Gian Maria Volontè - wikipedia Gian Maria Volontè This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2013 ) Gian Maria Volontè Gian Maria Volontè in his later years ( 1933 - 04 - 09 ) 9 April 1933 Milan, Italy 6 December 1994 ( 1994 - 12 - 06 ) ( aged 61 ) Florina, Greece Other names John Wells, Johnny Wels Occupation Actor Years active 1957 -- 1993 Spouse ( s ) Armenia Balducci Partner ( s ) Carla Gravina Angelica Ippolito ( 1977 - his death ) Children Mauriel Morejon Relatives Claudio Camaso ( brother ) Gian Maria Volontè ( 9 April 1933 -- 6 December 1994 ) was an Italian actor, remembered for his outspoken left - wing leanings and fiery temper on and off - screen. He is perhaps most famous outside of Italy for his roles in four Spaghetti Western films : Ramon Rojo and El Indio in Sergio Leone 's A Fistful of Dollars ( 1965 ) and For a Few Dollars More ( 1965 ), El Chuncho Munoz in Damiano Damiani 's A Bullet for the General ( 1966 ) and Professor Brad Fletcher in Sergio Sollima 's Face to Face ( 1967 ). In Italy and much of Europe, he was notable for his roles in high - profile social dramas depicting the political and social stirrings of Italian and European society in the 1960s and 1970s, including four films directed by Elio Petri - We Still Kill the Old Way ( 1967 ), Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion ( 1971 ), The Working Class Goes to Heaven ( 1971 ) and Todo modo ( 1976 ). He is also recognized for his performance in Jean - Pierre Melville 's Le Cercle Rouge ( 1970 ). Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Selected filmography 6 References 7 External links Early life Volontè was born in Milan but grown up in Turin, his father Mario was a fascist officer from Saronno ( province of Varese ), who in 1944 was in command of the Brigata Nera of Chivasso, near Turin. His mother, Carolina Bianchi, belonged to a wealthy Milanese industrial family and his younger brother Claudio was an actor too. He went to Rome to train for an acting career at the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico, which he left in 1957. He had a brief career in television and acting in Shakespeare and Goldoni plays on the stage, before establishing his film career. Career Volontè made his debut in 1960 in Sotto dieci bandiere, directed by Duilio Coletti. Just four years later, he 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 serious. Both films were directed by the then - unknown Sergio Leone, and Volontè 's roles in them would bring him his greatest recognition from American audiences. He played Carlo Levi in Cristo si è fermato a Eboli ( 1979 ), which was based on Levi 's autobiographical account of his years in internal - exile in Aliano, south Italy, in the 1930s. The English title is Christ Stopped at Eboli. Volontè played the memorable role of the Bandito - turned - guerrilla, El Chucho, in A Bullet for the General ( 1966 ). Volontè 's 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. Volontè 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 Francesco Maselli. Hommage to Gian Maria Volontè ( seen in his role as Carlo Levi in Christ Stopped at Eboli ) by Reginald Gray In 1968, Volontè 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 The Abyss ( 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 The Abyss by André Delvaux from Marguerite Yourcenar 's famous novel. In 1990, Volontè was named Best European Actor for Porte aperte. In 1991, at the Venice Film Festival, he won a Golden Lion for his career as a whole. Volontè played numerous roles outside Italy. Personal life Volontè was a strong political activist and known for his pro-Communist leanings. In 1981, he helped terrorist Oreste Scalzone to flee from capture in Italy to