Bud Spencer
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| Bud Spencer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carlo Pedersoli October 31, 1929 Naples, Campania, Italy |
| Other name(s) | Carl Spencer |
Bud Spencer (born October 31, 1929 in Naples) is a famous Italian actor, known for his height at 6' 4 3/4" (195 cm) and his past roles in spaghetti westerns. Growing from a successful swimmer in his youth, he later achieved a degree in law, and has registered several patents.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Spencer was born Carlo Pedersoli in Naples (at Santa Lucia, an historical city rione). He married Maria Amato in 1960, with whom he had three children: Giuseppe (1961), Christine (1962) and Diamante (1972).
Spencer established Mistral Air in 1984, but left it to buy a textile mill that produced clothes for children.
[edit] Swimming and water polo career
A successful swimmer in his youth, Spencer was the first Italian to swim the 100 m freestyle in less than one minute. He achieved this on 19 September 1950, when he swam the 100 m in 59.5 s.[2] In the 1951 Mediterranean Games, he won a silver medal in the same 100m freestyle event.[3]
Spencer participated in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, reaching the semi-finals in the 100 m freestyle (58.8 s heats, 58.9 s semi final).[4] Four years later, in Melbourne, he also entered the semi-finals in the same category (58.5 s heat, 59.0 s semi final).[5] As a water polo player, he won the Italian Championship in 1954, with S.S. Lazio. His swimming career ended abruptly in 1957.
On 17 January 2005 he was awarded with the Caimano d'oro (Gold Caiman) by the Italian Swimming Federation.[6] On 24 January 2007, he received from the Italian Swimming Federation's president Paolo Barelli, swim and water polo coach diplomas.[7]
[edit] Acting career
Spencer's first movie role was that of a member of the Praetorian guard in Quo Vadis, a film shot in Italy, in 1951.[1] During the 1950s and part of the 1960s, Spencer appeared in some Italian films but "his career was strictly minor league until the late 1960s."[1]
Spencer then met Terence Hill, with whom he made a large number of Italian Westerns and other films together, including (named using their most common US titles):
- God Forgives... I Don't! (1967)
- Ace High (1968)
- Boot Hill (1969)
- They Call Me Trinity (1970)
- Blackie the Pirate (1971)
- Trinity Is STILL My Name! (1971)
- All the Way, Boys! (1972)
- Watch Out, We're Mad (1974)
- Two Missionaries (1975)
- Crime Busters (1976)
- Odds and Evens (1978)
- They Call Him Bulldozer (1978)
- I'm For the Hippopotamus (1979)
- Who Finds a Friend, Finds a Treasure (1981)
- Go For It! (1983)
- Double Trouble (1984)
- Miami Supercops (1985)
- Troublemakers (1994)
Many of these have alternate titles, depending upon the country and distributor. Some have longer Italian versions that were edited for release abroad. These films gathered popularity for both actors, especially in Europe.[1] A claim appears on IMDB that they made a total of 19 films together.[1] Those extra two films (besides those listed above) might be two German versions of "God Forgives... I Don't!" and "Boot Hill" which were completely redubbed, recut and retitled to tie into the success of their later comedy westerns.
Spencer also wrote the complete or partial screenplay for some of his movies. His fan base is particularly large in Europe. His feature film career slowed down after 1983, shifting more toward television. In the 1990s he acted in the TV action-drama "Extralarge".
[edit] Career in politics
In 2005, Pedersoli entered politics, unsuccessfully standing as regional counselor in Lazio for the Forza Italia party. Spencer has stated: "In my life, I've done everything. There are only three things I haven't been - a ballet dancer, a jockey and a politician. Given that the first two jobs are out of the question, I'll throw myself into politics."[1] The opposition criticised him for engaging in "politica spettacolo" ("showbiz politics").[1]
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Spencer changed his screen name in 1967 reportedly chosen to pay homage to Spencer Tracy as well as his favorite American beer, Budweiser. Other sources report that he found it funny to call himself "bud" despite his weight and his height at 6' 4" (1.93 m).[1]
- After appearing in "Più Forte, Ragazzi!", Spencer became a jet airplane and helicopter pilot.[1]
- Spencer owned an air transportion company, Mistral Air, which he founded in 1984 but he later terminated his business interest in the company.[1]
- Spencer was involved in the children's clothing industry.[1]
- He holds several patents.[1]
- Trade mark: Uses to end a fist fight by striking a hammer-like blow on the top of the opponent's head.
- Holds a Juris Doctor degree.
