birth_place birth_date article_title birth_name occupation
kenosha , wisconsin , united states 23 november 1925 tony russel
 anthony russo film , television actor
tony russel

tony russel -lrb- born anthony russo on november 23 , 1925 in kenosha , wisconsin , usa -rrb- is a former film , stage , and television actor .
he is noted for having worked extensively in the italian film industry in the mid-1960s , and for his work as a voice actor where he was the founder and president of the english language dubbers association -lrb- elda -rrb- in italy .
he was one of several american actors who turned down the lead of `` a fistful of dollars '' .
after making burt topper 's `` war is hell '' , he went to italy first appearing in the title role of `` la leggenda di fra diavolo '' .
he then appeared in several sword and sandal and eurospy films .
russel played zorro in `` behind the mask of zorro '' ; he had originally tested for the role of walt disney 's `` zorro '' but lost out to guy williams .
among russel 's starring roles are parts in the sci-fi epics `` wild , wild planet '' and its sequel , `` war of the planets '' filmed concurrently .
he left italy for america in 1967 .
in 1969 , russel played the rustler mike cassidy in the episode `` drop out '' of the syndicated television series , `` death valley days '' , hosted by robert taylor , not long before taylor 's own death .
in the story line , the rebellious george leroy parker , played by michael margotta , takes the name butch cassidy in honor of his acquaintance .
the episode aired the same year as the film , `` butch cassidy and the sundance kid '' .
