized for his work as a stuntman and supporting actor in Spaghetti westerns and action-adventure films. Funari began his career in production, serving as a production secretary for “Nights of Violence” (1965). He subsequently transitioned into stunt work and acting, frequently appearing as uncredited henchmen or bandits in major Italian productions.

What happened to Augusto is unknown, but it’s believed he may have committed suicide at an unknown time and place.

FUNARI, Augusto [6/25/1942, Rome, Lazio, Italy - (suicide)] – stuntman, film actor.

Return of Clay Stone – 1964 (saloon brawler) [stunts]

Three Dollars of Lead - 1964 (Pedro)

Ramon the Mexican – 1966 (Morales’ henchman) [stunts]

Ringo, It’s Massacre Time – 1966 (poisoned gunman) [stunts]

Born to Kill – 1967 (Dodge/Dudgett henchman) [stunts]

Sartana – 1967 (saloon patron)

Wanted Johnny Texas - 1967 (poisoned gunman)

A Winchester Does Not Forgive – 1967 (Monteiro henchman)

Vengeance – 1967 (captive in cave)

A Winchester Does Not Forgive – 1967 (Monteiro bandit)

One After the Other – 1968 (Espartaco bandit) [stunts]

Zorro the Fox – 1968 (soldier)

Quintana – 1969 [stunts]

A Man Called Apocalypse Joe – 1970 (Berg henchman)

They Call Me Trinity – 1970 (Mescal henchman)

Blindman – 1971 (Domingo henchman) [stunts]

A Man Called Django! – 1971 (Jeff) [stunts]

The Price of Death– 1971 (miner, deputy) [stunts]

Kill Django… Kill First – 1971 (Burton henchman) [stunts]

Return of Sabata – 1971 (McIntock henchman) [stunts]

Trinity is STILL My Name – 1971 (Parker henchman)

Kill the Poker Player – 1972 (town thug) [stunts]

The Return of Hallelujah – 1972 (Ramirez soldier) [stunts]

The Return of The Holy Ghost - 1972 (Morgan the Pirate)

They Call Me Providence - 1972 (pool room diner)

For a Book of Dollars – 1973 (Catapult victim) [stunts]

Fasthand is Still My Name – 1973 (Muchedo/Macedo henchman) [stunts]

The Crazy Adventures of Len and Coby – 1974 (bandit)

Keoma – 1975 (Caldwell henchman) [stunts]

We are No Angels – 1975 (Shark henchman)

Special Birthdays

Erwin Hillier (cinematographer) would have been 115 today but died in 2005.

Eileen Way (actress) would have been 115 today but died in 1994.

Enrique Escobar (composer, actor) would have been 105 today but died in 2004.

Evgwniy Loenov (actor) would have been 100 today but died in 1994.

Franco Prosperi (writer) would have been 100 today but died in 2004.

Manuel Rojas (actor) would have been100 today but died in 1997.

Salma Hayek (actress) is 60 today.

RIP Federico Zoppo

 

Federico Del Zoppo was an Italian cinematographer and camera operator known for his work on a wide range of films spanning arthouse, historical, and genre cinema. Born on August 22, 1940, he has contributed as a camera operator to notable productions including Luchino Visconti's “Ludwig” (1973) and the controversial “Caligula” (1979), as well as serving as director of photography on projects like “Alien 2: On Earth” (1980). Over a career extending several decades, Del Zoppo has demonstrated versatility through roles that also include director, assistant camera, and additional photography on both Italian and international films, collaborating with directors such as Tinto Brass and Giuseppe Ferrara on works like: The Bankers of God: The Calvi Affair: (2002). His involvement in high-profile and cult productions has established him as a respected figure in technical filmmaking roles. Federico was born on August 22, 1940 in Rome, Italy. As an Italian national, he grew up in Italy, though detailed information about his family background, childhood, or early influences remains scarce in public records and industry profiles. No verified accounts exist of specific personal experiences or formative factors that led to his later entry into cinema. Del Zoppo was a cameraman on four Spaghetti westerns: “The Sheriff Won’t Shoot” in 1965 “Five Giants from Texas” in 1966, A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die” in 1967 and “My Name is Nobody” 1972. He was a cinematographer also on four Spaghetti’s “Thunder Warrior” in 1983, “Thunder Warrior III”, “White Fang and the Kid” in 1977 and “Arizona Road” in 1991.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Patrick Durkin

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Patrick Durkin was born in Linthorpe, Middlesborough, Cleveland, England on June 9, 1936. Durkin stood out in school for his acting talent, he was already able to recite Julius Caesar speeches at the age of 14, and was encouraged by his father, who sent him to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In his class were also Peter O'Toole and Richard Harris.

Patrick made his debut by appearing in the television series "Coronation Street" in 1960. His acting career lasted until 1987, during which he accumulated roles in 66 film and television works, encompassing both television series and films.

Chubby, curly-haired small-part character actor of stage and screen, former straight man to comedian Tommy Cooper, he was a semi-regular in the 'Carry On' films and also tended to play minor heavies. He is best remembered for his drinking scene with Karen Allen in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981).

Durkin died in London on September 1, 2009, at the age of 73.

Patrick Durkin appeared in one Euro-western, “Carry on Cowboy” as a townsman in 1965.

DURKIN, Patrick (aka Pat Durkin) [6/9/1936, Linthorpe, Middlesborough, Cleveland, England, U.K. – 9/1/2009, London, England, U.K.] – film, TV actor.

Carry on Cowboy – 1965 (townsman)