Who Are Those Guys? Spartaco Conversi

 

Spartaco Conversi was born Espartaco Conversi in Rome, Italy on October 6, 1916. Conversi was usually seen as a bearded bit player with rough craggy features who resembled American sidekick Gabby Hayes. He’s probably best remembered when he’s shot in the eye through the toe of Cheyenne’s boot in 1968’s “Once Upon a Time in the West”. He appeared in over 40 films from 1946 until 1973. Of those 34 were Euro-westerns. He was often billed as Spean Convery, Spanny Convery and Sean Convery. Spartaco also worked behind the scenes as a production secretary and assistant and manager.

He was adept at playing gang members, ranch hands and saloon brawlers usually with a bad temper or gruff manner. Seldom did he find him on the right side of the law or a white hat good guy. Still, he was a stalwart of the genre and one of the most familiar faces of the supporting actors of the Spaghetti western genre. 

Spartaco Conversi died in Rome on June 7, 1989 of undisclosed causes.

CONVERSI, Spartaco (aka Sean Convery, Spanny Convery, Spean Convery, Spean Covery) (Espartaco Conversi) [10/6/1916, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 6/7/1989, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – producer, production manager, film actor.

Johnny West – 1965 (Jeff) [ Spanny Convery]

7 Magnificent Pistols for Timothy – 1965 (Brett Colson/Colton)

The Big Gundown – 1966 (Mitchell)

A Bullet for the General – 1966 (Cirillo)

Death at Owell Rocks – 1966 (Lester brother)

Seven Dollars to Kill – 1966 (Bill) [as Spean Convery]

Three Graves for a Winchester – 1966 (Tom) [as Spean Convery]

Django Kills Silently – 1967 (Miguel)

I’ll Sell My Skin Dearly – 1967 (Benson) [as Spean Convery]

Kill and Pray – 1967 (gambler)

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

7 Pistols for a Massacre – 1967 (Sheriff Pat)

Turn… I’ll Kill You – 1967 (Old Sam Wilson) [as Spean Convery]

$20,000 on Number 7 – 1967 (Ringo) [as Spean Convery]

The Two Faces of the Dollar – 1967 (bandit)

Viva Django! – 1967 (outlaw)

Wanted – 1967 (Owell Rocks patron)

Full House for the Devil – 1968

Go for Broke – 1968

The Great Silence – 1968 (Walter)

A Long Ride from Hell – 1968 (Bobcat Bates)

Lynching – 1968 (Sheriff Brown)

Once Upon a Time in the West – 1968 (Frank’s henchman)

Quintana: Dead or Alive – 1969 (Rodrigo)

Sabata – 1969 (Slim)

Zorro in the Court of England – 1969 (Francisco Cortez)

Fistful of Lead – 1970 (Emiliano)

Sabata the Killer – 1970 (Garfield henchman)

Shango – 1970 (Bragna)

The Twilight Avengers – 1970 (John Garrison)

Tara Poki – 1971 (Mike)

Man of the East – 1972 (Austin henchman)

Behold the Strange, Stimulating Smell of Dollars – 1973 (colonel)

Hallelujah to Vera Cruz – 1973 (Miguel bandit)