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During his childhood, Hill lived in the small town of [[Lommatzsch]], Germany. He was there through the end of [[World War II]] (1943–1945) and survived the [[Bombing of Dresden in World War II|Bombing of Dresden]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Badtke, Thomas |work=N-TV.de |title=Terence Hill - exklusiv und beeindruckend |url=http://www.n-tv.de/leute/buecher/Terence-Hill-exklusiv-und-beeindruckend-article5990226.html|access-date=24 January 2017 |date=11 April 2012}}(German)</ref>
During his childhood, Hill lived in the small town of [[Lommatzsch]], Germany. He was there through the end of [[World War II]] (1943–1945) and survived the [[Bombing of Dresden in World War II|Bombing of Dresden]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Badtke, Thomas |work=N-TV.de |title=Terence Hill - exklusiv und beeindruckend |url=http://www.n-tv.de/leute/buecher/Terence-Hill-exklusiv-und-beeindruckend-article5990226.html|access-date=24 January 2017 |date=11 April 2012}}(German)</ref>
===Child actor===
===Child actor===
He was discovered by Italian filmmaker [[Dino Risi]] at a swimming meet at the age of 12, and became a child actor, appearing in Risi's ''[[Il viale della speranza]]'' (1953), billed as "Girolamo Girotti". He would act as "Mario Girotti".
He was discovered by Italian filmmaker [[Dino Risi]] at a swimming meet at the age of 12, and became a child actor, appearing in Risi's ''[[Il viale della speranza]]'' (1953), billed as "Girolamo Girotti". He would act as "Mario Girotti". "They were looking for a boy gang leader and they found me," he later said.<ref name="march"/>


He had small roles in ''[[Voice of Silence (1953 film)|Voice of Silence]]'' (1953) with [[Jean Marais]], ''[[Too Young for Love (1953 film)|Too Young for Love]]'' (1953), and ''[[It Happened in the Park]]'' (1953), and had a particularly good part in ''[[Vacation with a Gangster]]'' (1953) with an imported star, [[Marc Lawrence]].<ref name=NYT/>
He had small roles in ''[[Voice of Silence (1953 film)|Voice of Silence]]'' (1953) with [[Jean Marais]], ''[[Too Young for Love (1953 film)|Too Young for Love]]'' (1953), and ''[[It Happened in the Park]]'' (1953), and had a particularly good part in ''[[Vacation with a Gangster]]'' (1953) with an imported star, [[Marc Lawrence]].<ref name=NYT/>
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===Leading Man===
===Leading Man===
Girotti had his first lead in ''[[Guaglione (film)|Guaglione]]'' (1956). He could also be seen in ''[[Mamma sconosciuta]]'' (1956), ''[[I vagabondi delle stelle]]'' (1956), ''[[La grande strada azzurra]]'' (1956) with [[Yves Montand]] and [[Alida Valli]], and ''[[Lazzarella (film)|Lazzarella]]'' (2957).
Girotti had his first lead in ''[[Guaglione (film)|Guaglione]]'' (1956). He could also be seen in ''[[Mamma sconosciuta]]'' (1956), ''[[I vagabondi delle stelle]]'' (1956), ''[[La grande strada azzurra]]'' (1956) with [[Yves Montand]] and [[Alida Valli]], and ''[[Lazzarella (film)|Lazzarella]]'' (1957).<ref>As a Comrade, He Could Have Been A Contender: [Review]
Holden, Stephen. New York Times 6 June 2001: E.1.</ref>


Girotti did ''[[Anna of Brooklyn]]'' (1958) with [[Gina Lollobrigida]], ''[[The Sword and the Cross]]'' (1958) with [[Yvonne de Carlo]] (playing [[Lazarus of Bethany]]), and a TV version of ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'' (1958).
Girotti did ''[[Anna of Brooklyn]]'' (1958) with [[Gina Lollobrigida]], ''[[The Sword and the Cross]]'' (1958) with [[Yvonne de Carlo]] (playing [[Lazarus of Bethany]]), and a TV version of ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'' (1958).<ref name="first">First American Film for Hill
Thomas, Bob. Los Angeles Times 3 Sep 1976: f16</ref>


He had support parts in ''[[Il padrone delle ferriere]]'' (1959) with [[Virna Lisi]], ''[[Juke box - Urli d'amore]]'' (1959), and ''[[Hannibal (1959 film)|Hannibal]]'' (1959) with [[Victor Mature]] and Carlo Pedersoli, who would later become known as Bud Spencer. Girotti had the lead roles in ''[[Spavaldi e innamorati]]'' (1959) and ''[[Cerasella]]'' (1959), a teen comedy.
He had support parts in ''[[Il padrone delle ferriere]]'' (1959) with [[Virna Lisi]], ''[[Juke box - Urli d'amore]]'' (1959), and ''[[Hannibal (1959 film)|Hannibal]]'' (1959) with [[Victor Mature]] and Carlo Pedersoli, who would later become known as Bud Spencer. Girotti had the lead roles in ''[[Spavaldi e innamorati]]'' (1959) and ''[[Cerasella]]'' (1959), a teen comedy.


