Happy 70th Birthday Fabio Testi

Fabio Testi was born on August 2, 1941 in Peschiera del Garda, Verona, Italy. Originally Fabio studied to become a surveyor but because of his striking good looks was offered a job as a model. This brought him into contact with such actresses as Ursula Andress [1936- ] and Charlotte Rampling [1946- ]. He became a stuntman and appeared in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966). This lead to a small role in Leone’s "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968) as one of Frank’s (Henry Fonda) henchmen. In 1970 he became noticed in "The Garden of the Finzi-Contini" directed by Vittorio De Sica. In 1972 he starred in "Camorra" and in 1974 appeared with Franco Nero and Claudia Cardinale in "I guappi". He then appeared in the film "L'importante è amare" with Romy Schneider which won a César Award. He has continued his successful a career and in 1996 was called on to replace Philippe Leroy in the TV film "The Return of Sandokan" as Yanez de Gomera. In 2010 he appeared in "Letters to Juliet" and "Road to Nowhere" directed by Monte Hellman. Testi married Spanish actress Lola Navarro in 1979 and the couple have three children among them actor Fabio Testi, Jr. The couple divorced in 1996. Testi turned to politics in 2007 and ran for Mayor of Verona receiving 44% of the vote. Testi appeared in 13 Euro-westerns among those not mentioned above were "Zorro the Lawman" (1969) using the pseudonym Stet Carson, "Django Meets Sartana" (1970) with Hunt Powers, "Blood River" (1973) with John Ireland, "4 of the Apocalypse", "Red Coat" (both 1975) and "China 9, Liberty 37" (1978). Fabio will be a juror at the upcoming 2011 Almeria Western Film Festival September 8-11. Today we celebrate Fabio Testi’s 70^th birthday.