Gian Maria Volonté was born
on April 9, 1933 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. He is perhaps most famous outside
of Italy for his roles as the main villain in Sergio Leone's “A Fistful of
Dollars” (1964) (credited in the U.S.A. as "Johnny Wels") and “For a
Few Dollars More” (1965). In Italy, he was more notable for his roles in
high-profile social dramas depicting the political and social stirrings of
Italian and European society in the 1960s and 1970s.
Volonté graduated
from the university in Rome in 1957. He had a brief career as a television and
theatre (Shakespeare, Goldoni) actor, before concentrating on his film career.
He made his
debut in 1960 in “Sotto dieci bandiere”, directed by Duilio Coletti. Just four
years later, Volonté played "Ramón Rojo" in A Fistful of Dollars
(1964), and "El Indio" in For a Few Dollars More (1965), both for
monetary reasons as he did not consider either role seriously. Both films were
directed by the then-unknown Sergio Leone, and Volonté's roles in them would
bring him his greatest recognition from American audiences. He also played the
memorable roles of the Bandito-turned-guerrilla, “El Chuncho”, in A Bullet for
the General (1966) and as Brad Fletcher in “Face to Face” (1967).
His performances
as memorable but neurotic characters, or as a gifted leader of brigands or
revolutionaries, together with the unexpected, worldwide success of the films,
gave him international fame. Volonté had already played comedies, including “A
cavallo della tigre” (1961), by Luigi Comencini, and confirmed his versatility
in “L'armata Brancaleone” (1966). However, he found his main dimension in
dramatic roles for “Banditi a Milano” (1968), by Carlo Lizzani, “Sbatti il
mostro in prima pagina” (1972) by Marco Bellocchio, “La Classe operaia va in paradise”
(1972) by his friend Elio Petri and “Il sospetto” (1975) by Francisco Maselli.
In 1968 he
won a Silver Ribbon as best actor for “A ciascuno il suo”, also directed by
Elio Petri. Volonté received the same award for two other performances: Petri's
“Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto” (1971, winner of an
Academy Award as best foreign film), considered by many to be his finest; and
in “Opera al nero” (1989). In 1983 he won the award for Best Actor at the 1983
Cannes Film Festival for “La Mort” de Mario Ricci. Four years later, at the
37th Berlin International Film Festival, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor
for “Il caso Moro”. 1988 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection, remarkable
play as a Renaissance physician in "L'OEuvre au noir" film by André
Delvaux from Marguerite Yourcenar famous novel. In 1990 he was declared best
European actor for “Porte aperte”. In 1991, at the Venice Film Festival, he won
a Golden Lion for his career as a whole.
He was a
strong political activist known for his left-leaning views. Companion of
Italian actress Carla Gravina for almost 10 years, they met when they played
Romeo and Juliet in the theatre in 1960. The two had a daughter Giovanna, born
in the early 1960s. The actress Angelica Ippolito was his companion from 1977
until his death in 1994.
Volonte died
from a heart attack in 1994 at Florina, Greece during the filming of “Ulysses'
Gaze”, directed by Theo Angelopoulos. His role in the film was recast with
Erland Josephson.
Today we
remember Gian Maria Volonte, one of the Euro-westerns greatest actors, on what
would have been his 80th birthday.
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