It was back to support roles with ''[[Carthage in Flames]]'' (1960), ''[[Un militare e mezzo]]'' (1960), and ''[[The Story of Joseph and His Brethren]]'' (1961) with [[Geoffrey Horne]] and [[Robert Morley]], directed by [[Irving Rapper]].
It was back to support roles with ''[[Carthage in Flames]]'' (1960), ''[[Un militare e mezzo]]'' (1960), and ''[[The Story of Joseph and His Brethren]]'' (1961) with [[Geoffrey Horne]] and [[Robert Morley]], directed by [[Irving Rapper]].<ref>CARTHAGE IN FLAMES "(Cartagine in Fiamme)"
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 169. </ref>


Girotti had aupport parts in ''[[The Wonders of Aladdin]]'' (1961) with [[Donald O'Connor]] and directed by [[Henry Levin]] and [[Mario Bava]], ''[[Pecado de amor]]'' (1961), ''[[Seven Seas to Calais]]'' (1962) with [[Rod Taylor]], and ''[[The Shortest Day]]'' (1963).
Girotti had aupport parts in ''[[The Wonders of Aladdin]]'' (1961) with [[Donald O'Connor]] and directed by [[Henry Levin]] and [[Mario Bava]], ''[[Pecado de amor]]'' (1961), ''[[Seven Seas to Calais]]'' (1962) with [[Rod Taylor]], and ''[[The Shortest Day]]'' (1963).<ref name="first"/><ref>'ALADDIN' PERFECT FOR CHILD AUDIENCE
Stinson, Charles. Los Angeles Times 16 Dec 1961: B6. </ref>


Girotti secured a major film role in [[Luchino Visconti]]'s ''[[The Leopard (1963 film)|The Leopard]]'' (1963) alongside [[Burt Lancaster]] and [[Alain Delon]].
Girotti secured a major film role in [[Luchino Visconti]]'s ''[[The Leopard (1963 film)|The Leopard]]'' (1963) alongside [[Burt Lancaster]] and [[Alain Delon]]. During this time he studied classical literature for three years at an Italian university.<ref name="march"/>


===Germany===
===Germany===
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==Terence Hill==
==Terence Hill==
[[File:Lo chiamavano Trinità.png|thumb|Terence Hill with [[Bud Spencer]] in ''[[They Call Me Trinity]]'']]
[[File:Lo chiamavano Trinità.png|thumb|Terence Hill with [[Bud Spencer]] in ''[[They Call Me Trinity]]'']]
Griotti then changed his stage name to "Terence Hill" and appeared alongisde [[Bud Spencer]] (then known as Carlo Pedersoli) in [[Giuseppe Colizzi]]'s [[Spaghetti Western]] ''[[God Forgives... I Don't!]]'' (1967). It was a huge hit - the most popular film of the year in Italy - and established him as a star. The name "Terence Hill" had been made up by the film producers; he had to choose from a list of twenty names and picked the one with his mother's initials. There is a persistent rumor that he took his last name, "Hill", from his wife's maiden name, but this is incorrect, for it was Zwicklbauer.
Griotti then and appeared alongisde [[Bud Spencer]] (then known as Carlo Pedersoli) in [[Giuseppe Colizzi]]'s [[Spaghetti Western]] ''[[God Forgives... I Don't!]]'' (1967). At the time cast and crew in Westerns frequently adopted American names to give the film a better chance of selling in English speaking countries; Griotti changes his to "Terence Hill". He took "Hill" from his wife's mother's name and "Terence" from a book on Roman poets.<ref name="first"/> The film was a huge hit - the most popular film of the year in Italy - and established him as a star.