[edit] Filmography
- Mord ist mein Geschäft, Liebling (2007/08) (English title: Murder is my Business, Honey) .... Pepe
- Padre Speranza (2005) (English title: Father Hope) (TV) .... Padre Speranza
- Cantando dietro i paraventi (2003) (English title: Singing Behind Screens) .... Il vecchio capitano
- Tre per sempre (2002) (English title: 3 - 4 Ever).... Bops
- Hijos del viento (2000) (English Title: Sons of the wind).... Quintero
- Al limite (1997) (English title: To the Limit).... Elorza
- Fuochi d'artificio (1997)(English title: Fireworks) .... The blind singer
- Noi siamo angeli (1997) (English title: We are Angels) (mini) TV Series .... Orso
- Botte di Natale (1994)(English title: The Night Before Christmas; also called "The Troublemaker") .... Moses
- Extralarge (1990 - 1993) (TV Series) .... Jack 'Extralarge' Costello
- Big man (1988 - 1989) (TV Series) .... Jack Clementi
- Superfantagenio (1986) (USA title: Aladdin) .... Genie
- Miami Supercops (1985) .... Steve Forest
- Double Trouble (1984) (Italian title: Non c'è due senza quattro) .... Greg Wonder/Antonio Coimbra de la Coronilla y Azevedo
- Nati con la camicia (1983) (English title: Go for it) .... Doug O'Riordan alias Mason
- Bomber (1982) .... Bud Graziano
- Banana Joe (film) (1982) .... Banana Joe
- Cane e gatto (1982) (English title: Cat and Dog).... Sergeant Parker
- Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro (1981) (English title: A friend is a treasure) .... Charlie O'Brien
- Occhio alla penna (1981) (English title: Buddy goes West).... Buddy
- Chissà perché... capitano tutte a me (1980) (English title: Everything Happens to Me).... Sheriff Hall
- Io sto con gli ippopotami (1979) (English title: I'm for the Hippopotamus).... Tom
- Piedone d'Egitto (1979) (English title: Flagfoot in Egypt).... Inspector Rizzo
- Sceriffo extraterrestre - poco extra e molto terrestre, Uno (1979) (English title: E.T. and the Sheriff or The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid).... Sceriffo Scott (Sheriff Hall)
- Pari e dispari (1978) (English title: Trinity: Gambling for High Stakes) .... Charlie Firpo
- Lo chiamavano Bulldozer (1978) (English title: Uppercut) .... Bulldozer
- Piedone l'africano (1978) (English title: Knock-Out Cop).... Rizzo
- Charleston (1977) .... Charleston
- Il Soldato di ventura (1976) (English title: Soldier of Fortune).... Hector Fieramosca
- I Due superpiedi quasi piatti (1976) (English title: Crime Busters).... Wilbur Walsh
- Piedone a Hong Kong (1975) (English title: Flatfoot in Hong Kong).... Inspector 'Flatfoot' Rizzo
- Altrimenti ci arrabbiamo (1974) (English title: Watch Out, We're Mad).... Ben
- Porgi l'altra guancia (1974) (English title: Turn the Other Cheek) .... Father/Padre Pedro
- Piedone lo sbirro (1973) (English title: A Fistful of Hell) .... Inspector 'Flatfoot' Rizzo
- Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli (1973) (English title: Even Angels Eat Beans).... Charlie Smith
- Una Ragione per vivere e una per morire (1972) (English title: A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die).... Eli Sampson
- Si può fare... amigo (1972) (English title: Bulldozer Is Back Amigo) .... Hiram Coburn
- Più forte, ragazzi! (1972) (English title: All the way boys) .... Salud
- Torino nera (1972) (English title: Black Turin) .... Rosario Rao
- ...continuavano a chiamarlo Trinità (1971) (English title: Trinity Is STILL My Name!).... Godfrey 'God'
- Il Corsaro nero (1971) (English title: Blackie the Pirate) .... Skull
- Lo chiamavano Trinità (1970) (English title: They Call Me Trinity).... Bambino
- La Collina degli stivali (1969) (English title: Boot Hill).... Hutch Bessy
- Un Esercito di cinque uomini (1969) (English title: The Five Man Army).... Mesito
- Dio è con noi (1969) (English title: Crime of Defeat).... Cpl. Jelinek
- Ace High(1968) (Italian title: I Quattro dell'Ave Maria).... Hutch Bessy
- Al di là della legge (1968) (English title: Beyond the law).... James Cooper
- Oggi a me... domani a te! (1968) (English title: Today it's me).... O'Bannion
- Dio perdona... Io no! (1967) (English title: Blood River).... Hutch Bessy
- Annibale (1960) (English title: Hannibal) (as Carlo Pedersoli)
- A Farewell to Arms (1957) (as Carlo Pedersoli) .... Carabiniere
- Cocco di mamma, Il (1957) (English title: Mamma's boy)(as Carlo Pedersoli) .... Oscar
- Un Eroe dei nostri tempi (1955) (English title: A hero of our times) (as Carlo Pedersoli) .... Fernando
- Siluri umani (1954) (English title: Human Torpedoes) (as Carlo Pedersoli) .... Magrini
- Quo Vadis (1951) (as Carlo Pedersoli) .... Imperial Guard
[edit] Writer:1990s
- Extralarge
- Diamonds (1993) (TV)
- Ninja Shadow (1993) (TV)
- Big Man
- Boomerang (1989) (TV)
- Diva (1989) (TV)
- La Fanciulla che ride (1988) (TV)
- Banana Joe (1982)
(in the 1980s, he was credited as Carlo Pedersoli)
[edit] Image gallery
 Pedersoli (right) with the Olympic swimmer Angelo Romani |
 The Italian water polo team, early 50s |
 Left to right: Geminio Ognio, Carlo Pedersoli, Sirio Banchelli, Pennecchini |
 Left to right: Paolo Galletti, Carlo Pedersoli, Angelo Romani, Osvaldo Berti, Giorgio Grilz |
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
- Bud Spencer at the Internet Movie Database
- Bud Spencer & Terence Hill Italian Website (Italian)
- Spencer & Hill style (Italian)
- Spencer & Hill videos
- Hill & Spencer forums (French)
- "Berlusconi picks film cowboy as his sidekick", telegraph.co.uk, 16 February 2005, Bruce Johnston
- Hill & Spencer website (French)
- Hill & Spencer fan website (German)
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||||||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Spencer, Bud |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Pedersoli, Carlo |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1929-10-31 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Naples, Campania, Italy |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