Denmark. He was the partner of Italian actress Carla Gravina for almost 10 years after they met when they played Romeo and Juliet in a theatre production in 1960. The two had a daughter Giovanna, born in the early 1960s. Actress Angelica Ippolito was his companion from 1977 until his death in 1994. Death Volontè died from a heart attack in 1994 at Florina, Greece, during the filming of Ulysses ' Gaze, directed by Theo Angelopoulos. Actor Erland Josephson replaced him in the role. Volontè 's resting place is a small cemetery on the Sardinian island of Isola della Maddalena. Selected filmography Gian Maria Volontè as Police Inspector in Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion Under Ten Flags ( 1960, directed by Duilio Coletti ) as Samuel Braunstein Girl with a Suitcase ( 1961, directed by Valerio Zurlini ) as Piero Benotti Journey Beneath the Desert ( 1961, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer ) as Tarath Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis ( 1961, directed by Vittorio Cottafavi ) as Re di Sparta On the Tiger 's Back ( 1961, Luigi Comencini ) as Papaleo A Man for Burning ( 1962, directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani and Valentino Orsini ) as Salvatore The Four Days of Naples ( 1962, directed by Nanni Loy ) as Stimolo ( uncredited ) Noche de verano ( 1963, directed by Jorge Grau ) as Alberto Suárez Il terrorista ( 1963, directed by Gianfranco De Bosio ( it ) ) as Braschi, l'ingeniere A Fistful of Dollars ( credited as `` Johnny Wels '' ) ( 1964, directed by Sergio Leone ) as Ramón Rojo The Magnificent Cuckold ( 1965, directed by Antonio Pietrangeli ) as The Councillor For a Few Dollars More ( 1965, directed by Sergio Leone ) as El Indio ( The Indian ) Seasons of Our Love ( 1966, directed by Florestano Vancini ) as Leonardo Varzi Wake Up and Die ( 1966, directed by Carlo Lizzani ) as Inspector Moroni L'armata Brancaleone ( 1966, directed by Mario Monicelli ) as Teofilatto dei Leonzi La strega in amore ( 1966, directed by Damiano Damiani ) as Fabrizio A Gangstergirl ( 1966, directed by Frans Weisz ) A Bullet for the General ( 1967, directed by Damiano Damiani ) as El Chuncho Munoz We Still Kill the Old Way ( 1967, directed by Elio Petri ) as Prof. Paolo Laurana Faccia a faccia ( 1967, directed by Sergio Sollima ) as Professor Brad Fletcher The Seven Cervi Brothers ( 1968, directed by Gianni Puccini ) Bandits in Milan ( 1968, directed by Carlo Lizzani ) as Pietro ' Piero ' Cavallero Summit ( fr ) ( 1968, directed by Giorgio Bontempi ( fr ) ) The Bandit ( 1969, directed by Carlo Lizzani ) as Gramigna Under the Sign of Scorpio ( 1969, directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani ) as Renno Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion ( 1970, directed by Elio Petri ) as Il Dottore - Former head of homicide squad Le Vent d'est ( fr ) ( 1970, directed by Jean - Luc Godard and the Dziga Vertov Group ) as Le ranger nordiste Many Wars Ago ( 1970, directed by Francesco Rosi ) as Lt. Ottolenghi Le Cercle rouge ( 1970, directed by Jean - Pierre Melville ) as Vogel Sacco e Vanzetti ( 1971, directed by Giuliano Montaldo ) as Bartolomeo Vanzetti The Working Class Goes to Heaven ( 1977, directed by Elio Petri ) as Lulù Massa The Mattei Affair ( 1972, directed by Francesco Rosi ) as Enrico Mattei Plot ( 1972, directed by Yves Boisset ) as Sadiel - un leader progresste maghrebin Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina ( 1972, directed by Marco Bellocchio ) as Bizanti Lucky Luciano ( 1973, directed by Francesco Rosi ) as Charles ' Lucky ' Luciano Giordano Bruno ( 1973, directed by Giuliano Montaldo ) as Giordano Bruno The Suspect ( 1975, directed by Francesco Maselli ) as Emilio Letters from