Hill followed it with a [[musicarello]], ''[[The Crazy Kids of the War]]'' (1967), then did a Western, ''[[Django, Prepare a Coffin]]'' (1968) for director [[Ferdinando Baldi]], a sequel to ''[[Django (1966 film)|Django]]'' (1966) with Hill playing the role done by [[Franco Nero]] in the original; it co-starred [[Horst Frank]] and [[George Eastman (actor)|George Eastman]] (and would be featured, much later, at the 64th [[Venice Film Festival]], in 2007).<ref name=Naldi07>Paola Naldi (2007). "Il nuovo cinema cerca gloria," at ''[[La Repubblica]] [Bologna]''. 29 August 2007. [http://bologna.repubblica.it/dettaglio/il-nuovo-cinema-cerca-gloria/1358796 bologna.repubblica.it]. Retrieved 11 May 2015. Quote: "Per il resto l´istituzione diretta da Gianluca Farinelli, impegnatissima a Bologna con la rassegna dedicata a Chaplin, sarà presente alla manifestazione semplicemente come prestatrice (attività che svolge tutto l´anno) facendo arrivare sul grande schermo veneziano due pellicole per la rassegna "Western all´Italiana": «Preparati la abara», girato nel 1968 da Ferdinando Baldi, con Terence Hill, Horst Frank, George Eastman, José Torres; «I sette del Texas», anno 1964, di Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent."</ref>
Hill followed it with a [[musicarello]], ''[[The Crazy Kids of the War]]'' (1967), then did a Western, ''[[Django, Prepare a Coffin]]'' (1968) for director [[Ferdinando Baldi]], a sequel to ''[[Django (1966 film)|Django]]'' (1966) with Hill playing the role done by [[Franco Nero]] in the original; it co-starred [[Horst Frank]] and [[George Eastman (actor)|George Eastman]] (and would be featured, much later, at the 64th [[Venice Film Festival]], in 2007).<ref name=Naldi07>Paola Naldi (2007). "Il nuovo cinema cerca gloria," at ''[[La Repubblica]] [Bologna]''. 29 August 2007. [http://bologna.repubblica.it/dettaglio/il-nuovo-cinema-cerca-gloria/1358796 bologna.repubblica.it]. Retrieved 11 May 2015. Quote: "Per il resto l´istituzione diretta da Gianluca Farinelli, impegnatissima a Bologna con la rassegna dedicata a Chaplin, sarà presente alla manifestazione semplicemente come prestatrice (attività che svolge tutto l´anno) facendo arrivare sul grande schermo veneziano due pellicole per la rassegna "Western all´Italiana": «Preparati la abara», girato nel 1968 da Ferdinando Baldi, con Terence Hill, Horst Frank, George Eastman, José Torres; «I sette del Texas», anno 1964, di Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent."</ref>


Hill was a leading man in a musical Western ''[[Crazy Westerners]]'' (1968), then was reunited with Spencer in ''[[Ace High (1968 film)|Ace High]]'' (1968), a sequel to ''God Forgives'' with a cast including several American actors such as [[Eli Wallach]]. Hill did ''[[The Tough and the Mighty]]'' (1968), a biopic of Graziano Mesina, then a second sequel to ''God Forgives'', ''[[Boot Hill (film)|Boot Hill]]'' (1969), co starring Spencer and [[Woody Strode]].
Hill was a leading man in a musical Western ''[[Crazy Westerners]]'' (1968), then was reunited with Spencer in ''[[Ace High (1968 film)|Ace High]]'' (1968), a sequel to ''God Forgives'' with a cast including several American actors such as [[Eli Wallach]]. Hill did ''[[The Tough and the Mighty]]'' (1968), a biopic of Graziano Mesina, then a second sequel to ''God Forgives'', ''[[Boot Hill (film)|Boot Hill]]'' (1969), co starring Spencer and [[Woody Strode]].<ref name="march"/>


[[File:Altrimenti ci arrabbiamo.png|thumb|Terence Hill and Bud Spencer in ''[[Watch Out, We're Mad!]]'']]
[[File:Altrimenti ci arrabbiamo.png|thumb|Terence Hill and Bud Spencer in ''[[Watch Out, We're Mad!]]'']]
Hill did ''[[The Wind's Fierce]]'' (1970) then had a huge hit with Spencer with the comedy Western ''[[They Call Me Trinity]]'' (1971). Hill did a swashbuckler, ''[[Blackie the Pirate]]'' (1971), in which Spencer had a small role; they reteamed properly for a ''Trinity'' sequel, ''[[Trinity Is Still My Name]]'' (1972). It was even more popular than the original and had a successful release in the USA.
Hill did ''[[The Wind's Fierce]]'' (1970) then had a huge hit with Spencer with the comedy Western ''[[They Call Me Trinity]]'' (1971). Hill did a swashbuckler, ''[[Blackie the Pirate]]'' (1971), in which Spencer had a small role; they reteamed properly for a ''Trinity'' sequel, ''[[Trinity Is Still My Name]]'' (1972). It was even more popular than the original and had a successful release in the USA.<ref name="first"/>


