RIP Peter Martell

Italian actor Peter Martell has died in Bolzano, Italy at the age of 72. Born Pietro Martellanza on September 30, 1938. He was a former Mr. Italy and a stuntman before given acting roles in films. He was to star in “God Forgives... I Don't” with Bud Spencer. The night before the film was to start he got into an argument with a girlfriend and when he tried to give her a kick in anger he missed and hit the wall and broke his foot. He was replaced with Terence Hill and the rest is history. Never reaching super star status as an actor, he was well regarded by most of the Spaghetti Western fans as a favorite and did receive star billing in several films including “Two Crosses at Danger Pass” 1967, “Ringo the Lone Rider” (1968), “The Unholy Four” (1969), “His Name was Pot... but They Called Him Joy” (1971), and “Patience has a Limit, We Don't” (1974). One of his most outstanding performances was as Rafael in “The Forgotten Pistolero” (1969). A documentary film about his life was made in 1999 called “Starring Peter Martell”. The film made awareness of Martell's plight. He had tried to commit suicide and was living on charity in a Volkswagen van. He was given a state pension and a was relocated to an apartment. He made a few films with Jess Fanco after this but never reacquired stardom.

Peter Martell's westerns - actor:
Dollars for a Fast Gun – 1965 (Helen’s brother)
The Fury of Johnny Kid – 1966 (Rodrigo Campos/Wolff)
The Man from Nowhere – 1966 (muredered herdsman)
My Name is Pecos – 1966 (Clane henchman)
Black Tigress – 1967 (Rod Strater)
Death Rides Alone - 1967
This Man Can’t Die – 1967 (Tony Guy)
Two Crosses at Danger Pass – 1967 (Alex Mitchell)
God Made Them, I Kill Them – 1968 (Don Louis de la Vega/Rod Douglas)
God May Forgive You… No Me – 1968 (Jack Smart)
The Long Day of the Massacre – 1968 (Joe Williams)
Ringo the Lone Rider – 1968 (Daniel/Allan Blake/Captain Bly/Ringo)
The Forgotten Pistolero – 1969 (Rafael Garcia)
The Unholy Four – 1969 (Silver)
Savage Guns – 1971 (Peter Martell)
His Name was Pot… But They Called Him Allegria – 1971 (Kid ‘Pot’ Potter/Allegria)
Patience has a Limit, We Don’t – 1974 (Pupo/Bill McDonald)