Giovanni Garcovich was born on July 15, 1935 in Zadar, Croatia. Known to us as Gianni Garko, he moved to Trieste and then Rome to attend college and drama school. His first role was in the film Kapò (1959) which was nominated for an Academy Award. He would go on to appear in several more films including “The Monguls” (1961) with Jack Palance and “The Avenger” (1962) with Steve Reeves. His breakout film was in 1965's “Il compagno Don Camillo” with Fernandel. In 1966 he appeared with Anthony Steffen in “Blood at Sundown” in the role of Sartana. This role and character's name would project him to international fame in the Spaghetti Western genre. Garko has appeared in six Euro-westerns as the Sartana character. He would go on to appear as star or co-star in 14 Euro-westerns sometimes credited as Gary Hudson. After the decline of the genre Gianni continues to make films, television and appear in an occasional commercial. Garko was married to actress Susanna Martinková from 1979-1986. Today we celebrate Gianni Garko's 75th Birthday.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Happy 75th Birthday Gianni Garko
Giovanni Garcovich was born on July 15, 1935 in Zadar, Croatia. Known to us as Gianni Garko, he moved to Trieste and then Rome to attend college and drama school. His first role was in the film Kapò (1959) which was nominated for an Academy Award. He would go on to appear in several more films including “The Monguls” (1961) with Jack Palance and “The Avenger” (1962) with Steve Reeves. His breakout film was in 1965's “Il compagno Don Camillo” with Fernandel. In 1966 he appeared with Anthony Steffen in “Blood at Sundown” in the role of Sartana. This role and character's name would project him to international fame in the Spaghetti Western genre. Garko has appeared in six Euro-westerns as the Sartana character. He would go on to appear as star or co-star in 14 Euro-westerns sometimes credited as Gary Hudson. After the decline of the genre Gianni continues to make films, television and appear in an occasional commercial. Garko was married to actress Susanna Martinková from 1979-1986. Today we celebrate Gianni Garko's 75th Birthday.
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As a Sartana fan I must say I love this guy. I've got a cat called Sartana!
ReplyDeleteGianni Garko, Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteVery good actor and excellent leading man, shame he isn't well known in English speaking countries.
All the best to him, and may he have many more.
ReplyDeletegianni garko was great as sartana so cool and sleek he looked the part and was the part made some very good spaghetti westerns you can hear his own voice in space 1999 with martin landau he has a deep voice and a strong italian accent but speaks english fluenty the episode is caled dragons domain you can see it on you tube.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that reading the top 20 essential spag.westerns online that not one of the sartana movies ranked.I own about 200 and have seen double that and the sartana series is defiantly one of the best out there ..Garko is the TRUE man in black
ReplyDeleteI detest lists even though I've been asked for a few and even have some published but I try not to do them Tastes change and a genre like SWs most people have not seen very many how can you rank them.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to meet Gianni Garko but if I can't do that I might make a movie about him. I think I'll call it, "Viva Garko! AKA Sartana" and it will take place from 1969 to 2001. That's 32 years of work. Wish me luck.
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