Gian Maria Volontè
Encyclopedia
Gian Maria Volonté was an Italian
actor. He is perhaps most famous outside of Italy
for his roles as the main villain in Sergio Leone
's A Fistful of Dollars
(credited in the USA as "Johnny Wels") and For a Few Dollars More
.
, and graduated in Rome
in 1957. He had a brief career as a television and theatre (Shakespeare
, Goldoni
) actor, before concentrating on his film career.
in with Sotto dieci bandiere, directed by Duilio Coletti
. Just four years later, Volonté played "Ramón Rojo" in A Fistful of Dollars
(1964
), and "El Indio" in For a Few Dollars More
(1965
), both for cash reasons as he did not consider either role seriously. Both films were directed by the then-unknown Sergio Leone
, and Volonté's roles in them would bring him his greatest recognition from American audiences. He also played the memorable role of the Bandito-turned-guerrilla, El Chucho, in A Bullet for the General
(1966).
His performances as memorable but neurotic characters, or as a gifted leader of brigands or revolutionaries, together with the unexpected, worldwide success of the films, gave him international fame. Volonté had already played comedies, including A cavallo della tigre (1961
), by Luigi Comencini
, and confirmed his versatility in L'armata Brancaleone
(1966). However, he found his main dimension in dramatic roles for Banditi a Milano (1968
), by Carlo Lizzani, Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina
(1972) by Marco Bellocchio, La Classe operaia va in paradiso (1972) by his friend Elio Petri and Il sospetto (1975
) by Francisco Maselli.
In 1968 he won a Silver Ribbon as best actor for A ciascuno il suo, also directed by Elio Petri. Volonté received the same award for two other performances: Petri's Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (1971
, winner of an Academy Award
as best foreign film), considered by many to be his finest; and in Opera al nero (1989
). In 1983
he won the award for Best Actor
at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival
for La Mort de Mario Ricci. Four years later, at the 37th Berlin International Film Festival
, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor
for Il caso Moro
.. 1988 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection, remarkable play as a Renaissance physician in "L'Œuvre au noir" film by André Delvaux from Marguerite Yourcenar famous novel. In 1990
he was declared best European actor for Porte aperte. In 1991
, at the Venice Film Festival
, he won a Golden Lion
for his career as a whole.
Volonté also played numerous roles outside Italy.
for almost 10 years, they met when they played Romeo and Juliet in the theatre in 1960. The two had a daughter Giovanna, born in the early 1960s.
The actress Angelica Ippolito was his companion from 1977 until his death in 1994.
in 1994 at Florina
, Greece
during the filming of Ulysses' Gaze
, directed by Theo Angelopoulos
. His role in the film was recast to Erland Josephson
.
As he asked, Volonté's final resting place is a small cemetery on the Sardinia
n island of Isola della Maddalena
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
actor. He is perhaps most famous outside of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for his roles as the main villain in Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre.Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots...
's A Fistful of Dollars
A Fistful of Dollars
A Fistful of Dollars is a 1964 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood alongside Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, Sieghardt Rupp, José Calvo, Antonio Prieto, and Joseph Egger. Released in Italy in 1964 then in the United States in...
(credited in the USA as "Johnny Wels") and For a Few Dollars More
For a Few Dollars More
For a Few Dollars More is a 1965 Italian spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Gian Maria Volonté. German actor Klaus Kinski also plays a supporting role as a secondary villain...
.
Early life
Volonté was born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, and graduated in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1957. He had a brief career as a television and theatre (Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, Goldoni
Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
) actor, before concentrating on his film career.
Career
He made his debut in 19601960 in film
The year 1960 in film involved some significant events, with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho the top-grossing release in the U.S.-Events:* April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I...
in with Sotto dieci bandiere, directed by Duilio Coletti
Duilio Coletti
Duilio Coletti was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 29 films between 1934 and 1977. His film Submarine Attack was entered into the 4th Berlin International Film Festival. He was a member of the jury at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* Mr...
. Just four years later, Volonté played "Ramón Rojo" in A Fistful of Dollars
A Fistful of Dollars
A Fistful of Dollars is a 1964 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood alongside Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, Sieghardt Rupp, José Calvo, Antonio Prieto, and Joseph Egger. Released in Italy in 1964 then in the United States in...
