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Dan Vadis
1938-1987
Updated 12/14/2007.
biography
Dan Vadis was born Constantine Daniel Vafiadis in Shanghai, China, in January 1938. (Some sources list 1934 as his date of birth.) He got his break in show business in the Mae West Revue, West's famous bodybuilder troupe, along with Gordon Mitchell, Mickey Hargitay, and Reg Lewis. But Vadis would have to wait six years before taking on his first film role, in the 1962 classic Colossus of the Arena with Mark Forest. His friend Gordon Mitchell brought him to Italy to take advantage of the Italian fusto explosion.
LEFT: Gordon Mitchell, an unidentified woman, and Dan Vadis. CENTER: Roger Browne, Dan Vadis, and Gordon Mitchell lift Giuliana Zagara. RIGHT: Burt Nelson, Gordon Mitchell, and Dan Vadis clown for photographers (Photos courtesy of Gordon Mitchell)
Various photos of Vadis
the films of dan vadis
Triumph of the Ten Gladiators (1964)
Screen captures from the film, courtesy of Jerry S.
Spartacus and the 10 Gladiators (1964)
Spartacus and the Ten Gladiators is my personal favorite among Vadis's films (Thanks to Jerry for images)
The Triumph of Hercules (1964)
LEFT: Lobby card from The Triumph of Hercules (thanks to Keith Butler). CENTER and RIGHT; Screen captures from the film (thanks to Jerry)
later years
After making a number of Italian spectacles, Vadis renewed his career in the 1970s, appearing in a number of Clint Eastwood's most popular films, such as High Plains Drifter (1972), The Gauntlet (1977), and Bronco Billy (1980). Sadly, Vadis died in June 1987 at the age of 49 after ingesting a toxic substance.
Gladiators Collector's Edition [DVD] DVD
Two-disc set of sword-and-sandals sagas leads off with "Gladiators Seven" (1964), a thrilling Imperial Rome opus that plays like "The Magnificent Seven in Togas," as seven brave soldiers go up against the cruel tyrants who have been controlling the city of Sparta. When gladiator leader Richard Harrison saves the princess, he gets a "Sparta kiss." With Loredana Nusciak, Livio Lorenzon. Next up is "Giants of Rome" (1963), where Rome is menaced by a secret weapon, and the city's top soldiers discover exactly what it is: a big catapult with lots of Gauls. Followed by "The Rebel Gladiators" (1963), from the popular "Ursus" series, an enthralling swordfight film in which strongman Dan Vadis battles an evil emperor who has taken over the throne of Rome. With Jose Greci and Gloria Milland. Finally, Richard Harrison struts his "cuts" as "The Invincible Gladiator" (1962), helping a 10-year-old king depose a greedy regent. All this, and "the Dwarfs of Death," too! With Isabella Corey. 6 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
The Ten Gladiators [DVD](1960) DVD
Well-toned Italian he-man Dan Vadis is a slave who leads a minyan of musclemen against crazed emperor Nero when he starts slaughtering innocent people in ancient Rome. Roger Browne, Susan Paget and Gianni Rizzo also star in this mix of history and sword-and-toga spectacle from spaghetti western specialist Gianfranco Parolini ("Adios, Sabata"). AKA: "Ten Desperate Men." 104 min. Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
Spartacus And The Ten Gladiators [DVD](1964) DVD
The slave-turned-rebel of Ancient Rome leads an army of escaped prisoners in an attempt to stop the brutal gladiatorial games. Action-filled swords and sandals saga stars Dan Vadis, Helga Line. 99 min. Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
Triumph Of The Ten Gladiators [DVD](1965) DVD
Muscleman fave Dan Vadis leads an army of beefy gladiators into a mission that has them kidnapping a queen. When they discover they've been duped, the men try to change things by battling it out in a series of wild fights (and, in one scene, by disguising themselves as women and flirting with guards!). Truly, this is no mere status quo Vadis. With Stanley Kent, John Heston. Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
Triumph Of The Ten Gladiators(1964) VHS
Muscleman fave Dan Vadis leads an army of beefy gladiators into a mission that has them kidnapping a queen. When they discover they've been duped, the men try to change things by battling it out in a series of wild fights (and by, in one scene, disguising themselves as women and flirting with guards!). Truly, this is no mere status quo Vadis. With Stanley Kent, John Heston.
Death Is Nimble, Death Is Quick(1965) VHS
European he-men Brad Harris and Tony Kendall team to investigate a murder in Ceylon, where they find themselves battling the sinister Three Yellow Cats crime organization. Muscleman Dan Vadis also stars in this entry in the espionage series based on the "Kommissar X" books from Germany. AKA: "Three Golden Cats." 91 min.
The Scalphunters [DVD](1968) DVD
Rousing Western adventure with Burt Lancaster as a not-too-bright fur trapper who teams with a runaway slave (Ossie Davis) to find the gang that swiped a batch of valuable pelts. Telly Savalas and Shelley Winters also star in this action-packed tale that features a brutal brawl in the mud. 103 min. Standard and Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
High Plains Drifter [DVD](1973) DVD
A frontier town's residents, fearing the impending return of a trio of escaped convicts, look for help from mysterious new arrival Clint Eastwood. But is he savior or avenging angel? Violent and compelling western, directed by Eastwood, also stars Verna Bloom, Mitchell Ryan, Billy Curtis. 104 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English, Spanish, French; Subtitles: English, Spanish; biographies.