Hill did a modern day crime drama ''[[The Hassled Hooker]]'' (1972) and a comedy Western without Spencer, ''[[Man of the East]]'' (1972). He and Spencer did ''[[... All the Way, Boys!]]'' (1972), their first non-Western though it was still a comic adventure film.
Hill did a modern day crime drama ''[[The Hassled Hooker]]'' (1972) and a comedy Western without Spencer, ''[[Man of the East]]'' (1972). He and Spencer did ''[[... All the Way, Boys!]]'' (1972), their first non-Western though it was still a comic adventure film.
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Hill has stated in interviews that ''[[My Name Is Nobody]]'' (1973), in which he co-starred with [[Henry Fonda]],<ref name=N>{{cite web |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE2D8173FEF34BC4052DFB166838F669EDE |author=Canby, Vincent |authorlink=Vincent Canby |title=Il Mio nome e Nessuno (1974) 'My Name Is Nobody,' Puts Fabled West on Film:The Cast |date=18 July 1974}}</ref> is his personal favorite of all his films.<ref name=N/> The film was based on an idea for [[Sergio Leone]].
Hill has stated in interviews that ''[[My Name Is Nobody]]'' (1973), in which he co-starred with [[Henry Fonda]],<ref name=N>{{cite web |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE2D8173FEF34BC4052DFB166838F669EDE |author=Canby, Vincent |authorlink=Vincent Canby |title=Il Mio nome e Nessuno (1974) 'My Name Is Nobody,' Puts Fabled West on Film:The Cast |date=18 July 1974}}</ref> is his personal favorite of all his films.<ref name=N/> The film was based on an idea for [[Sergio Leone]].


Hill and Spencer appeared in ''[[Watch Out, We're Mad]]'' (1974) and ''[[Two Missionaries]]'' (1974) then without him he made the spaghetti Western ''[[A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe]]'' (1975).
Hill and Spencer appeared in ''[[Watch Out, We're Mad]]'' (1974) and ''[[Two Missionaries]]'' (1974) then without him he made the spaghetti Western ''[[A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe]]'' (1975). He moved from Italy to like in the USA and settled in the Berkeshires.<ref name="first"/>


Dino De Laurentiis cast Hill in his first American film, ''[[Mr. Billion]]'' (1977), directed by [[Jonathan Kaplan]] for 20th Century Fox co starring [[Valerie Perrine]] and [[Jackie Gleason]]. It was a box office flop.<ref name="Trailers">[http://trailersfromhell.com/trailers/528 Jonathan Kaplan on ''Mr. Billion''] at [[Trailers From Hell]]</ref>
Dino De Laurentiis cast Hill in his first American film, ''[[Mr. Billion]]'' (1977), directed by [[Jonathan Kaplan]] for 20th Century Fox co starring [[Valerie Perrine]] and [[Jackie Gleason]]. It was a box office flop.<ref name="Trailers">[http://trailersfromhell.com/trailers/528 Jonathan Kaplan on ''Mr. Billion''] at [[Trailers From Hell]]</ref><ref>Terence Hill Makes American Film Debut in 'Mr. Billion'
Los Angeles Times 7 Mar 1977: e7. </ref>


Hill returned to Italy for ''[[Crime Busters]]'' (1977) with Spencer, then he made another English language movie, ''[[March or Die (film)|March or Die]]'' (1977), a big budget French Foreign Legion tale for [[Lew Grade]], co starring [[Gene Hackman]] and [[Catherine Deneuve]]. It was a box office disappointment.<ref>https://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Terence_Hill</ref><ref name="march">{{cite news|title=Movies: 'March or Die' a Dusty Venture for Terence Hill|last=Mills|first= Bart|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|date=16 Jan 1977|page= t36}}</ref>
Hill returned to Italy for ''[[Crime Busters]]'' (1977) with Spencer, then he made another English language movie, ''[[March or Die (film)|March or Die]]'' (1977), an $8 million French Foreign Legion tale for [[Lew Grade]], co starring [[Gene Hackman]] and [[Catherine Deneuve]]. It was a box office disappointment.<ref>https://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Terence_Hill</ref><ref name="march">{{cite news|title=Movies: 'March or Die' a Dusty Venture for Terence Hill|last=Mills|first= Bart|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|date=16 Jan 1977|page= t36}}</ref>


