Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Charles Drace

[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.]

Charles Drace was born in San Mateo, California on October 31, 1944. The family moved about during his childhood, living in California and Colorado, and eventually he settled with his mother and Richard in Santa Maria, California, for his high school and college years. During his high school and college years he discovered a love of acting which stayed with him for life. He performed in amateur theatre at school and college, and he later went on the train formally at a drama school in London. Throughout his life he performed in more than 60 theatrical pieces, films, videos or TV productions. He even had a couple of stints in Spain filming spaghetti Westerns which was a highlight for him.

After leaving college in Santa Maria, he realized he was in danger of being drafted into the forces and posted to Vietnam, but when walking down the street one day he saw a "Join the Army and see the world" billboard. He enlisted and signed up for four years in West Germany rather than three in South Vietnam. He had some previous experience in electronics and was trained and assigned to be a missile technician. He did not like Army life but appreciated being in Europe and travelled away from his base as often as he could.

When his time finished with the Army he stayed and travelled some more. While he was living and working in Zermatt, he met and married Rachael (a New Zealander working there as a physio), and after some time spent in London, Spain and California they eventually settled in Christchurch. They had two daughters, Lisa and Felicity, and lived in Burwood, on the banks of the Avon River, in a house which he built himself.

It’s impossible to know how many films Drace appeared in as many were small bit parts and uncredited roles.

Charles Drace was in two Spaghetti western, “Cuatro cabalgaron” (Four Rode Out) as Mr. Polson in 1968 and as Mr. Reynolds in the 1993-1994 Euro-television series “Croc blanc” (White Fang) as Mt. Reynolds and a bit part in “C'era una volta il West” (Once Upon a Time in the West) 1968. He also played the part of Mr. Reynolds in the Euro-western TV series “Croc blanc” (White Fang) from 1993-1994.

DRACE, Charles (Charles Albert Drace) [10/31/1944, San Mateo, California, U.S.A. -     6/24/2025, Christchurch, New Zealand] – author, theater, film, TV actor, married Rachael Elizabeth Barnes (1971-19??) father of Lisa Elizabeth Drace, Felicity Judith Drace.

Four Rode Out – 1968 (Mr. Polson)

Once Upon a Time in the West - 1968

White Fang (TV) 1993-1994 (Mr. Reynolds)