The identity of one of the most memorable characters of
the Euro-western genre has long been a priority for me. Half-Soldier who gives
information to Sentenza (Angel Eyes) on the whereabouts of Maria, the
girlfriend of Bill Carson who the villain has been tracking to obtain
information on the whereabouts of $200,000 in gold has finally come to light.
Thanks to a post on Facebook his identity has been given as Alfonso Veady.
Veady's real name is Juan
Luis Jose Antonio Dionysius Vega and he was born on February 18, 1917, in Noez, Toledo,
Spain. He
grew up in Madrid and at the age of nineteen he participated in the Spanish
Civil War where a bomb exploded in his face, nearly killing him a the Battle of Brunettte. The explosion
cost Alfonso Veady the loss of his legs but he was prevented from death by his
commanding officer who returned just in time to save him.
Thirty
years later, in 1966, Alfonso would have the great pleasure of appearing as
"Half Soldier" in the classic Spaghetti Western "The Good, The
Bad, And The Ugly". For years, everyone has thought that Jose Terron
played "Half Soldier" but the truth has finally come out that it was
actually Alfonso Veady.
He died
on September 3, 2003, in Madrid, Spain
Another small piece of the puzzle has been found.
“Hey Luke, pass me down a whiskey.”
I was serving in the US Navy, stationed at the Norfolk, Va., naval base in 1968 when I first saw GBU (for .25 cents admission). Me and several of my navy buddies were blown away by this movie! We absolutely loved this movie, and we went back the following night to watch it all over again. I remember distinctly my buddy from Alabama getting a kick out of Half-Soldier when he said, "Hey Luke, pass me down a whiskey."
ReplyDeleteHe lost his legs in the Spanish Civil War, not WWII.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction.
ReplyDeleteEs mi abuelo, perdió las piernas en la guerra civil española, y su nombres es Juan Dionisio de la Fuente Torija.
ReplyDeleteSi queréis saber más de el, en el siguiente enlace un libro en su honor.
https://www.amazon.es/gp/aw/d/B08CPLDDYX/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1682443251&sr=8-1
Alfonso Veady was born on February 18, 1917, in Alicante, Spain as Juan Antonio Diodysius Vega but grew up in Madrid. At age nineteen, Veady fought in the Spanish Civil War, losing both his legs in the process when a bomb exploded in his face, nearly killing him. Luckily, his commanding officer saved him just in time as he was being shot at. Many years later, he earned the role that would make him famous. That of "Half Soldier". For years, everyone has been thinking that he was played by Spanish actor, stuntman, and weapons master Jose Terron but this is not true. Alfonso Veady played him in GBU and he was marvelous. RIP Half Soldier. Another grave in the Sad Hill Cemetery.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to put the name Juan in his full name. My bad. Guess I'll need to do that next time. Oh well. Nobody's perfect.
ReplyDeleteHalf soldier scene just on,brill
ReplyDeleteWhen did he pass?
ReplyDeleteVeady died in 2003.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe we're here in 2025 but I'm grateful lol. Watching GBU now
ReplyDeleteGBU on right now on Sundance channel but half soldier already made his appearance. Ugly and Good walking in desert now.
ReplyDeleteI was 7 when I watch “The good, the Bad and the ugly” then afterwards I became a grimacing Clint Eastwood my whole life.
ReplyDelete