Despite being fluent in Italian and English, Hill was usually [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] by other actors in both languages. In the Italian versions of his films, his voice was provided by a variety of actors until the late 1960s, where he was primarily dubbed by [[Sergio Graziani]]; from 1970 to 1983, Hill was voiced by [[Pino Locchi]], and by [[Michele Gammino]] from 1983 to 1996. For English dubs, Hill was dubbed by [[Lloyd Battista]] in six films, including the "Cat Stevens and Hutch Bessy" trilogy, while [[Roger Browne]] dubbed him in most of his early 1970s films (''They Call Me Trinity'' to ''[[A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe]]''); from ''Mr. Billion'' onward, Hill dubbed his own English voice.<ref>{{cite AV Media |title=[[Get Mean]] |publisher=[[Blue Underground]] |people=[[Lloyd Battista|Battista, Lloyd]], [[Tony Anthony (actor)|Anthony, Tony]] |medium=Blu-ray |at=Commentary |time=19:00}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Terence Hill |url=https://spencerhilldb.de/darsteller.php?darsteller=2 |website=Bud Spencer/Terence Hill Database |accessdate=20 February 2019}}</ref>
Despite being fluent in Italian and English, Hill was usually [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] by other actors in both languages. In the Italian versions of his films, his voice was provided by a variety of actors until the late 1960s, where he was primarily dubbed by [[Sergio Graziani]]; from 1970 to 1983, Hill was voiced by [[Pino Locchi]], and by [[Michele Gammino]] from 1983 to 1996. For English dubs, Hill was dubbed by [[Lloyd Battista]] in six films, including the "Cat Stevens and Hutch Bessy" trilogy, while [[Roger Browne]] dubbed him in most of his early 1970s films (''They Call Me Trinity'' to ''[[A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe]]''); from ''Mr. Billion'' onward, Hill dubbed his own English voice.<ref>{{cite AV Media |title=[[Get Mean]] |publisher=[[Blue Underground]] |people=[[Lloyd Battista|Battista, Lloyd]], [[Tony Anthony (actor)|Anthony, Tony]] |medium=Blu-ray |at=Commentary |time=19:00}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Terence Hill |url=https://spencerhilldb.de/darsteller.php?darsteller=2 |website=Bud Spencer/Terence Hill Database |accessdate=20 February 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Terence Hill in Dresden (20.08.2018).jpg|thumb|Terence Hill in [[Dresden]] in August 2018]]
[[File:Terence Hill in Dresden (20.08.2018).jpg|thumb|Terence Hill in [[Dresden]] in August 2018]]
Hill and Spencer starred in ''[[Odds and Evens (film)|Odds and Evens]]'' (1978), ''[[I'm for the Hippopotamus]]'' (1979), ''[[Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure]]'' (1981), and ''[[Go for It (film)|Go for It]]'' (1983). Without Spencer, Hill made ''[[Org (1979 film)|Org]]'' (1979), which he also produced, and ''[[Super Fuzz]]'' (1980).
Hill and Spencer starred in ''[[Odds and Evens (film)|Odds and Evens]]'' (1978), ''[[I'm for the Hippopotamus]]'' (1979), ''[[Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure]]'' (1981), and ''[[Go for It (film)|Go for It]]'' (1983). Without Spencer, Hill made ''[[Org (1979 film)|Org]]'' (1979), which he also produced, and ''[[Super Fuzz]]'' (1980).<ref>SUPER FUZZ' AND BORGNINE: [Review]
MITGANG, HERBERT. New York Times 17 May 1982: C.14. </ref>
===Director===
===Director===
Hill did ''[[The World of Don Camillo]]'' (1984), which he also produced and directed. He teamed with Spencer for ''[[Non c'è due senza quattro|Double Trouble]]'' (1984), and ''[[Miami Supercops]]'' (1985), then did ''[[They Call Me Renegade]]'' (1987), based on a story by Hill.
Hill did ''[[The World of Don Camillo]]'' (1984), which he also produced and directed. He teamed with Spencer for ''[[Non c'è due senza quattro|Double Trouble]]'' (1984), and ''[[Miami Supercops]]'' (1985), then did ''[[They Call Me Renegade]]'' (1987), based on a story by Hill.


==Television==
==Television==
Hill turned director for ''[[Lucky Luke (1991 film)|Lucky Luke]]'' (1991) in which he starred; it led to a [[Lucky Luke (1992 TV series)|TV series of the same name]].
Hill turned director for ''[[Lucky Luke (1991 film)|Lucky Luke]]'' (1991) in which he starred and was shot in the USA; it led to a [[Lucky Luke (1992 TV series)|TV series of the same name]].<ref>Video -- Lucky Luke directed by Terence Hill
Kermode, Mark. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 4, Iss. 1, (Jan 1994): 61. </ref><ref>In the U.S., Silenzio on the Set
By ANDY MEISLERLOS ANGELES. New York Times 2 Aug 1992: H25. </ref>


He reunited with Spencer one last time for ''[[Troublemakers (1994 film)|Troublemakers]]''(1994) which Hill also directed. He did ''[[Virtual Weapon]]'' (1997) with [[Marvelous Marvin Hagler]].
He reunited with Spencer one last time for ''[[Troublemakers (1994 film)|Troublemakers]]''(1994) which Hill also directed. He did ''[[Virtual Weapon]]'' (1997) with [[Marvelous Marvin Hagler]].

