Constantine Daniel Vafiadis was born in Shanghai, China,
on January 3, 1938. He got his break in show business performing in the Mae
West Revue using the stage name Dan Vadis. He was featured in West's famous
bodybuilder troupe in the mid-1950s, along with Gordon Mitchell, Mickey
Hargitay, and Reg Lewis. Vadis would have to wait six years before taking on
his first film role, in the 1962 classic “Colossus of the Arena” with Mark
Forest. His friend Gordon Mitchell brought him to Italy to take advantage of
the Italian sword and sandal fad. After making a number of Italian peplum films
Vadis moved into the Spaghetti genre where he appeared in seven Euro-westerns
including “Deguello” (1965), “Fort Yuma Gold” (1966) and “The Stranger Returns”
(1967). He returned to the U.S. and continued his film career in the 1970s,
appearing in a number of Clint Eastwood's most popular films, such as “High
Plains Drifter” (1972), “The Gauntlet” (1977), and “Bronco Billy” (1980).
Sadly, Vadis died on June 11, 1987 in Lancaster, California, at the age of 49
from a drug overdose. He was survived by his wife, Sharon, whom he married in
1980, and a son Nick. Today we remember Dan Vadis on what would have
been his 75th birthday.
What is the basis of your saying Dan had a SON and a Daughter?
ReplyDeleteDan had son named Nick. He did not have a daugter which I have corrected. Look on the Internet and you will see Nick mentioned in almost every biography you can find. His wife's maiden name was Jessup.
ReplyDeleteDan Vadis had another son by Jessup whom passed away in 1983. His name was Alexander Hector V.
ReplyDeleteThat a man of his background and physical training would die of a drug overdose in his car was a terrible tragedy.
ReplyDelete