RIP Ken Wood

 

Italian stuntman, film and TV actor Ken Wood died on October 30^th in Anzio, Lazio, Italy. He was 89. Born Giovanni Cianfriglia on April 5, 1935 in Anzio, he was the brother of stuntman and actor Domenico Cianfriglia (1938-2020). Giovanni started out as a stuntman during the Sword and Sandal craze and doubled for American actor Steve Reeves in many of those films. When the Pelum films declined Giovanni moved on to the Crime films and primarily Spaghetti westerns where, as Ken Wood, he would become an often seen and recognizable face both as a villain and a hero. His acrobatic stunt work made him invaluable to many action directors particularly Enzo Castellari. Cianfriglia appeared in over 125 films in different capacities and among those appeared in thirty-eight Spaghetti westerns.

The Relentless Four – 1965 (deputy)

5 Giants from Texas – 1966 (Jesus/Indios)

Ringo and His Golden Pistol – 1966 (Sebastian) [as Ken Wood]

The Tramplers – 1966 (Cordeen henchman)

Ballad of a Gunman – 1967 (gambler)

If You Want to Live... Shoot! – 1967 (Stark) [as Ken Wood]

Killer Kid – 1967 (Ramirez) [as Ken Wood]

Bury Them Deep – 1968 (Billy Gunn) [as Ken Wood]

Kill Them All and Come Back Alone – 1968 (Blade) [as Ken Wood]

No Graves on Boot Hill – 1968 (Reno) [as Ken Wood]

Three Crosses Not to Die – 1968 (Reno) [as Ken Wood]

Two Pistols and a Coward – 1968 (Ron Eloy) [as Ken Wood]

Western, Italian Style – 1968 [archive footage]

The Unholy Four – 1969 (saloon brawler)

Adiós, Sabata – 1970 (Austrian agent)

Amen – 1970 [as Ken Wood]

Durango Is Coming, Pay or Die - 1970 (stagecoach robber)

The Unholy Four – 1970

Wanted Sabata – 1970 (Mexican bounty hunter)

You're Jinxed, Friend You've Met Sacramento – 1970 (Murdock henchman)

Blindman – 1971 (Mexican soldier) [stunts]

Django... Adios! - 1971 (Spirito Santo henchman)

Drummer of Vengeance – 1971 (Blackie) [as Ken Wood]

A Man Called Django – 1971 (Blackie)

Return of Sabata – 1971 (McIntock henchman)

Bada alla tua pelle Spirito Santo! - 1972 (Garibaldino) [as Ken Wood]

The Ballad of Ben and Charlie – 1972 (casino bouncer)

The Grand Duel – 1972

Gunmen and the Holy Ghost – 1972 (Garibaldi/Il Garibaldino) [as Ken Wood]

Life Is Tough, Eh Providence? – 1972 (The Challenger) [as Ken Wood]

Man of the East – 1972 (saloon brawler)

Return of the Holy Ghost – 1972 (Garibaldi/‘Il Garibaldino’) [as Ken Wood]

Sentence of God – 1972 [as Ken Wood]

They Call Me Providence – 1972 (‘The Challenger’) [as Ken Wood]

Where the Bullets Fly – 1972 (barn brawler)

Blood River – 1973 (Indian)

Keoma – 1975 (Caldwell henchmen) [as Ken Wood]

Buddy Goes West – 1981 (Jack Bold) [stunts]

America in Rome – 1998 [himself]

Denn sie kennen kein erbarmen - Der Italowestern (TV) – 2005 [himself]