Ruggero Deodato
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- May 7, 1939 in Potenza, Basilicata, Italy
- Died
- December 29, 2022
- Active Years
- 1961–2025 (65 Years)
- Total Credits
- 116 credits in database
Biography
Ruggero Deodato was an Italian film director, television director, screenwriter, and occasional actor. Born on May 7, 1939, in Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, he also used the names Roger Ro, Roger Deodato, Roger Drake, Roger D. Franklin, Roger Franklin, Roger Godey, and Roger Rockefeller. He worked across a wide variety of genres and was known for horror and exploitation films, particularly for directing the controversial cult classic Cannibal Holocaust released in 1980. His films are notable for their brutality. During his career, he accumulated 95 known credits in directing. Ruggero Deodato passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 83.
Career overview
Ruggero Deodato was an Italian film and television director, screenwriter, and occasional actor who was born in Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, on May 7, 1939, and passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 83. Throughout his career, he also used several pseudonyms, including Roger Ro, Roger Deodato, Roger Drake, Roger D. Franklin, Roger Franklin, Roger Godey, and Roger Rockefeller. He worked across a wide variety of genres, maintaining known credits totaling 95, and is best known for his horror and exploitation films.
Deodato gained particular renown for directing the controversial cult classic Cannibal Holocaust in 1980, with his films often noted for their intense brutality. In his broader filmography, he also tried his hand at a more Hollywood-friendly action movie style, mixing extreme cannibal ingredients into narratives where a band of primitives led by a white man declares war on drug traffickers while intrepid reporters follow closely behind.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Ruggero Deodato.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
116 titles- Il cinema secondo Corman (2025) as Self
- Deodato vs Lenzi (2024) as self
- The Last of Us (2022) as Self
- An Evening With Ruggero Deodato: 60 Years of Filmmaking (2022) as 自己
- Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained (2021) as Self - Filmmaker
- The Found Footage Phenomenon (2021) as Self
- Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess (2021) as Self
- Searching for Cannibal Holocaust (2021) as Self
- Cursed Films (2020) as Self
- Deathcember (2019) Director
- Deathcember (2019) Writer
- Deodato Holocaust (2019) as Himself
- Atrocious (2018) Presenter
- Atrocious (2018) Thanks
- Atrocious (2018) Associate Producer
- Me Me Lai Bites Back (2018) as Self
- The Last Supper: The Final Days of the Italian Cannibal Film (2018)
- Die Welt der Barbaren (2018) as Self
- Macho Man 2 (2017) as Himself
- Cult of Terror (2017) as Self - Filmmaker
- Omega Rising: Remembering Joe D'Amato (2017) as Self
- Ballad in Blood (2016) as Prof. Roth
- Ballad in Blood (2016) Director
- Ballad in Blood (2016) Screenplay
- Yellow Fever: The Rise and Fall of the Giallo (2016) as Self
- Banned Alive! The Rise and Fall of Italian Cannibal Movies (2016)
- Lilith's Hell (2015) as Self
- Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film (2015)
- H.P. Lovecraft: Two Left Arms (2014)
- Faenza: La Pantalla Oculta (2014)
- Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten (2013) Director
- The Profane Exhibit (2013) Director
- The Profane Exhibit (2013) Writer
- Chimères (2013) as Butcher
- I Tarantiniani (2013) as Self
- From Romero to Rome: The Rise and Fall of the Italian Zombie Movie (2012) as Himself
- Film and Be Damned (2011) as Self
- Bloody Sin: Abonimations of the Third Reich (2011)
- Poliziotti Violenti (2011) as Self
- The Long Road Back from Hell: Reclaiming Cannibal Holocaust (2011) as Self
- The Museum Of Wonders (2010) as Himself
- Dead Bones (2008) as Butcher
- Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered - Volume 1 (2008) as Self
- Hostel: Part II (2007) as Cannibal
- Hostel: Part II (2007) as The Italian Cannibal
- Hostel Part II: The Next Level (2007) as Self
- Hostel Part II: A Legacy of Torture (2007) as Self
- Hanging Shadows (2007) as Self
- The Dark Side of Porn: Does Snuff Exist? (2006) as Self
- Do You Remember Lucio Fulci? (2006) as Self
- Cinema of Death (2006)
- Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005) as Self
- Non risponde più (2004) as Himself
- In the Jungle: The Making Of Cannibal Holocaust (2003) as Himself
- Django: The One and Only (2003) as Self
- Father Hope (2002) Director
- Father Hope (2002) Screenplay
- We Are Angels (1997) Director
- We Are Angels (1997) Writer
- The Washing Machine (1993) as Nosy Neighbor (uncredited)
- The Washing Machine (1993) Director
- Mom I Can Do It (1992) as Street photographer in yellow hat (uncredited)
- Mom I Can Do It (1992) Director
- Mom I Can Do It (1992) Writer
- Oceano (1989) Director
- Oceano (1989) Creator
- Phantom of Death (1988) as Man That Gets on Moped at Station (uncredited)
- Phantom of Death (1988) Director
- Dial: Help (1988) as Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
- Dial: Help (1988) Director
- Dial: Help (1988) Screenplay
- The Barbarians (1987) Director
- Body Count (1986) Director
- The Lone Runner (1986) Director
- Cut and Run (1985) Director
- Raiders of Atlantis (1983) as Oil Rig Assistant
- Raiders of Atlantis (1983) Director
- Cannibal Holocaust (1980) as Man Sitting in NYU Campus (uncredited)
- Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Director
- House on the Edge of the Park (1980) Director
- Concorde Affair (1979) as Man in Nicole's Restaurant (uncredited)
- Concorde Affair (1979) Director
- Last Feelings (1978) Story
- Last Feelings (1978) Director
- Last Cannibal World (1977) Director
- Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976) Director
- Waves of Lust (1975) Director
- All'ultimo minuto (1971) Creator
- All'ultimo minuto (1971) Director
- Zenabel (1969) Director
- Zenabel (1969) Screenplay
- In the Name of the Father (1969) Director
- Gungala, The Black Panther Girl (1968) Director
- Man Only Cries for Love (1968) Director
- Vacation on the Esmeralda Coast (1968) Director
- Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen (1968) Writer
- Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankamen (1968) Director
- The Hellbenders (1967) Assistant Director
- Sailors on Deck (1967) First Assistant Director
- Django (1966) Assistant Director
- Django (1966) Second Unit Director
- Navajo Joe (1966) Assistant Director
- Ringo and His Golden Pistol (1966) First Assistant Director
- Mademoiselle de Maupin (1966) First Assistant Director
- The Slave Merchants (1964) Assistant Director
- Castle of Blood (1964) First Assistant Director
- Totò sexy (1963) First Assistant Director
- The Shortest Day (1963) Second Assistant Director
- The Monk of Monza (1963) First Assistant Director
- Gli onorevoli (1963) First Assistant Director
- Dark Soul (1962) Second Assistant Director
- Lo smemorato di Collegno (1962) Second Assistant Director
- Viva l'Italia! (1961) Second Assistant Director
- Ursus in the Valley of the Lions (1961) First Assistant Director
- Pastasciutta nel deserto (1961) First Assistant Director
- Masters of Mayhem as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ruggero Deodato best known for?
Ruggero Deodato is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained (2021), Deathcember (2019), Deathcember (2019), Deadly Strike (1978).
When and where was Ruggero Deodato born?
Ruggero Deodato was born on May 7, 1939 in Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. They passed away on December 29, 2022.
How many credits does Ruggero Deodato have?
Ruggero Deodato has accumulated over 116 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1961 to 2025.
What is Ruggero Deodato's background in cinema and television?
Ruggero Deodato was an Italian film director, television director, screenwriter, and occasional actor. Born on May 7, 1939, in Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, he also used the names Roger Ro, Roger Deodato, Roger Drake, Roger D. Franklin, Roger Franklin, Roger Godey, and Roger Rockefeller. He worked across a wide variety o...
Ruggero Deodato by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained (2021) as Self - Filmmaker — aged about 82
- Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005) as Self — aged about 66
- Concorde Affair (1979) as Man in Nicole's Restaurant (uncredited) — aged about 40
- Cannibal Holocaust (1980) as Man Sitting in NYU Campus (uncredited) — aged about 41
- Hostel: Part II (2007) as Cannibal — aged about 68
- Hostel: Part II (2007) as The Italian Cannibal — aged about 68
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Ruggero Deodato.