(1964
1964 in film
The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
), and "El Indio" in For a Few Dollars More
For a Few Dollars More
For a Few Dollars More is a 1965 Italian spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Gian Maria Volonté. German actor Klaus Kinski also plays a supporting role as a secondary villain...
(1965
1965 in film
The year 1965 in film involved some significant events, with The Sound of Music topping the U.S. box office.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
), both for cash reasons as he did not consider either role seriously. Both films were directed by the then-unknown Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre.Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots...
, and Volonté's roles in them would bring him his greatest recognition from American audiences. He also played the memorable role of the Bandito-turned-guerrilla, El Chucho, in A Bullet for the General
A Bullet for the General
A Bullet for the General , is a 1966 film which stars Gian Maria Volonté, Klaus Kinski, Lou Castel and Martine Beswick. Originally entitled El Chucho, quién sabe?, it is the story of El Chucho, the bandit, and Bill Tate who is a counter-revolutionary in Mexico...
(1966).
His performances as memorable but neurotic characters, or as a gifted leader of brigands or revolutionaries, together with the unexpected, worldwide success of the films, gave him international fame. Volonté had already played comedies, including A cavallo della tigre (1961
1961 in film
The year 1961 in film involved some significant events, with West Side Story winning 10 Academy Awards.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:* Atlantis, the Lost ContinentB...
), by Luigi Comencini
Luigi Comencini
Luigi Comencini was an Italian film director. Together with Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli, he was considered among the masters of the commedia all'italiana genre....
, and confirmed his versatility in L'armata Brancaleone
L'armata Brancaleone
L'armata Brancaleone is an Italian comedy movie released in 1966, written by the famous duo Age & Scarpelli and directed by Mario Monicelli. It features Vittorio Gassman in the main role...
(1966). However, he found his main dimension in dramatic roles for Banditi a Milano (1968
1968 in film
The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :...
), by Carlo Lizzani, Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina
Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina
Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina is a 1972 Italian drama film directed by Marco Bellocchio.It depicts the daily life of a fictitious Italian daily newspaper Il Giornale...
(1972) by Marco Bellocchio, La Classe operaia va in paradiso (1972) by his friend Elio Petri and Il sospetto (1975
1975 in film
The year 1975 in film involved some significant events, with Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws topping the box office.-Events:*March 26 - The film version of The Who's Tommy premieres in London....
) by Francisco Maselli.
In 1968 he won a Silver Ribbon as best actor for A ciascuno il suo, also directed by Elio Petri. Volonté received the same award for two other performances: Petri's Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (1971
1971 in film
The year 1971 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music...
, winner of an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
as best foreign film), considered by many to be his finest; and in Opera al nero (1989
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
). In 1983
1983 in film
-Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of...
he won the award for Best Actor
Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Actor Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.- Award Winners :-External links:* * ....
at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival
1983 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*William Styron *Henri Alekan *Yvonne Baby *Sergei Bondarchuk *Youssef Chahine *Souleymane Cissé *Gilbert de Goldschmidt *Mariangela Melato *Karel Reisz...
for La Mort de Mario Ricci. Four years later, at the 37th Berlin International Film Festival
37th Berlin International Film Festival
The 37th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 20 February to 3 March 1987.-Jury:* Klaus Maria Brandauer * Juliet Berto* Kathleen Carroll* Callisto Cosulich* Victor Dyomin* Reinhard Hauff* Edmund Luft* Jiří Menzel...
, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor
Silver Bear for Best Actor
The Silver Bear for Best Actor is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for achievement in performance by an actor.- Awards :- External links :*...
for Il caso Moro
The Moro Affair
The Moro Affair is a 1987 Italian crime film directed by Giuseppe Ferrara about the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. It was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival, where Gian Maria Volonté won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.-Cast:...
.. 1988 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection, remarkable play as a Renaissance physician in "L'Œuvre au noir" film by André Delvaux from Marguerite Yourcenar famous novel. In 1990
1990 in film
The year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2....
he was declared best European actor for Porte aperte. In 1991
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
, at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, he won a Golden Lion
Golden Lion
Il Leone d’Oro is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most distinguished prizes...
for his career as a whole.
Volonté also played numerous roles outside Italy.
Personal life
He was a strong political activist and known for his left-leaning views. Companion of Italian actress Carla GravinaCarla Gravina
Carla Gravina is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 40 films between 1957 and 1998. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in La terrazza at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
for almost 10 years, they met when they played Romeo and Juliet in the theatre in 1960. The two had a daughter Giovanna, born in the early 1960s.