Revision as of 07:12, 15 January 2020

Terence Hill
Terence Hill in Django, Prepare a Coffin (1968)
Born
Mario Girotti

(1939-03-29) 29 March 1939 (age 85)
Venice, Veneto, Italy
NationalityItalian
Occupation(s)Actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer
Years active1951-present
Spouse(s)Lori Hill (1967–present; two children)
ChildrenJess Hill (1969)
Ross Hill (adoptive; 1973–1990)
Parents
  • Girolamo Girotti
  • Hildegard Thieme
Websiteterencehill.com
Signature

Terence Hill (born Mario Girotti; 29 March 1939) is an Italian actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer.[1]

Hill started his career as a child actor and went on to multiple starring roles in action and comedy films, many with longtime film partner and friend Bud Spencer. During the height of his popularity Hill was among Italy's highest-paid actors.[2] Hill's most widely seen films include comic and standard Westerns all´Italiana ("Italian-style Westerns", colloquially called "Spaghetti Westerns"), some based on popular novels by German author Karl May about the American frontier.

Of these, the most famous are Lo chiamavano Trinità (They Call Me Trinity, 1970) and Il mio nome è Nessuno (My Name Is Nobody, 1973), co-starring Henry Fonda. His film Django, Prepare a Coffin, shot in 1968 by director Ferdinando Baldi, and co-starring Horst Frank and George Eastman, was featured at the 64th Venice Film Festival in 2007.

Hill, whose stage name was the product of a publicity stunt by film producers, also went on to a successful television career in Italy.

Biography

Early Life

Hill was born on 29 March 1939 in Venice, Italy.[2] Hill's mother, Hildegard Girotti (née Thieme), was a German, from Dresden; his father, Girolamo Girotti, was Italian, and a chemist by occupation.[3]

During his childhood, Hill lived in the small town of Lommatzsch, Germany. He was there through the end of World War II (1943–1945) and survived the Bombing of Dresden.[4]

Child actor

He was discovered by Italian filmmaker Dino Risi at a swimming meet at the age of 12, and became a child actor, appearing in Risi's Il viale della speranza (1953), billed as "Girolamo Girotti". He would act as "Mario Girotti". "They were looking for a boy gang leader and they found me," he later said.[5]

He had small roles in Voice of Silence (1953) with Jean Marais, Too Young for Love (1953), and It Happened in the Park (1953), and had a particularly good part in Vacation with a Gangster (1953) with an imported star, Marc Lawrence.[2]

He was in La vena d'oro (1954) with Marta Toren and Richard Basehart, The Abandoned (1955) and Folgore Division (1955).

Leading Man

Girotti had his first lead in Guaglione (1956). He could also be seen in Mamma sconosciuta (1956), I vagabondi delle stelle (1956), La grande strada azzurra (1956) with Yves Montand and Alida Valli, and Lazzarella (1957).[6]

Girotti did Anna of Brooklyn (1958) with Gina Lollobrigida, The Sword and the Cross (1958) with Yvonne de Carlo (playing Lazarus of Bethany), and a TV version of The Picture of Dorian Gray (1958).[7]

He had support parts in Il padrone delle ferriere (1959) with Virna Lisi, Juke box - Urli d'amore (1959), and Hannibal (1959) with Victor Mature and Carlo Pedersoli, who would later become known as Bud Spencer. Girotti had the lead roles in Spavaldi e innamorati (1959) and Cerasella (1959), a teen comedy.

It was back to support roles with Carthage in Flames (1960), Un militare e mezzo (1960), and The Story of Joseph and His Brethren (1961) with Geoffrey Horne and Robert Morley, directed by Irving Rapper.[8]

Girotti had aupport parts in The Wonders of Aladdin (1961) with Donald O'Connor and directed by Henry Levin and Mario Bava, Pecado de amor (1961), Seven Seas to Calais (1962) with Rod Taylor, and The Shortest Day (1963).[7][9]

Girotti secured a major film role in Luchino Visconti's The Leopard (1963) alongside Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. During this time he studied classical literature for three years at an Italian university.[5]

Germany

In 1964, he returned to Germany and there appeared in a series of Heimatfilme, adventure and western films, based on novels by German author Karl May.[10] These included Last of the Renegades (1964) with Lex Barker; three films with Stewart Granger, Amongst Vultures (1964), The Oil Prince (1965) and Old Surehand (1965); Shots in 3/4 Time (1965); Duel at Sundown (1965) with Peter Van Eyck; Call of the Forest (1965), an Austrian movie; Die Nibelungen, Teil 1 - Siegfried (1965) and Die Nibelungen, Teil 2 - Kriemhilds Rache (1967).

