RIP Aldo Sambrell

Alfredo Sánchez Brell was born on February 23, 1931 in Madrid, Spain. After a career as a professional soccer player in Mexico and Spain, his first job in the entertainment field was as a singer and after his schooling he joined his father, who had fled Spain when Franco had come into power, in Mexico and became and entertainer and actor appearing in several Mexican films. Aldo returned to Spain and appeared in “King of Kings” directed by Nicholas Ray in 1961. He was a natural for westerns and in in 1963 he appeared in his first western “Billy the Kid”. Aldo had never been on a horse let alone ridden with any regularity. When asked if he could ride he lied and said, “Beautifully.” That was Aldo. He learned and became an expert rider. His first western led to a life as a supporting player in Spaghetti westerns for the next 15 years. He appeared in all of the Leone westerns and Sergio was his son's godfather. Aldo was signed by Sergio Corbucci to appear as the villain Duncan opposite Burt Reynolds in “Navajo Joe” (1966). This should have resulted in Aldo becoming a star and rivaling Gian Maria Volonte as one of the best villains of the genre but it did not work out that way. Although “Navajo Joe” has become quite respectable in recent years and even a cult classic for Reynolds' fans it was not treated well when it first opened. Reynolds has always panned his appearance which didn't help. Aldo would continue to appear in westerns, and action films even writing and directing until the end of his career.

His last film was a short entitled “Rio seco” which reflected his later life. It is about an aging actor who is waiting just for one more phone call, one more participation in a film and in this waiting game he is reminiscing in his past, flashes of film scenes of times gone by. Forgotten about by the film industry he will never be forgotten by the many fans he made during his life. Aldo was always outgoing, open and with that smile he always made you feel you were one of his dearest friends. I was able to meet Aldo several times over the past ten years and we became friends. I visited him in Spain and he even came out to the Madrid airport in 2003 when I had an extended lay over. He was always open and never had a bad word in public on any of his co-horts in the profession.

Aldo suffered a series of three strokes in late May of this year and entered a hospital in Alicante where he and his wife Candida (actress Candice Kay) lived. After a month in the hospital word leaked to the outside world through friends and he was given the adulation and respect he deserved. He rallied and it was said he was well enough to return home but he never did. The strokes had taken their toll and Aldo died on July 10, 2010 at 5 p.m. while still in the hospital. Goodbye amigo and rest in peace you rode the road of life beautifully.

SAMBRELL, Aldo (aka Aldo Brell, Ald Sambreli, Aldo Sambreli, Alfreo de Ronda, Harold Sambrell, Aldo Sánchez, Alfredo Sánchez) (Alfredo Sánchez Brell) [2/23/1931, Madrid, Madrid, Spain – 7/10/2010, Alicante, Alicante, Spain (stroke)] – soccer player, producer, director, screenwriter, singer, founded Asbrell Productions S.L. (1973).

Apache Fury - 1963 (ex-convict)
Billy the Kid – 1963 (sheriff)
Gunfight at High Noon – 1963 (Palmer/Parker)
Gunfight at Red Sands – 1963 (Juan Guardo)
Gunfighters of Casa Grande – 1963 (Rojo)
The Implacable Three – 1963 (Hopkins henchman)
Relevo para un pistolero – 1963 (henchman)
Cavalry Charge – 1964
Fistful of Dollars – 1964 (Manolo)
Massacre at Fort Grant - 1964
Tomb of the Pistolero – 1964 (miner)
Two Violent Men – 1964
Dollars for a Fast Gun – 1965
For a Few Dollars More – 1965 (Cuchillo)
Finger on the Trigger – 1965
In a Colt’s Shadow – 1965 (Ramirez)
A Place Called Glory – 1965 (Jake)
Son of a Gunfighter – 1965 (Juan Morales)
A Bullet for the General – 1966 (Lieutenant Alvaro Pereda)
Dynamite Jim – 1966 (Slade)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – 1966 (Sentenza/Angel Eye’s henchman)
The Hellbenders – 1966 (Pedro)
Navajo Joe – 1966 (Mervyn ‘Vee’ Duncan)
The Texican – 1966 (Gil Rio)
Face to Face – 1967 (Zachary Shot)
A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die – 1968 (Jesus Maria)
A Train for Durango – 1967 (Mexican Captain)
Duel in the Eclipse – 1968 (Charley Fain)
15 Scaffolds for a Killer – 1968 (Bud Lee)
A Long Ride from Hell – 1968 (Mexican bounty hunter)
Once Upon a Time in the West – 1968 (Cheyenne’s henchman)
Villa Rides! – 1968 (soldier)
White Comanche – 1968
Guns of the Revolution – 1969 (Colonel Amadeo Marínos)
100 Rifles – 1969 (Sergeant Paletes)
When Satan Grips the Colt – 1969 (El Pantera)
Arizona Returns – 1970 (Keene/Chico)
Cannon for Cordoba – 1970 (Captain Ortega)
Hannie Caulder – 1970 (Mexican Captain)
The Ballad of Ben and Charlie – 1972 (Sheriff Walker)
Duck You Sucker – 1971 (Captain of firing squad)
Kill Django…Kill First –1971 (Burton/Santana)
Raise Your Hands, Dead Man, You’re Under Arrest – 1971 (Lee Grayton)
A Town Called Hell – 1971 (Calebra)
Bad Man’s River – 1972 (Canales)
Charley One-Eye – 1972 (Mexican driver)
The Man Called Noon – 1973 (Kissling)
Shoshena – 1973 (Burton)
Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold – 1974 (Flores)
Silver Saddle – 1977 (Garrincha)
Now My Pistols Speak – 1980 (Don Tomas)
Al oeste de Rio Grande – 1983 (Alfredo Sanchez)
Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold – 1984 (Flores)
Tex and the Lord of the Deep – 1985 (El Dorado)
Here Comes Condemor (The Sinner of the Plains) – 1996 (Valerio)
God Only Knows! – 1997
Outlaw Justice (TV) – 1998 (stagecoach steward)