The actress Angelica Ippolito was his companion from 1977 until his death in 1994.
Death
He died from a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1994 at Florina
Florina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during the filming of Ulysses' Gaze
Ulysses' Gaze
Ulysses' Gaze is a 1995 Greek film directed by Theo Angelopoulos. The actor Gian Maria Volonté died during the filming. He was replaced by Erland Josephson.-Plot:...
, directed by Theo Angelopoulos
Theo Angelopoulos
Theodoros Angelopoulos is a Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer.-Life:Angelopoulos studied law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, but after his military service went to Paris to attend the Sorbonne. He soon dropped out to study film at the IDHEC before returning...
. His role in the film was recast to Erland Josephson
Erland Josephson
Erland Josephson is a Swedish actor and author. He is best known to international audiences for his work in films directed by Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Theodoros Angelopoulos.-Biography:...
.
As he asked, Volonté's final resting place is a small cemetery on the Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
n island of Isola della Maddalena
La Maddalena
La Maddalena is a town and comune located on the island with the same name, in northern Sardinia, part of the province of Olbia-Tempio, Italy.-The town:...
.
Selected filmography
- Under Ten FlagsUnder Ten FlagsUnder Ten Flags is a 1960 Italian-American war film directed by Duilio Coletti. It was entered into the 10th Berlin International Film Festival.-Plot:...
(1960) - Hercules and the Conquest of AtlantisHercules and the Conquest of AtlantisHercules and the Conquest of Atlantis is a 1961 Italian / French film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi and starring Reg Park as Ercole ....
(1961) - The Four Days of NaplesThe Four Days of NaplesThe Four Days of Naples is a 1962 Italian film, directed by Nanni Loy and set during the uprising which gives its name. It stars Regina Bianchi, Aldo Giuffrè, Lea Massari, Jean Sorel, Franco Sportelli, Charles Belmont, Gian Maria Volonté and Frank Wolff....
(1962) - A Fistful of DollarsA Fistful of DollarsA Fistful of Dollars is a 1964 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood alongside Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, Sieghardt Rupp, José Calvo, Antonio Prieto, and Joseph Egger. Released in Italy in 1964 then in the United States in...
(1964, credited as "Johnny Wels") - For a Few Dollars MoreFor a Few Dollars MoreFor a Few Dollars More is a 1965 Italian spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Gian Maria Volonté. German actor Klaus Kinski also plays a supporting role as a secondary villain...
(1965) - L'armata BrancaleoneL'armata BrancaleoneL'armata Brancaleone is an Italian comedy movie released in 1966, written by the famous duo Age & Scarpelli and directed by Mario Monicelli. It features Vittorio Gassman in the main role...
(1966) - Quien sabe? (also known as A Bullet for the General, 1966)
- A GangstergirlA GangstergirlA Gangstergirl is a 1966 Dutch drama film directed by Frans Weisz. It was entered into the 17th Berlin International Film Festival.-Synopsis:A popular young writer cannot decide which direction his life should go in...
(1966) - Faccia a facciaFaccia a facciaFaccia a faccia is a 1967 Italian spaghetti western film written and directed by Sergio Sollima...
(1967) - A ciascuno il suoWe Still Kill the Old WayWe Still Kill the Old Way is a 1967 Italian crime film directed by Elio Petri. It was entered into the 1967 Cannes Film Festival where it won the award for Best Screenplay. It is based on the novel To Each His Own by Leonardo Sciascia.-Cast:...
(1967) - Bandits in MilanBandits in MilanBandits in Milan is a 1968 Italian crime film directed by Carlo Lizzani. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, but the festival was cancelled due to the events of May 1968 in France...
(1968) - Le Cercle rougeLe Cercle rougeLe Cercle rouge is a 1970 crime film set in Paris, France. It was directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and stars Alain Delon, Bourvil, Gian Maria Volonté and Yves Montand...
(1970) - Investigation of a Citizen Above SuspicionInvestigation of a Citizen Above SuspicionInvestigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion is a 1970 Italian film crime drama directed by Elio Petri. It is a dramatic, psychological, black-humoured satire on corruption in high office, telling the story of a top police officer who kills his lover and then tests whether the police would charge ...
(19701970 in filmThe year 1970 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 9 - Larry Fine, the second member of The Three Stooges, suffers a massive stroke, therefore ending his career....