In 1967, he returned to Italy to make Io non protesto, io amo (1967), co starring Caterina Caselli.

Terence Hill

Terence Hill with Bud Spencer in They Call Me Trinity

Griotti then and appeared alongisde Bud Spencer (then known as Carlo Pedersoli) in Giuseppe Colizzi's Spaghetti Western God Forgives... I Don't! (1967). At the time cast and crew in Westerns frequently adopted American names to give the film a better chance of selling in English speaking countries; Griotti changes his to "Terence Hill". He took "Hill" from his wife's mother's name and "Terence" from a book on Roman poets.[7] The film was a huge hit - the most popular film of the year in Italy - and established him as a star.

Hill followed it with a musicarello, The Crazy Kids of the War (1967), then did a Western, Django, Prepare a Coffin (1968) for director Ferdinando Baldi, a sequel to Django (1966) with Hill playing the role done by Franco Nero in the original; it co-starred Horst Frank and George Eastman (and would be featured, much later, at the 64th Venice Film Festival, in 2007).[11]

Hill was a leading man in a musical Western Crazy Westerners (1968), then was reunited with Spencer in Ace High (1968), a sequel to God Forgives with a cast including several American actors such as Eli Wallach. Hill did The Tough and the Mighty (1968), a biopic of Graziano Mesina, then a second sequel to God Forgives, Boot Hill (1969), co starring Spencer and Woody Strode.[5]

Terence Hill and Bud Spencer in Watch Out, We're Mad!

Hill did The Wind's Fierce (1970) then had a huge hit with Spencer with the comedy Western They Call Me Trinity (1971). Hill did a swashbuckler, Blackie the Pirate (1971), in which Spencer had a small role; they reteamed properly for a Trinity sequel, Trinity Is Still My Name (1972). It was even more popular than the original and had a successful release in the USA.[7]

Hill did a modern day crime drama The Hassled Hooker (1972) and a comedy Western without Spencer, Man of the East (1972). He and Spencer did ... All the Way, Boys! (1972), their first non-Western though it was still a comic adventure film.

International Films

Hill has stated in interviews that My Name Is Nobody (1973), in which he co-starred with Henry Fonda,[12] is his personal favorite of all his films.[12] The film was based on an idea for Sergio Leone.

Hill and Spencer appeared in Watch Out, We're Mad (1974) and Two Missionaries (1974) then without him he made the spaghetti Western A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (1975). He moved from Italy to like in the USA and settled in the Berkeshires.[7]

Dino De Laurentiis cast Hill in his first American film, Mr. Billion (1977), directed by Jonathan Kaplan for 20th Century Fox co starring Valerie Perrine and Jackie Gleason. It was a box office flop.[13][14]

Hill returned to Italy for Crime Busters (1977) with Spencer, then he made another English language movie, March or Die (1977), an $8 million French Foreign Legion tale for Lew Grade, co starring Gene Hackman and Catherine Deneuve. It was a box office disappointment.[15][5]

Despite being fluent in Italian and English, Hill was usually dubbed by other actors in both languages. In the Italian versions of his films, his voice was provided by a variety of actors until the late 1960s, where he was primarily dubbed by Sergio Graziani; from 1970 to 1983, Hill was voiced by Pino Locchi, and by Michele Gammino from 1983 to 1996. For English dubs, Hill was dubbed by Lloyd Battista in six films, including the "Cat Stevens and Hutch Bessy" trilogy, while Roger Browne dubbed him in most of his early 1970s films (They Call Me Trinity to A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe); from Mr. Billion onward, Hill dubbed his own English voice.[16][17]

Terence Hill in Dresden in August 2018

Hill and Spencer starred in Odds and Evens (1978), I'm for the Hippopotamus (1979), Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure (1981), and Go for It (1983). Without Spencer, Hill made Org (1979), which he also produced, and Super Fuzz (1980).[18]

Director

Hill did The World of Don Camillo (1984), which he also produced and directed. He teamed with Spencer for Double Trouble (1984), and Miami Supercops (1985), then did They Call Me Renegade (1987), based on a story by Hill.

Television

Hill turned director for Lucky Luke (1991) in which he starred and was shot in the USA; it led to a TV series of the same name.[19][20]

He reunited with Spencer one last time for Troublemakers(1994) which Hill also directed. He did Virtual Weapon (1997) with Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

In 2000, he landed the leading role in the Italian television series Don Matteo (2000–2019), about an inspirational parish priest who assists the Carabinieri in solving crimes local to his community. This role earned Hill an international "Outstanding Actor of the Year" award at the 42nd Monte Carlo Television Festival, alongside ones for the series, and for producer Alessandro Jacchia at that festival.[21]

During the series' run he appeared in TV moviea L'uomo che sognava con le aquile (2009), Riding the Dark (2009), Doc West (2009), and Triggerman (2009); he co-directed the last two.

