Dan van Husen was born on April 30 1945 in Gummersbach, Germany. Dan has one of the most recognizable faces in film. His first film was “Il bastardi” (1968). Since then he has appeared in over 125 films and television appearances. Among his films were 24 Euro-westerns among which among them were “El Condor”, “Cannon for Cordoba” both 1970 “Catlow”, “Captain Apache” “Bad Man's River” all in 1971, “Cut-Throats Nine” (1972) and “Spaghetti Western” (1976). Dan became good friends with Lee Van Cleef and during Dan's recent visit to Los Angeles I was able to visit with him at Lee's gravesite. Dan lives in England today and is still acting in European films. Today we celebrate Dan van Husen's 65th birthday.
Screenwriter of Classic Italian Comedies Dies
How Good, Bad and Ugly Are You?
Marina Malfatti was born on April 25, 1940 in Florence, Italy. At 17 she enrolled at the Cours de'Art Dramatique in Paris. She returned to Italy after receiving a scholarship at The Experimental Center of Cinematography. Marina then entered the theater with small supporting roles. She was discovered by Arnoldo Foa. Malfatti entered films in 1974 with a part in “Malombra” directed by Diego Fabbri. She gained great popularity and spent her time between stage, film and television. Since the 1980s Marina's concentrated on acting in theater productions. In 1990 she began a partnership with Louis Squarzina and they have produced several plays by Pirandello, Shaw, Goldini and Cocteau. Marina has appeared in four Euro-westerns: “Savage Guns” (1971), “”The Return of Clint the Stranger” (1972), “The Son of Zorro” (1973) and as Marissa Malfatti “Pancho Villa” (1971). Today we celebrate Marina Malfatti's 70th birthday.
Küçük Kovboy – Turkish title
Franco Citti was born on April 23, 1938 in Rome, Italy. He became well known to the film world after his appearance in Pasolini's films “Accattone” (1961) and “Oedipus Rex” (1967). For American viewers he's known for his role as Calo in “The Godfather” parts I and III. Citti appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Kill and Pray” (1967) and “Kill Them All and Come Back Alone” (1968). Today we celebrate Franco Citti's 75th birthday.
Sheri Linden
By Rhett Pardon
Born Anthony Rudolph Oaxaca Quinn on April 21, 1915, in Chihuahua, Mexico. Quinn and his family left Mexico for the United States shortly after his birth and eventually settled in Los Angeles, California. His father died when he was only nine years old. Quinn then quit school and worked odd jobs to help support his family.
Italian actress Susy Andersen whose real name is Maria Antonietta Golgi, had only a short six year career in films where she appeared in a dozen or so features, but her striking good looks made her a star to quite a few film fans. In 1969 she suddenly left films and disappeared. Susy was also a model during her acting career and appeared on the magazine covers of “Tempo” in 1965. She appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Two Violent Men” (1964) and "15 Scaffolds for a Killer" (1968). Today we wish Susy Andersen a happy 70th birthday.
Mario Camus Garcia was born on April 20, 1935 in Santander, Spain. He studied law and then cinema at Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía in 1956 graduating in 1962. He belongs to the Golden Age of Spanish directors including Carlos Saura, José Borau and Manuel Summers. He is recognized for his talent of bringing literary works to the screen. He's most famous for two of his films “La Colmena” (The Beehive) (1982) and “Los Santos Inocentes” (The Holy Innocents) (1983). Carlos has also lead a busy life in television. Mario Camus has been involved in three Euro-westerns: “Lament for a Bandit” (1963) as a screenwriter. “Trinity Sees Red” (1970) and “The Return of the Coyote” (1997) as both director and screenwriter. Today we celebrate Mario Camus' 75th birthday.
Guido Celano was born into a noble family on April 19, 1905,in Francavilla a Mare, Italy. He studied acting while focusing on a theatrical career. He first appeared in the film “La scala” (1931) directed by Gennaro Righelli Under such aliases as Guy W. Celon, Guy Ceylon and William First he produced, directed, wrote screenplays and acted in over 125 films. He appeared in four Euro-westerns: “The Sign of Zorro” (1963), “The Hills Run Red” (1966) and along with acting, he produced and directed “The Cold Killer” (1966) and “Gun Shy Piluk” (1968), the last which he also wrote. He was married to actress Tina Xeo [1902-1992] from 1935-1988. They had five children. Guido died of peritonitis at the age of 84 on March 7, 1988 in Rome. Today we remember Guido Celano on what would have been his 105th birthday.