Cahill: United States Marshal [DVD](1973) DVD
John Wayne is a devoted lawman who goes head on against a vicious gang of robbers. The trouble is, two of them are his sons! Gary Grimes, Neville Brand, George Kennedy co-star. 102 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese.
The Gauntlet [DVD](1977) DVD
The normally routine exercise of escorting an extradited prisoner (Sondra Locke) from Las Vegas to Phoenix to testify at trial becomes a race for survival for detective Clint Eastwood. On a frantic bus ride to city hall, Eastwood and his charge brave an all-out assault from police and a corrupt mayor, who fears incrimination by the determined witness. Co-stars Pat Hingle, William Prince. 109 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French; theatrical trailer; scene access; filmographies.
Every Which Way But Loose [DVD](1978) DVD
Action star Clint Eastwood drives full throttle into comedy, as an easy-going trucker whose bare-knuckled brawling sideline takes him from honkytonk to honkytonk. Along for the ride are Clyde, a mischievous orangutan; Orville, his lean-witted driving partner; and Echo, an attractive former fruit peddler. Together, they hit the highway in search of Eastwood's one true love, C&W singer Sondra Locke. Co-stars Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, Ruth Gordon. 114 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby 5.1 stereo, French; Subtitles: English, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; production notes; theatrical trailer.
Any Which Way You Can [DVD](1980) DVD
Continuing where he left off in "Every Which Way But Loose," his most successful film up to that time, Clint Eastwood, as bare-knuckle brawler Philo Beddoe, finds his dreams of settling down with country singer girlfriend Sondra Locke and pet orangutan Clyde evaporate after she is kidnapped by the mob, who want Philo to fight one last time against his arch-rival. Co-stars Geoffrey Lewis, William Smith. 116 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby 5.1 stereo, French; Subtitles: English, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; production notes; theatrical trailer.
Bronco Billy [DVD](1980) DVD
Clint Eastwood plays the owner and star performer in a ragtag Wild West show. His lively companions include a high-strung society girl, a one-armed Indian, and a soft-spoken strongman. Sondra Locke, Scatman Crothers. 116 min. Widescreen (Enhanced) and Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, French; filmography; theatrical trailer; scene access.
filmography
FILM
The Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1983) with Lou Ferrigno, Sybil Danning, Brad Harris, and Mandy Rice-Davies
Any Which Way You Can (1980) with Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, William Smith, Ruth Gordon, Barry Corbin, and Bill McKinney
Bronco Billy (1980) with Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Scatman Crothers, Bill McKinney, and Sam Bottoms
Mr. Horn (1979) with Karen Black, David Carradine, Richard Widmark, Jeremy Slate, and Richard Masur
Every Which Way But Loose (1978) with Clint Eastwood, Ruth Gordon, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, Bill McKinney, and Gregory Walcott
The Gauntlet (1977) with Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, Carole Cook, and Mara Corday
The White Buffalo (1977) with Charles Bronson, Clint Walker, Kim Novak, and Stuart Whitman
Cahill: United States Marshall (1973) with John Wayne, George Kennedy, Neville Brand, and Marie Windsor
High Plains Drifter (1972) with Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom, Mitch Ryan, and Geoffrey Lewis
God Will Forgive My Pistol (1969) with Wayde Preston
The Stranger Returns, aka Shoot First, Laugh Last (1968) with Jill Banner, Daniele Vargas, and Tony Anthony
The Scalphunters (1968) with Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Telly Savalas, Ossie Davis, and Dabney Coleman
Fort Yuma Gold (1967) with Giuliano Gemma and Jacques Sernas
De Guello (1966) with Erika Blanc
Death is Nimble, Death is Quick (1965) with Brad Harris and Tony Kendall
Spartacus and the Ten Gladiators (aka The Invincible Ten Gladiators) (1965) with Helga Line, Ana Pier Quaglia, and Ivano Staccioli; directed by Nick Nostro
Triumph of the Ten Gladiators (1964)
The Triumph of Hercules (aka Hercules Vs. the Giant King and Hercules and the Ten Avengers) (1964) with Marilù Tolo and Moira Orfei
Zorikan, the Barbarian (aka Zorikan, the Exterminator) (1964) with Walter Brandi and Phillippe Hersent
Hercules the Invincible (aka Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness) (1963) with Ken Clark
Pirates of the Mississippi (1963) with Brad Harris and Tony Kendall
The Ten Gladiators (aka Ten Desperate Men) (1963) with Roger Browne
The Rebel Gladiators (aka Ursus, the Rebel Gladiator) (1963) with Alan Steel
Colossus of the Arena (aka Maciste, the World's Strongest Gladiator and Death in the Arena) (1962) with Mark Forest
TELEVISION
Starsky and Hutch, episode Hutchinson for Murder One, originally aired February 22, 1978.
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This page premiered April 25, 1998.
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