In the summer of 2010, Hill filmed another Italian television series for the Italian state television channel Rai Uno, this time entitled Un passo dal cielo (One Step from Heaven), playing a local chief of the state foresters in the region of Alto Adige, with a second season filmed in 2012.

On 19 April 2018 he directed My Name Is Thomas, which he also appeared in..[22] The same year it was released the co-operative beat'em up videogame Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps and Beans.[23][24]

Personal life

Hill was married to Lori Hill (née Zwicklbauer). He had two sons, Jess (born 1969) and Ross (born 1973 died 1990). Ross was killed in a car accident in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in the winter of 1990, while Terence was preparing to film Lucky Luke (1991) on the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico.[citation needed]

Filmography

Actor

Director

He has directed several films as well as several television productions:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Terence Hill". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c Brennan, Sandra. "Terence Hill". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  3. ^ Wilske, Dirk (2005). "Der Italowestern - von der Gewalt zum Humor: Filmanalysen ausgewählter Beispiele". Google Books.[full citation needed]
  4. ^ Badtke, Thomas (11 April 2012). "Terence Hill - exklusiv und beeindruckend". N-TV.de. Retrieved 24 January 2017.(German)
  5. ^ a b c d Mills, Bart (16 January 1977). "Movies: 'March or Die' a Dusty Venture for Terence Hill". Los Angeles Times. p. t36.
  6. ^ As a Comrade, He Could Have Been A Contender: [Review] Holden, Stephen. New York Times 6 June 2001: E.1.
  7. ^ a b c d e First American Film for Hill Thomas, Bob. Los Angeles Times 3 Sep 1976: f16
  8. ^ CARTHAGE IN FLAMES "(Cartagine in Fiamme)" Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 169.
  9. ^ 'ALADDIN' PERFECT FOR CHILD AUDIENCE Stinson, Charles. Los Angeles Times 16 Dec 1961: B6.
  10. ^ "Old Surehand (1965)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  11. ^ Paola Naldi (2007). "Il nuovo cinema cerca gloria," at La Repubblica [Bologna]. 29 August 2007. bologna.repubblica.it. Retrieved 11 May 2015. Quote: "Per il resto l´istituzione diretta da Gianluca Farinelli, impegnatissima a Bologna con la rassegna dedicata a Chaplin, sarà presente alla manifestazione semplicemente come prestatrice (attività che svolge tutto l´anno) facendo arrivare sul grande schermo veneziano due pellicole per la rassegna "Western all´Italiana": «Preparati la abara», girato nel 1968 da Ferdinando Baldi, con Terence Hill, Horst Frank, George Eastman, José Torres; «I sette del Texas», anno 1964, di Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent."
  12. ^ a b Canby, Vincent (18 July 1974). "Il Mio nome e Nessuno (1974) 'My Name Is Nobody,' Puts Fabled West on Film:The Cast". The New York Times.
  13. ^ Jonathan Kaplan on Mr. Billion at Trailers From Hell
  14. ^ Terence Hill Makes American Film Debut in 'Mr. Billion' Los Angeles Times 7 Mar 1977: e7.
  15. ^ https://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Terence_Hill
  16. ^ Battista, Lloyd, Anthony, Tony. Get Mean (Blu-ray). Blue Underground. Event occurs at 19:00.
  17. ^ "Terence Hill". Bud Spencer/Terence Hill Database. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  18. ^ SUPER FUZZ' AND BORGNINE: [Review] MITGANG, HERBERT. New York Times 17 May 1982: C.14.
  19. ^ Video -- Lucky Luke directed by Terence Hill Kermode, Mark. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 4, Iss. 1, (Jan 1994): 61.
  20. ^ In the U.S., Silenzio on the Set By ANDY MEISLERLOS ANGELES. New York Times 2 Aug 1992: H25.
  21. ^ Jeri Jacquin (8 October 2014). patch.com "Don Matteo: Season 7 & 8 from MHz International Mystery". Imperial Beach Patch. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  22. ^ "'Il mio nome è Thomas': Terence Hill torna al cinema, un cowboy on the road". La Repubblica (in Italian). GEDI Gruppo Editoriale S.p.A. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  23. ^ McFerran, Damien (25 July 2018). "Bud Spencer & Terence Hill Arrive On Switch With Slaps And Beans In Tow". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  24. ^ Lopes, Gonçalo (30 July 2018). "Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps and Beans Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 12 January 2019.

External links

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