Once upon a time in the west, Clint Eastwood earned himself a fistful of dollars - and instant stardom - when his 'Man With No Name' rode into town. In the mid-sixties Eastwood's Dollars trilogy with director Sergio Leone - “A Fistful of Dollars”, “For a Few Dollars More” and “The Good the Bad and the Ugly” - gunned down all opposition at the world box office and created a visceral new brand of anti-Western, dubbed 'Spaghetti Westerns' by critics bemused by the films' popularity. Spaghetti Westerns' cynical morality tales of revenge, betrayal and mercenary avarice were filmed in the desert badlands of Almeria, Southern Spain. Eastwood's immortal 'Man With No Name' is the enduring symbol of the genre, but Leone and Eastwood weren't the first, nor the most prolific filmmakers to make Spaghetti Westerns, and this Kamera Guide reviews the best of a wild bunch, including cult classics “Django”, “The Big Gundown”, They Call Me Trinity” and “NavajoJoe”. 
Raúl García Alonso was born on April 16, 1930 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He started acting under the name Paul Garcia and then the stage name Milo Quesada. His first film was “Crisol de hombres” (1954). He moved to Spain in the late 1950s and found work in films as a character actor. During the Spaghetti Western craze he appeared in 10 Euro-westerns. He's probably best remembered for his role as Bill Templer in “Django Kill” (1966) with Tomas Milian. Other westerns include “Django Does Not Forgive” (1966), “A Few Bullets More” (1967) “The Mercenary” (1968) and “Captain Apache” (1970). Quesada's last noted appearance was in the 1994 televsion film “ La mujer de tu vida 2: La mujer cualquiera”. Today we celebrate Milo Quesada's 80th birthday.
Raimondo Vianello who was a familiar face and a reassuring presence to all Italians passed away in Milan today at the age of 87. Vianello was born on May 7, 1922 in Rome and was a part of the history of Italian films and television. He appeared in 79 films between 1947 and 1968. His irony and wit were his key ingredients to any film he was in. He was usually teamed with an other comedian such as Walter Chiarri or Lando Buzzanca. He was married to actress Sandra Mondaini and there marriage was one of the strongest of Italian film couples. After his film career started to falter Raimond became a familiar face on television as a presenter and he along with his wife had their own TV sitcom “Casa Vianello” from 1988 to 2007. Raimondon appeared in six Euro-westerns during his screen career: “The Magnificent Three” (1961), “The Terrible Sheriff” (1962), “Twins from Texas” (1964), “Heroes of the West” (1965), “For a Few Dollars Less” (1966), and “Rebels on the Loose” (1966).
Rodney Stephen Steiger was born on April 14, 1925 in Westhampton, New York. Rod never knew his father who was a vaudeville actor who had been part of a traveling song and dance team with Rod's mother. His mother was an alcoholic and Rod left home at sixteen and joined the Navy during World War II. After the war he went to New Jersey and joined a drama group before going to New York and studying under Stella Adler. He then obtained work in stage plays and early television in the 1950s. He appeared in the lead role of “Marty” on TV and turned down the film role which was given to Ernest Borgnine, who won an Academy Award. Rod would go on to appear in over 100 films and won an Academy Award for his role in “The Heat of the Night” (1967) opposite Sidney Poitier. Steiger also was nominated for a Best Supporting Oscar for “On the Waterfront” (1954) and again for “The Pawnbroker” (1965). Rod appeared in only one Euro-Western Sergio Leone's “Duck You Sucker” (1971) as Juan Miranda. Married five times Rod had heart bypass surgery in 1976 and fell into a state of depression for the following eight years. He died July 9, 2002 from pneumonia and complications from gall bladder surgery. Today we celebrate what would have been Rod Steigers 85th birthday.
