Who Are Those Guys? - Mario Brega

Mario Brega was born Florestano Brega in Rome, Lazio, Italy on March 5, 1923. He was the son of Primo Brega [1892-1955], carpenter and former Olympic runner. Brega was a butcher before he drifted into acting, where his heavy physique ensured him a plethora of character roles. Mario made his debut in film as an actor and character actor, using his imposing physique and gruff appearance: in the first role he participated in the film “La marcia su Roma” (1962) by Dino Risi, in which he plays the role of the grim fascist grim Marcacci. As Richard Stuyvesant he appeared as Big Sam Donaldson in “Buffalo Bill, Hero of the Far West”. He didn’t get along with star Gordon Scott and their fight scene degenerated into a real beating from Brega as he repeatedly struck the American actor with excessive realism.

He then played some minor roles in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western movies: “A Fistful of Dollars”, as Chico; “For a Few Dollars More” where he was billed as Richard Stuyvesant, as Niño; “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” as Corporal Wallace; and also as a gangster in “Once Upon a Time in America”. He appeared in many other spaghetti Westerns, including “Death Rides a Horse”, “The Great Silence”, and “My Name is Nobody”. He was also featured in many Federico Fellini films, and later in his career had comical roles with director Carlo Verdone. Brega stood 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and well over 250 pounds (110 kg) at his heaviest but after the 1960s slimmed down significantly

Mario Brega died in Rome in the Marconi area, where he lived on July 23, 1994 after suffering a heart attack. He was then buried in the cemetery of Verano.

BREGA, Mario (aka M. Braga, Richard Stuyvesant) (Florestano Brega) [3/5/1923, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 7/23/1994, Marconi, Rome, Lazio, Italy (heart attack)] – producer, TV actor, son of Olympic runner Primo Brega [1892-1955].

Buffalo Bill, Hero of the Far West - 1964 (Big Sam Donaldson) [as Richard Stuyvesant]

Fistful of Dollars - 1964 (Chico/Paco) [as Richard Stuyvesant]

Two Mafiamen in the Far West – 1964 (Rio henchman)

For a Few Dollars More - 1965 (Nino)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - 1966 (Corporal Wallace)

Halleluja for Django - 1966 (Andreas/Yanaro)

The Ugly Ones – 1966 (Miguel Cortinas)

The Great Silence - 1967 (Martin)

A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die – 1967 (Kraut)

Death Rides a Horse - 1968 (One-Eye)

The Man Who Cried for Revenge – 1968 (Dirty)

El Puro - 1969 (Tim)

No Room to Die – 1969 (Brandon’s partner)

Finders Killers - 1971 (Grendel/Parker)

My Name is Nobody – 1972 (Pedro)

The Genius - 1975 (Krutscher)