Benito Stefanelli
Biography
Benito Stefanelli was an Italian film actor, stuntman, and weapons master who was born in Rome, Lazio, Italy on September 2, 1928, and died on December 18, 1999, at the age of 71. Active in the film industry between 1955 and 1991, he amassed over sixty film appearances, with 66 known credits recorded. He is best known in world cinema for his roles as henchmen and gang members in several of Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western films, including the trilogy comprising A Fistful of Dollars released in 1964, For a Few Dollars More released in 1965, and additional works associated with his career. He was also known under the alternative name Ben Steffen.
Career overview
Benito Stefanelli was an Italian film actor, stuntman, and weapons master who was born in Rome, Lazio, Italy on September 2, 1928, and passed away on December 18, 1999, at the age of 71. Active in the film industry from 1955 to 1991, Stefanelli made over 60 appearances in film, with known credits totaling 66. Throughout his career, he also used the name Ben Steffen.
Stefanelli is best known in world cinema for his roles as henchmen in several of Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western films. He portrayed gang members in the trilogy consisting of A Fistful of Dollars in 1964, For a Few Dollars More in 1965, and subsequent works. Additional films associated with his career include The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
89 titles- The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) as Executioner
- The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) Stunt Coordinator
- Phantom of Death (1988) as Man in Restroom (uncredited)
- Transformations (1988) as Vapes
- Cobra Verde (1987) as Pedro Vicente
- The Barbarians (1987) as Greyshaft
- The Barbarians (1987) Stunt Coordinator
- Warbus (1986) as Debrard (as Steve Eliot)
- Ladyhawke (1985) as Bishop's Guard
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984) Stunt Coordinator
- White Fire (1984) Stunt Coordinator
- Ironmaster (1983) as Iksay
- Pumaman (1980) as Rankin - Kobras' Lieutenant
- Little Italy (1978) Master at Arms
- Closed Circuit (1978) as Rick (archive footage)
- The Payoff (1978) as Improta
- Holocaust 2000 (1977) Master at Arms
- Macho Killers (1977)
- Hit Squad (1976) as Lawyer Gorniani
- Hit Squad (1976) Stunts
- The Cop in Blue Jeans (1976) as Shelley's Henchman
- Crimebusters (1976)
- A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975) as Mortimer
- A Genius, Two Friends, and an Idiot (1975) Master at Arms
- White Fang to the Rescue (1975) as Jackson
- White Fang to the Rescue (1975) Stunt Coordinator
- Violent Rome (1975) as Supermarket Robber #1 (uncredited)
- Violent Rome (1975) Stunt Coordinator
- My Name Is Nobody (1973) as Porteley
- Battle of the Amazons (1973) as Erno
- Battle of the Amazons (1973) Second Assistant Director
- Battle of the Amazons (1973) Stunts
- A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972) as Samuel Piggott
- So Sweet, So Dead (1972) as Lilly's husband
- Duck, You Sucker (1971)
- Duck, You Sucker (1971) Stunts
- Duck, You Sucker (1971) Master at Arms
- Trinity Is Still My Name (1971) as Stingary Smith
- The Story of Romance and Knife (1971) as Alfredo Di Lorenzo
- The Story of Romance and Knife (1971) Master at Arms
- Cemetery Without Crosses (1969) as Ben Caine (uncredited)
- The Price of Power (1969) as Sheriff Jefferson
- The Price of Power (1969) Master at Arms
- Night of the Serpent (1969) as Pancho
- Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) Stunts
- A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof (1968)
- A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die (1968) as Telegraph operator
- Gunman Sent by God (1968)
- The Hellbenders (1967) as Slim (uncredited)
- The Hellbenders (1967) Stunts
- The Hellbenders (1967) Stunt Coordinator
- Day of Anger (1967) as Owen White
- The Big Gundown (1967) as Jess
- Wanted (1967) as Billy Baker
- Gentleman Killer (1967) as Larry
- Kill the Wicked! (1967) as Mexican Bandit (uncredited)
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) as Member of Angel Eyes' Gang
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) Stunts
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) Stunt Coordinator
- Fort Yuma Gold (1966) as Juko
- The Upper Hand (1966)
- Ypotron: Final Countdown (1966) as Il sicario Dwan
- Secret Agent Super Dragon (1966) as Kirk
- Dollars for a Fast Gun (1966) as Donovan, Foreman
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) as Luke 'Hughie'
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) Stunt Coordinator
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) Stunts
- Blood for a Silver Dollar (1965) as James
- Die for a Dollar in Tucson (1965) as Charlie
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964) as Rubio
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964) Stunt Coordinator
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964) Stunts
- Castle of Blood (1964) as William Blackwood
- Massacre At Grand Canyon (1964) as un uomo di Dancer
- Massacre At Grand Canyon (1964) Stunt Coordinator
- Hercules Against the Barbarians (1964) as Dying Mongol Captain (uncredited)
- Revenge of The Gladiators (1964) as Gladiator Ardenzio
- Rocambole (1963)
- The Slave (1962)
- The Slave (1962) Master at Arms
- A Queen for Caesar (1962) as Commerciante #2 (uncredited)
- The Avenger (1962) as Niso
- The Avenger (1962) Stunt Coordinator
- The Trojan Horse (1961) Stunt Coordinator
- Romulus and Remus (1961) Master at Arms
- Goliath and the Vampires (1961) Master at Arms
- Messalina (1960)
- Terror of the Red Mask (1960)
- The Sheriff (1959) as Fulton
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Benito Stefanelli best known for?
Benito Stefanelli is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Pit and the Pendulum (1991), The Pit and the Pendulum (1991), Cobra Verde (1987), The Barbarians (1987).
When and where was Benito Stefanelli born?
Benito Stefanelli was born on September 2, 1928 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. They passed away on December 18, 1999.
How many credits does Benito Stefanelli have?
Benito Stefanelli has accumulated over 89 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1959 to 1991.
What is Benito Stefanelli's background in cinema and television?
Benito Stefanelli was an Italian film actor, stuntman, and weapons master who was born in Rome, Lazio, Italy on September 2, 1928, and died on December 18, 1999, at the age of 71. Active in the film industry between 1955 and 1991, he amassed over sixty film appearances, with 66 known credits recorded. He is best known ...
Benito Stefanelli by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) as Member of Angel Eyes' Gang — aged about 37
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) as Luke 'Hughie' — aged about 36
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964) as Rubio — aged about 35
- Duck, You Sucker (1971) — aged about 42
- Trinity Is Still My Name (1971) as Stingary Smith — aged about 42
- My Name Is Nobody (1973) as Porteley — aged about 44
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