Born José Luis Aguilar Oseguera on September 27, 1937 in Cotijo de La Paz, Mexico. One of 11 children he left school and took a job as a shoe maker to help support his family. His family moved to Mexico City and José became a Mariachi singer working with Don Gerardo. He became close friends with Mexican Ranchera singer Vicente Fernandez and the two promoted and helped each others careers. Changing his name to Felipe Arriaga he made several LPs and 20 films. At the height of his career Felipe was killed under mysterious circumstances in Mexico City while dining with his family at a popular restaurant. Arriaga made one Spaghetti Western “La Revancha” (Now My Pistols Speak) directed by Aldo Sambrell and starring Emilio Fernandez.
German comedian Andreas Kunze died after heart surgery in Essen, Germany on April 8, 2010. Born August 22, 1952 in Bremen, Germany, he trained to be a photographer. He wished to become a film director but turned to comedy when that career was not achieved. Kunze became friends with comedian Helge Schneider and they would appear in several films together. Kunze usually appeared as Schneider's mother in these films including his one Euro-western “Texas - Doc Schneider” (1993).
Italian comedic actor and voice dubber Gino Pagnani died on April 10, 2010 in Magliano Sabina, Italy. Gino was born Luigi Pagnani Fusconi 1927 (ca). Gino's first film was “Il professor Matusa e i suoi hippies” (1968). He would then appear as the head examiner for the Department of Motor Vehicles in “Ma chi t'ha dato la patente?” (1970) directed by Nando Cicero with Franco & Ciccio. Gino would appear in future Franco & Ciccio films. He then appeared in the 1972 erotic comedy film “Quel gran pezzo dell'Ubalda tutta nuda e tutta calda”. These films would be his staple for years to come. He seldom had more than cameo and small character roles but his face was immediately recognizable to film goers. His last film appearance was as Dr. Socrates in the 1984 film “L'allenatore nel pallone”. Pagnani was also a voice actor and was best known as the Italian voice for Papa Smurf in the famous television series. His death was reported by his granddaughter Maria Cristina Camilli.
Corte marziale – Italian title
Álvaro de Luna Blanco was born on April 10, 1935 in Madrid, Spain. Álvaro studied medicine but then became interested in acting. He made his film debut in the TV series “Poly” (1961). Since then he has appeared in over 150 films and television series. He has also been a stuntman and more recently a stage actor. He found fame in the role of El Algarrobo in the TV series “Curro Jiminez”. De Luna's appeared in over a dozen Spaghetti Westerns such as: “Minnesota Clay” (1964), “The Hellbenders” (1966), “Navajo Joe” (1966) and “Cemetery Without Crosses” (1968). He was nominated for a 2008 Goya award for his performance in “El prado de las estrellas”. Today we celebrate Álvaro de Luna's 75th birthday.
Claude Bolling was born April 10, 1930 in Cannes, France. A child prodigy, he was playing jazz piano professionally at the age of 14 with such legends as Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge and Kenny Clarke. He studied at the Nice Conservatory and then moved to Paris. He was part of the traditional jazz revival of the 1960s. A cross-over artist he also plays classical piano. Bolling also became a film composer in 1958 composing the score for “Cette nuit-là”. He's composed the scores for almost 100 films and television shows since. Among the scores he has composed were five for the animated adventures of “Lucky Luke”. Today we celebrate the 80th birthday of composer Claude Bolling.
Graf Bobby, der Schrecken des wilden Westens – German title
German actor Hans-Helmut Schmid was born on April 8, 1925, in Neu-Ulm, Germany. He was the son of actor Paul Schmid and opera singer Sängerin Helene Schräg. At first Helmut did not follow in his father's footsteps but studied law and military medicine before eventually becoming interested in theater and taking acting lessons. He made his stage debut in 1945 in Schiller's “Don Carlos”. In the 1950s he was known by the general public as a film actor starting with his first film “Geliebtes Fräulein Doktor (1954). He made over 45 film and TV appearances during his career. Although successful in film and television he continued to return to the stage. During his film career he appeared in two Euro-westerns: “$5,000 on the Ace” (1964) and “The Man Called Gringo” (1965). Helmut was married to actress Lieslotte 'Lilo' Pulver and they had two children . Schmid died of a heart attack on July 18, 1992 in Heiligenschwendi, Switzerland. Today we remember Helmut Schmid on what would have been his 85th birthday.