Marusia ( 1976, directed by Miguel Littín ) as Gregorio Todo modo ( 1976, directed by Elio Petri ) as M. Io ho paura ( 1977, directed by Damiano Damiani ) as Brigadiere Ludovico Graziano Christ Stopped at Eboli ( 1979, directed by Francesco Rosi ) as Carlo Levi Ogro ( 1979, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo ) as Izarra Stark System ( 1980, directed by Armenia Balducci ) as Stark The Lady of the Camellias ( 1981, directed by Mauro Bolognini ) as Plessis La Certosa di Parma ( it ) ( 1982, TV miniseries, directed by Mauro Bolognini ) as Count Mosca La Mort de Mario Ricci ( 1983, directed by Claude Goretta ) as Bernard Fontana Il caso Moro ( 1986, directed by Giuseppe Ferrara ) as Aldo Moro Chronicle of a Death Foretold ( 1987, directed by Francesco Rosi ) as Dr. Cristo Bedoya Un ragazzo di Calabria ( 1987, directed by Luigi Comencini ) as Felice The Abyss ( 1988, directed by André Delvaux ) as Zénon Pestalozzi 's Mountain ( 1989, directed by Peter von Gunten ) as Pestalozzi Tre colonne in cronaca ( 1990, directed by Carlo Vanzina ) as Alberto Landolfi Open Doors ( 1990, directed by Gianni Amelio ) as Judge Vito Di Francesco Una storia semplice ( 1991, directed by Emidio Greco ) as Carmelo Franzò Funes, a Great Love ( 1993, directed by Raúl de la Torre ) as Bergama Tirano Banderas ( 1993, directed by José Luis García Sánchez ) as Tirano Banderas ( final film role ) References Jump up ^ `` Berlinale : 1987 Prize Winners ''. berlinale.de. Retrieved 27 February 2011. Jump up ^ `` SCALZONE : ' MI FECE SCAPPARE DALL ' ITALIA ' ''. La Repubblica. 7 December 1994. Retrieved 12 January 2011. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gian Maria Volontè. Official website Gian Maria Volontè on IMDb David di Donatello Award for Best Actor 1956 -- 1980 Vittorio De Sica ( 1956 ) Vittorio Gassman / Alberto Sordi ( 1960 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1961 ) Raf Vallone ( 1962 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1963 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1964 ) Vittorio Gassman / Marcello Mastroianni ( 1965 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1966 ) Vittorio Gassman / Ugo Tognazzi ( 1967 ) Franco Nero ( 1968 ) Nino Manfredi / Alberto Sordi ( 1969 ) Nino Manfredi / Gian Maria Volontè ( 1970 ) Ugo Tognazzi ( 1971 ) Giancarlo Giannini / Alberto Sordi ( 1972 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1973 ) Nino Manfredi ( 1974 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1975 ) Ugo Tognazzi ( 1976 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1977 ) Nino Manfredi ( 1978 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1979 ) Adriano Celentano ( 1980 ) 1981 -- 2000 Massimo Troisi ( 1981 ) Carlo Verdone ( 1982 ) Francesco Nuti ( 1983 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 1984 ) Francesco Nuti ( 1985 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1986 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1987 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1988 ) Roberto Benigni ( 1989 ) Paolo Villaggio / Gian Maria Volontè ( 1990 ) Nanni Moretti ( 1991 ) Carlo Verdone ( 1992 ) Sergio Castellitto ( 1993 ) Giulio Scarpati ( 1994 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1995 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 1996 ) Fabrizio Bentivoglio ( 1997 ) Roberto Benigni ( 1998 ) Stefano Accorsi ( 1999 ) Bruno Ganz ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Luigi Lo Cascio ( 2001 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 2002 ) Massimo Girotti ( 2003 ) Sergio Castellitto ( 2004 ) Toni Servillo ( 2005 ) Silvio Orlando ( 2006 ) Elio Germano ( 2007 ) Toni Servillo ( 2008 ) Toni Servillo ( 2009 ) Valerio Mastandrea ( 2010 ) Elio Germano ( 2011 ) Michel Piccoli ( 2012 ) Valerio Mastandrea ( 2013 ) Toni Servillo ( 2014 ) Elio Germano ( 2015 ) Claudio Santamaria ( 2016 ) Stefano Accorsi ( 2017 ) Nastro d'Argento Award for Best Actor 1946 -- 1960 Andrea Checchi ( 1946 ) Amedeo Nazzari ( 1947 ) Vittorio De Sica ( 1948 ) Massimo Girotti ( 1949 ) Aldo Fabrizi ( 1951 ) Totò ( 1952 ) Renato Rascel ( 1953 ) Nino Taranto ( 1954 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1955 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1956 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1958 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1959 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1960 ) 1961 -- 1980 Marcello Mastroianni ( 1961 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1962 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1963 ) Ugo Tognazzi ( 1964 ) Saro Urzì ( 1965 ) Nino Manfredi ( 1966 ) Totò ( 1967 ) Gian Maria Volontè ( 1968 ) Ugo Tognazzi ( 1969 ) Nino Manfredi ( 1970 ) Gian Maria Volontè ( 1971 ) Riccardo Cucciolla ( 1972 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 1973 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 1974 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1975 ) Michele Placido ( 1976 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1977 ) Nino Manfredi ( 1978 ) Flavio Bucci ( 1979 ) Nino Manfredi ( 1980 ) 1981 -- 2000 Vittorio Mezzogiorno ( 1981 ) Ugo Tognazzi ( 1982 ) Francesco Nuti ( 1983 ) Carlo Delle Piane ( 1984 ) Michele Placido ( 1985 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1986 ) Roberto Benigni ( 1987 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1988 ) Gian Maria Volontè ( 1989 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1990 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1991 ) Roberto Benigni ( 1992 ) Diego Abatantuono ( 1993 ) Paolo Villaggio ( 1994 ) Alessandro Haber ( 1995 ) Sergio Castellitto ( 1996 ) Leonardo Pieraccioni ( 1997 ) Roberto Benigni ( 1998 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 1999 ) Silvio Orlando ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Stefano Accorsi ( 2001 ) Sergio Castellitto ( 2002 ) Neri Marcorè / Gigi Proietti ( 2003 ) Alessio Boni / Fabrizio Gifuni / Luigi Lo Cascio / Andrea Tidona / Roberto Herlitzka ( 2004 ) Toni Servillo ( 2005 ) Pierfrancesco Favino / Kim Rossi Stuart / Claudio Santamaria ( 2006 ) Silvio Orlando ( 2007 ) Toni Servillo ( 2008 ) Toni Servillo ( 2009 ) Elio Germano / Christian De Sica ( 2010 ) Kim Rossi Stuart ( 2011 ) Pierfrancesco Favino ( 2012 ) Aniello Arena ( 2013 ) Fabrizio Bentivoglio / Fabrizio Gifuni ( 2014 ) Alessandro Gassmann ( 2015 ) Stefano Accorsi ( 2016 ) Renato Carpentieri ( 2017 ) Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award 1946 - 1975 Ray Milland ( 1946 ) Edward G. Robinson ( 1949 ) Michael Redgrave ( 1951 ) Marlon Brando ( 1952 ) Charles Vanel ( 1953 ) Spencer Tracy / cast of Bolshaya Semya ( 1955 ) John Kitzmiller ( 1957 ) Paul Newman ( 1958 ) Bradford Dillman / Dean Stockwell / Orson Welles ( 1959 ) Anthony Perkins ( 1961 ) Dean Stockwell / Jason Robards / Ralph Richardson / Murray Melvin ( 1962 ) Richard Harris ( 1963 ) Antal Páger / Saro Urzì ( 1964 ) Terence Stamp ( 1965 ) Per Oscarsson ( 1966 ) Oded Kotler ( 1967 ) Jean - Louis Trintignant ( 1969 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1970 ) Riccardo Cucciolla ( 1971 ) Jean Yanne ( 1972 ) Giancarlo Giannini ( 1973 ) Jack Nicholson ( 1974 ) Vittorio Gassman ( 1975 ) 1976 - 2000 José Luis Gómez ( 1976 ) Fernando Rey ( 1977 ) Jon Voight ( 1978 ) Jack Lemmon ( 1979 ) Michel Piccoli ( 1980 ) Ugo Tognazzi ( 1981 ) Jack Lemmon ( 1982 ) Gian Maria Volontè ( 1983 ) Alfredo Landa / Francisco Rabal ( 1984 ) William Hurt ( 1985 ) Michel Blanc / Bob Hoskins ( 1986 ) Marcello Mastroianni ( 1987 ) Forest Whitaker ( 1988 ) James Spader ( 1989 ) Gérard Depardieu ( 1990 ) John Turturro ( 1991 ) Tim Robbins ( 1992 ) David Thewlis ( 1993 ) Ge You ( 1994 ) Jonathan Pryce ( 1995 ) Pascal Duquenne / Daniel Auteuil ( 1996 ) Sean Penn ( 1997 ) Peter Mullan ( 1998 ) Emmanuel Schotte ( 1999 ) Tony Leung Chiu - wai ( 2000 ) 2001 - present Benoît Magimel ( 2001 ) Olivier Gourmet ( 2002 ) Muzaffer Ozdemir / Emin Toprak ( 2003 ) Yūya Yagira ( 2004 ) Tommy Lee Jones ( 2005 ) Jamel Debbouze / Samy Naceri / Roschdy Zem / Sami Bouajila / Bernard Blancan ( 2006 ) Konstantin Lavronenko ( 2007 ) Benicio del Toro ( 2008 ) Christoph Waltz ( 2009 ) Javier Bardem / Elio Germano ( 2010 ) Jean Dujardin ( 2011 ) Mads Mikkelsen ( 2012 ) Bruce Dern ( 2013 ) Timothy Spall ( 2014 ) Vincent Lindon ( 2015 ) Shahab Hosseini ( 2016 ) Joaquin Phoenix ( 2017 ) Silver Bear for Best Actor Burt Lancaster ( 1956 ) Pedro Infante ( 1957 ) Sidney Poitier ( 1958 ) Jean Gabin ( 1959 ) Fredric March ( 1960 ) Peter Finch ( 1961 ) James Stewart ( 1962 ) Sidney Poitier ( 1963 ) Rod Steiger ( 1964 ) Lee Marvin ( 1965 ) Jean - Pierre Léaud ( 1966 ) Michel Simon ( 1967 ) Jean - Louis Trintignant ( 1968 ) Jean Gabin ( 1971 ) Alberto Sordi ( 1972 ) Vlastimil Brodský ( 1975 ) Gerhard Olschewski ( 1976 ) Fernando Fernán Gómez ( 1977 ) Craig Russell ( 1978 ) Michele Placido ( 1979 ) Andrzej Seweryn ( 1980 ) Anatoly Solonitsyn / Jack Lemmon ( 1981 ) Stellan Skarsgård / Michel Piccoli ( 1982 ) Bruce Dern ( 1983 ) Albert Finney ( 1984 ) Fernando Fernán Gómez ( 1985 ) Tuncel Kurtiz ( 1986 ) Gian Maria Volontè ( 1987 ) Jörg Pose / Manfred Möck ( 1988 ) Gene Hackman ( 1989 ) Iain Glen ( 1990 ) Maynard Eziashi ( 1991 ) Armin Mueller - Stahl ( 1992 ) Denzel Washington ( 1993 ) Tom Hanks ( 1994 ) Paul Newman ( 1995 ) Sean Penn ( 1996 ) Leonardo DiCaprio ( 1997 ) Samuel L. Jackson ( 1998 ) Michael Gwisdek ( 1999 ) Denzel Washington ( 2000 ) Benicio del Toro ( 2001 ) Jacques Gamblin ( 2002 ) Sam Rockwell ( 2003 ) Daniel Hendler ( 2004 ) Lou Taylor Pucci ( 2005 ) Moritz Bleibtreu ( 2006 ) Julio Chávez ( 2007 ) Reza Naji ( 2008 ) Sotigui Kouyaté ( 2009 ) Grigoriy Dobrygin / Sergei Puskepalis ( 2010 ) Peyman Moaadi / Shahab Hosseini / Ali - Asghar Shahbazi / Babak Karimi ( 2011 ) Mikkel Følsgaard ( 2012 ) Nazif Mujić ( 2013 ) Liao Fan ( 2014 ) Tom Courtenay ( 2015 ) Majd Mastoura ( 2016 ) Georg Friedrich ( 2017 ) VIAF : 79160038 LCCN : n79086045 ISNI : 0000 0001 1030 0953 GND : 120052121 SUDOC : 055823173 BNF : cb13611717q ( data ) ICCU : IT ICCU RAVV 088896 BNE : XX1084365 IATH : w6xs8hpb Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Gian_Maria_Volontè&oldid = 801226575 '' Categories : 1933 births 1994 deaths Italian male film actors Male actors from Milan Male Spaghetti Western actors Male Western ( genre ) film actors Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico alumni European Film Awards winners ( people ) David di Donatello winners Nastro d'Argento winners Silver Bear for Best Actor winners 20th - century Italian male actors Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from March 2013 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from March 2016 Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2015 Interlanguage link template link number Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with SBN identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Kiswahili Latina Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Sardu Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 18 September 2017, at 13 : 12. 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Question: who played ramon in a fistful of dollars
Answer: Gian Maria Volontè