Biografie

2. September 1928 · Rom, Latium, Italien

18. Dezember 1999 · Rom, Latium, Italien

1,84 m

Was stuntman and unofficial English translator on Für eine Handvoll Dollar (1964) (A Fistful of Dollars). It was through him that star Clint Eastwood communicated with director Sergio Leone and the rest of the Italian cast.

Father of actor Marco Stefanelli.

In addition to his acting roles, he was also a stunt director and armorer. He would teach swordplay to the actors and choreograph sword-fights in the sword and sandal/mythological muscleman epics. He would also oversee the use of various weapons, from pistols to cannons, in many "spaghetti westerns." He would also step in and serve as an unofficial Italian/English translator.

When he had to come up with an anglicized name for the spaghetti westerns, he chose "Benny Reeves." "Benny" was short for Benito and "Reeves" was a tribute to American actor Steve Reeves with whom he had worked on some of the sword and sandal/mythological muscle man movies.