Who Are Those Guys? ~Miguel de la Riva

 

Here’s another star of the Spaghetti westerns that we know basically nothing about. He’s a Spaniard, probably born sometime in the 1930s in Madrid. He appeared early on as a supporting actor and leading man in the Spanish westerns. Later on, he would continue his career in supporting and character roles. The IMDb credits him with 42 films beginning with an appearance as a soldier in 1956’s “Alexander the Great directed by Robert Rossen and starring Richard Burton and Frederic March. His last credited film was in 1985’s “El donante” in the role of Finado. The film stars Andrés Pajares and directed by Ramón Fernández.

His Spaghetti western career covered 26 films. He was often credited under the alias Michael Rivers, Miguel Riva, Michael Martin and variations of those names. The slim, blond-haired actor could easily pass as a Gringo so he was usually cast in those roles. From the little I can find and this is from secondary sources he was used because of his resemblance to Clint Eastwood and Anthony Steffan. He apparently was a bit difficult to work with and drank heavily. This may have limited him to lesser films and stagnated his career.

He’s seldom mentioned in books on the genre, which amazes me more as he was one of the early stars of the genre. All I can add is he was married and the father of a daughter.

de la RIVA, Miguel (aka Michael Martin, Miguel della Riva, Miguel Riva, Michael Rive, Michael Rivers, Michaël Rives, M. de la Riva, Michale Rivers) [19??, Madrid, Madrid, Spain -     ] – film actor, married to ? father of a daughter.

The Savage Guns – 1961 (Mexican)

Welcome Padre Murray – 1962 (Trampero)

The Implacable Three – 1963 (burglar) [as M. de la Riva]

Shoot to Kill – 1963 (Ranger captain)

$5,000 on One Ace – 1964 (Jack)

Joe Dexter – 1964 (John Randolph)

Welcome Padre Murray - 1964 (Trampero)

The Colt is My Law – 1965 (Peter Webb) [as Michael Martin]

Epitaph for a Fast Gun – 1965 (Sheriff Sid/Kelly Brady) [Michael Rivas/Miguel Riva]

Shoot to Kill – 1965 (Ranger captain)

Tomb for an Outlaw – 1965 (Johnny) [as Michael Rivers]

Django Does Not Forgive – 1966 (Private Ray)

A Dollar of Fire - 1966 [as Michaël Rives]

Dynamite Jim - 1966 (Lieutenant Williams) [as Miguel della Riva]

$4.00 of Revenge – 1966 (defense attorney)

Clint the Stranger – 1967 (Toby)

For a Few Bullets More – 1967 (lieutenant)

Sartana Does Not Forgive – 1968 (Kovac henchman)

Sonora – 1968 (Kovacs’ henchman)

Villa Rides! – 1968 (Villista)

The Law of Violence – 1969 (Bill Hackett)

The Rebels of Arizona – 1969 (Rudy) [Michael Rivers]

$20,000 for Every Corpse - 1969 (Bruce/Glenn/Dale Brice) [as Michael Rivers]

Zorro the Lawman – 1969 (Warner henchman)

Blood River – 1973 (Ben Webster) [as Michael Riviere]

Al oeste de Río Grande – 1983 (outlaw) [as Michael Rivers]