Giuliano Gemma

Giuliano Gemma

Known For

Ben-Hur

Biography

Giuliano Gemma (2 September 1938 – 1 October 2013) was an Italian actor. He is best known internationally for his work in Spaghetti Westerns, particularly for his performances as the title character in Duccio Tessari's A Pistol for Ringo (1965), Captain Montgomery Brown/'Ringo' in Tessari's The Return of Ringo (1965), the title character in Michele Lupo's Arizona Colt (1966), Scott Mary in Tonino Valerii's Day of Anger (1967) and Michael "California" Random in Lupo's California (1977).

Born in Rome, Gemma first worked as a stuntman, then was offered real acting parts by director Duccio Tessari, starting with the film Arrivano i titani (1962). He also made an appearance in Luchino Visconti's Il Gattopardo as Garibaldi's General. Gemma later went on to star in Spaghetti Westerns in films such as A Pistol for Ringo (Una pistola per Ringo), Blood for a Silver Dollar (Un dollaro bucato), Wanted and Day of Anger (I giorni dell'ira). He was sometimes credited as Montgomery Wood. Giuliano Gemma's career survived the demise of the genre, and he remained active on Italian television.

Gemma played in a variety of movies, including art-house offerings such as Valerio Zurlini's The Desert of the Tartars (Il deserto dei tartari) in 1976. The same year, Gemma won a David di Donatello, the Italian equivalent of the Oscar, for his portrayal of Major Matiss in The Desert of Tartars.

Gemma also starred in a web comic named "Man Born Again" (2012) by Eclypsed Word.

His daughter, Vera Gemma, is also an actress. Giuliano Gemma also worked as a sculptor.

On 1 October 2013, Gemma died following a car accident in Cerveteri, near Rome. He was taken to a hospital in Civitavecchia and pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Two other passengers, a man and his son, were also injured in the accident.

Source: Article "Giuliano Gemma" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies Featuring Giuliano Gemma

Vera

Vera (2023)

as Self (archival footage)
Un uomo perbene

Un uomo perbene (1999)

as Avvocato Alberto Dall'Ora
The Opponent

The Opponent (1988)

as Martin Duranti
Claretta

Claretta (1984)

as Marcello Petacci
Tenebre

Tenebre (1982)

as Detective Germani
The Odd Squad

The Odd Squad (1982)

as Lt. Joe Kirby
La baraonda

La baraonda (1980)

as Federico Salvi
The Warning

The Warning (1980)

as Commissario Antonio Baresi
Operation Leopard

Operation Leopard (1980)

as Adjudant-chef Federico
Corleone

Corleone (1978)

as Vito Gargano
The Biggest Battle

The Biggest Battle (1978)

as Capitano Martin Scott
California

California (1977)

as Michael 'California' Random
Charleston

Charleston (1974)

as Sunny Abernati
Corbari

Corbari (1970)

as Silvio Corbari
A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof

A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof (1968)

as Billy Boy aka Tim Hawkins
Wanted

Wanted (1967)

as Gary Ryan
Arizona Colt

Arizona Colt (1966)

as Arizona Colt
Adiós Gringo

Adiós Gringo (1965)

as Brent Landers
The Return of Ringo

The Return of Ringo (1965)

as Capt. Montgomery Brown / 'Ringo'
Angelique: The Road To Versailles

Angelique: The Road To Versailles (1965)

as Nicolas, alias Calembredaine
Angelique

Angelique (1964)

as Nicolas Merlot
The Leopard

The Leopard (1963)

as Garibaldi's General
The Shortest Day

The Shortest Day (1963)

as Soldato (uncredited)
Boccaccio '70

Boccaccio '70 (1962)

as Hercules (segment "La riffa") (uncredited)
I Love, You Love

I Love, You Love (1962)

as Giovane in spiaggia
Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur (1959)

as Roman Officer with Messala (uncredited)
You're on Your Own

You're on Your Own (1959)

as Pugile (uncredited)
My Wife's Enemy

My Wife's Enemy (1959)

as Figlio di Nando Terenzi
Hercules Unchained

Hercules Unchained (1959)

as Melanippo (uncredited)
Venice, the Moon and You

Venice, the Moon and You (1958)

as Brando, giovane gondoliere nella sala da ballo