Dan Vadis
Constantine Dan Vafiadis | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | June 11, 1987 | (aged 49)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1948–1987 |
Children | 1 (Nick Vadis) |
Dan Vadis (born Constantine Daniel Vafiadis, 3 January 1938 – 11 June 1987) was an American actor famous for his lead roles in many Italian films made in the 1960s.
Biography
Vadis was of Greek descent, with lineage tracing back to the island of
He was also one of many bodybuilders to take a stab at fame and fortune with the Italian
Dan's most notable role was The Triumph of Hercules (1964), in which he portrayed Hercules battling golden giants and trying to save his princess love from her evil relative. The film was quickly followed by Hercules the Invincible retitled Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness, in The Sons of Hercules television package by Embassy Pictures. What made Vadis stand out from other athletes and bodybuilders in these films was the obvious speed, dexterity, agility and all around durability that he brought to his films, bringing much needed energy to what otherwise may have been average fight scenes.
After the sword and sandal films faded he moved into
He died 11 June 1987 in Lancaster, California, United States, in a car in the desert, his death was declared an accidental drug overdose with acute ethanol and heroin-morphine intoxication. He was survived by his wife Sharon Jessup and his son Nick Vadis, known as "Nick V".
Partial filmography
- Colossus of the Arena (1962) - Sidon
- The Rebel Gladiators (1962) - Ursus
- The Pirates of the Mississippi (1963) - Blackfoot
- The Ten Gladiators (1963) - Roccia / The Rock
- Hercules the Invincible (1964) - Hercules
- Zorikan lo sterminatore (1964) - Zorikan
- The Triumph of Hercules (1964) - Ercole
- Triumph of the Ten Gladiators (1964) - Roccia
- Spartacus and the Ten Gladiators (1964) - Gladiator Roccia
- The Sucker (1965) - (uncredited)
- Deguejo (1966) - Ramon
- Kommissar X – Drei gelbe Katzen (1966) - King
- For a Few Extra Dollars(1966) - Nelson Riggs
- The Stranger Returns (1967) - En Plein
- The Scalphunters (1968) - Yuma
- Dio perdoni la mia pistola (1969) - Martin
- High Plains Drifter (1973) - Dan Carlin, outlaw
- Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) - Brownie
- The White Buffalo (1977) - Tall Man (uncredited)
- The Gauntlet (1977) - Biker
- Every Which Way But Loose(1978) - Frank (Black Widow)
- Bronco Billy (1980) - Chief Big Eagle
- Any Which Way You Can (1980) - Frank (Black Widow)
- I sette magnifici gladiatori (1982) - Nicerote (final film role)
Notes
- ^ p.71 Frayling, Christopher Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from Karl May to Sergio Leone" 1981 Routledge
External links
- Dan Vadis at IMDb