) - Sacco e VanzettiSacco e VanzettiSacco e Vanzetti is an Italian docudrama, made in 1971. It was written and directed by Giuliano Montaldo. The film presents a dramatization of the events surrounding the trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti...
(1971) - Sbatti il mostro in prima paginaSbatti il mostro in prima paginaSbatti il mostro in prima pagina is a 1972 Italian drama film directed by Marco Bellocchio.It depicts the daily life of a fictitious Italian daily newspaper Il Giornale...
(1972) - The Working Class Goes to HeavenThe Working Class Goes to HeavenThe Working Class Goes to Heaven is a 1971 film directed by Elio Petri. It depicts a factory worker's realisation of his own condition as a simple "tool" in the process of production and, implicitly, his struggle with the trade unions...
(1972) - The Mattei AffairThe Mattei AffairThe Mattei Affair is a 1972 film directed by Francesco Rosi. It depicts the life and mysterious death of Enrico Mattei, an Italian businessman who in the aftermath of World War II managed to avoid the sale of the nascent Italian oil and hydrocarbon industry to US companies and developed them in...
(Il Caso Mattei, 1972) - Lucky LucianoLucky Luciano (film)Lucky Luciano is a 1973 film directed by Francesco Rosi. It stars Gian Maria Volonté and Vincent Gardenia.-Cast:*Gian Maria Volonté as Lucky Luciano*Vincent Gardenia as Colonel Charles Poletti*Silverio Blasi as Italian Captain...
(1973) - Giordano Bruno (1973)
- Todo modo (1976)
- Letters from MarusiaLetters from MarusiaLetters from Marusia is a 1976 Mexican film directed by Chilean Miguel Littín. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was also entered into the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Gian Maria Volonté...
(1976) - Io ho paura (1978)
- Christ Stopped at EboliChrist Stopped at Eboli (film)Christ Stopped at Eboli is a 1979 film adaptation of the book of the same name by Carlo Levi. It was directed by Francesco Rosi and stars Gian Maria Volonté as Carlo Levi, with Paolo Bonacelli, Alain Cuny, Léa Massari, and Irene Papas....
(1979) - Operación OgroOperación Ogro (film)Operación Ogro is a 1979 Spanish and Italian drama film written and directed by Gillo Pontecorvo.The film is based on true events, following the eponymous book by Julen Aguirre .The film won David di Donatello as Best Film....
(1979) - The Lady of the CamelliasThe Lady of the Camellias (film)The Lady of the Camellias is a 1981 French-Italian drama film directed by Mauro Bolognini and starring Isabelle Huppert.-Cast:* Isabelle Huppert - Alphonsine Plessis* Gian Maria Volonté - Plessis* Bruno Ganz - Count Perregaux...
(1981) - La Mort de Mario RicciThe Death of Mario RicciThe Death of Mario Ricci is a 1983 Swiss-French drama film directed by Claude Goretta. It was entered into the 1983 Cannes Film Festival where Gian Maria Volonté won the award for Best Actor.-Cast:* Gian Maria Volonté - Bernard Fontana...
(1983) - Il caso MoroThe Moro AffairThe Moro Affair is a 1987 Italian crime film directed by Giuseppe Ferrara about the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. It was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival, where Gian Maria Volonté won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.-Cast:...
(1986) - Chronicle of a Death ForetoldChronicle of a Death Foretold (film)Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a drama film directed by Francesco Rosi adapted by Tonino Guerra from the eponymous novel by Gabriel García Márquez. It stars Rupert Everett, Ornella Muti, Anthony Delon and Gian Maria Volonté. The film premiered at Cannes film festival in May 1987.-Plot :Cristóbal...
(1987) - Un ragazzo di Calabria (1987)
- The AbyssThe Abyss (1988 film)The Abyss is a 1988 drama film directed by André Delvaux. It was entered into the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. It is based on the novel of the same name by Marguerite Yourcenar.-Cast:* Gian Maria Volonté – Zénon* Sami Frey – Prieur des Cordeliers...
(1988) - L'opera al nero (1988)
- Pestalozzi's MountainPestalozzi's MountainPestalozzi's Mountain is a 1989 East German-Swiss drama film directed by Peter von Gunten. It was entered into the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Gian Maria Volonté as Pestalozzi* Rolf Hoppe as Zehender* Heidi Züger as Mädi...
(1989) - Funes, un gran amor (1993)