Gian Maria Volonté
Biography
Gian Maria Volonté was an Italian actor born on April 9, 1933, in Milano, Lombardia, Italy. He is known for his roles in high-profile social dramas depicting the political and social stirrings of Italian and European society in the 1960s and 1970s. Volonté was also notable for his performances in films directed by Elio Petri, including We Still Kill the Old Way, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, The Working Class Goes to Heaven, and Todo modo. He is recognized for his portrayal of the main villain in Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, credited as "Johnny Wels." Volonté passed away on December 6, 1994, at the age of 61.
Career overview
Gian Maria Volonté was an Italian actor known for his roles in various films. He is perhaps most famous outside of Italy for his villainous roles in Sergio Leone's films. Volonté's performances in these films showcased his ability to portray complex characters.
In Italy and Europe, Volonté 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. He worked with notable directors such as Elio Petri, starring in four films directed by him. Volonté's performances in these films demonstrated his range as an actor.
Volonté's career spanned multiple films and genres, with notable titles including We Still Kill the Old Way, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, The Working Class Goes to Heaven, and Todo modo. His ability to portray complex characters and his range as an actor made him a notable figure in the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
91 titles- Volonté: The Man of a Thousand Faces (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Rosi About Eboli (2022) as Self
- We Are Cinema (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Zénon the Rebel (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Forgotten Activism (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Spanish Western (2015) as The Indian (archive footage)
- Un attore contro - Gian Maria Volonté (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Investigation of a Citizen Named Volonté (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- The Bankers Of God: The Calvi Affair (2002) Thanks
- Ulysses' Gaze (1995) In Memory Of
- Banderas, the Tyrant (1993) as Tirano Banderas
- Funes, a Great Love (1993) as El tano Bérgami
- A Simple Story (1991) as Carmelo Franzò
- Open Doors (1990) as Giudice Vito Di Francesco
- Tre colonne in cronaca (1990) as Alberto Landolfi
- Pestalozzi's Mountain (1989) as Pestalozzi
- The Abyss (1988) as Zenone
- Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1987) as Dr. Cristo Bedoya
- A Boy from Calabria (1987) as Felice
- The Moro Affair (1986) as Aldo Moro
- The Death of Mario Ricci (1983) as Bernard Fontana
- The Charterhouse of Parma (1982) as Count Mosca
- Lady of the Camelias (1981) as Plessis
- La Storia Vera Della Signora Dalle Camelie (1981) as Plessis
- Cristo si è fermato a Eboli (1980) as Carlo Levi
- Stark System (1980) as Stark
- Stark System (1980) Writer
- Operation Ogre (1979) as Izarra
- Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) as Carlo Levi
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- Reflections on a Political Cinema (1978) as Self - Interviewee
- I Am Afraid (1977) as Brigadiere Ludovico Graziano
- One Way or Another (1976) as M.
- Letters from Marusia (1975) as Gregorio
- The Suspect (1975) as Emilio
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Festival dell’Unità 1972 (1973) as self
- Giordano Bruno (1973) as Giordano Bruno
- Lucky Luciano (1973) as Charles 'Lucky' Luciano
- The Assassination (1972) as Sadiel
- The Mattei Affair (1972) as Enrico Mattei
- Reggio Calabria (1972) Director
- Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) as Bizanti
- La tenda in piazza (1972) as Self (voice) (uncredited)
- La tenda in piazza (1972) Director
- Sacco & Vanzetti (1971) as Bartolomeo Vanzetti
- The Working Class Goes to Heaven (1971) as Lulù Massa
- Le Cercle Rouge (1970) as Vogel
- Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) as Dottore
- Many Wars Ago (1970) as Lt. Ottolenghi
- Wind from the East (1970) as The Northern Ranger
- Documents on Giuseppe Pinelli (1970) as Self / Reenactor (uncredited)
- Ipotesi sulla morte di G. Pinelli (1970) as Self
- Apollon: una fabbrica occupata (1969) as Narrator (voice)
- The Bandit (1969) as Gramigna
- Under the Sign of Scorpio (1969) as Renno
- The Violent Four (1968) as Piero Cavallero
- The Seven Cervi Brothers (1968) as Aldo Cervi
- Summit (1968) as Paolo
- A Bullet for the General (1967) as Chuncho Munos / 'El Chuncho'
- Face to Face (1967) as Professor Brett Fletcher
- Diamoci del tu (1967) as Self
- We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) as Professore Paolo Laurana
- Caravaggio (1967) as Caravaggio
- Wake Up and Die (1966) as Inspector Moroni
- For Love and Gold (1966) as Teofilatto dei Leonzi
- The Witch (1966) as Fabrizio
- Seasons of Our Love (1966) as Leonardo Varzi
- A Gangstergirl (1966) as Jascha Freud
- For a Few Dollars More (1965) as El Indio
- Una vita in gioco (1965) as Radek
- La strada più lunga (1965) as Michele
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964) as Ramón Rojo
- Le inchieste del commissario Maigret (1964) as Radek
- The Magnificent Cuckold (1964) as Assessore
- Vita di Michelangelo (1964) as Michelangelo
- Summer Night (1963) as Alberto
- The Terrorist (1963) as Renato Braschi , l'ingeniere
- The Felling of the Forest (1963) as Guglielmo
- The Four Days of Naples (1962) as Stimolo
- A Man for Burning (1962) as Salvatore
- Girl with a Suitcase (1961) as Piero Benotti
- Hercules and the Captive Women (1961) as Re di Sparta
- On the Tiger's Back (1961) as Papaleo
- Journey Beneath the Desert (1961) as Tarath
- Under Ten Flags (1960) as Samuel Braunstein
- La foresta pietrificata (1959)
- The Idiot (1959) as Parfen Rogozin
- Saul (1959) as David
- Phaedra (1957) as Ippolito
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Gian Maria Volonté best known for?
Gian Maria Volonté is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Double Happiness (2004), Operation Ogre (1979), Ciné regards (1978), Spécial cinéma (1974).
When and where was Gian Maria Volonté born?
Gian Maria Volonté was born on April 9, 1933 in Milano, Lombardia, Italy. They passed away on December 6, 1994.
How many credits does Gian Maria Volonté have?
Gian Maria Volonté has accumulated over 91 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1957 to 2024.
What is Gian Maria Volonté's background in cinema and television?
Gian Maria Volonté was an Italian actor born on April 9, 1933, in Milano, Lombardia, Italy. He is known for his roles in high-profile social dramas depicting the political and social stirrings of Italian and European society in the 1960s and 1970s. Volonté was also notable for his performances in films directed by Elio...