Sunday, May 19, 2024

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Ettore Bruno

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Ettore Bruno was born in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. Using the alias Gerry Bruno because of his resemblance to comedian Jerry Lewis, he was best known for the years he was a member of the comedic singing group “I Brutos”, of which he was one of the founders. In 1954, after graduating from high school, he began working as a linotypist-composer at the Tipografia Sociale Torinese: during this period, he began to become passionate about rock and roll. In 1958 he quit his job to devote himself to the activity of fantasist in the world of entertainment: with his friend Jack Guerrini, with whom he met as they were neighbors, he formed a duo in the style of the one formed overseas by Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. They were noticed by the impresario Aldo Zanfrognini who, looking for new talents, had the idea of uniting the two with three other comedians who were already working in Turin, and entering the five to the revue Il teatro dei pazzi, which was staged at the Alcione theater in Corso Regina Margherita in 1958. The group became known as “I Brutos” and became known worldwide.

After more than ten years together, Gerry left “I Brutos”, as he had been offered a very important professional opportunity: he was called by Garinei and Giovannini to play the part of "lo medicino Simone" in “Alleluja brava gente”, a musical comedy with music by Domenico Modugno and Renato Rascel, and from there his career as a soloist began, and which led a very successful career. He performed in all the major Italian theaters (from the Sistina in Rome to the Lirico in Milan) it remained on the bill for two entire seasons, 1970-1971 and 1971-1972.

He also performed as a stand-up comedian for a few seasons at the Derby Club in Milan, one of the temples of Italian cabaret; paired with Teo Teocoli he performed at El Maroco and Burlesque, Beppe Cardile's well-known club, also in Milan.

Ettore appeared in only one Spaghetti western as Artie in the 1964 film “I magnifici Brutos del West” (The Magnificent Brutes of the West).

BRUNO, Ettore (aka Gerry Bruno) [4/22/1940, Turin, Piedmont, Italy -     ] – cameraman, film, radio, film, TV actor, singer, comedian, member of ‘I Brutos’.

The Magnificent Brutes of the West – 1964 (Artie)

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