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Ed Fury
1928-
Updated 10/1/2008 with more films available on DVD! Be sure to see the Ed Fury Gallery.
biography
Born Edmund Holovchik in June 1928 (some sources cite 1934 as Fury's date of birth), Ed Fury matured into a very athletic teenager. While he wrestled in school and lifted weights, he didn't work toward the gargantuan build as did some of his contemporaries, such as Steve Reeves and Reg Park. Rather, his athletic and acting abilities were used more to portray strength. His impressive physique made him a natural contender for the Mr. Muscle Beach title in 1951 and 1953, coming in third and second, respectively.
Early to mid 1950s physique modeling shots of Fury. You'll find more photos like these in the Ed Fury Gallery
Fury's early career consisted of modeling for various physique studios in the 1950s, such as the Athletic Model Guild (AMG) and Bruce of LA. In addition, Fury made several home movie loops distributed by Apollo and AMG as 16mm and 8mm films in the 1950s. Fury also graced the covers of a number of physique culture magazines in the 1950s and 1960s.
A six-foot tall natural blond, Fury began acting on the legitimate stage before entering films. Among other vehicles, he appeared on Broadway in the show Fanny. He can also be spotted in a number of early to mid 1950s big-budget films, including Athena (1954; with Steve Reeves), Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954; with Victor Mature), and Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953; with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello). Into the latter part of the 1950s, Fury found larger roles in such films as the campy Wild Women of Wongo (1958). He also worked in television in the 1950s, appearing as a guest star during the last season of the 1950s TV comedy My Little Margie with Gale Storm and Charlie Farrell.
Portfolio shots of Fury, circa 1957
Fury left Hollywood behind in 1960, when he went to Italy to star in Colossus and the Amazon Queen (1960; with Rod Taylor), a sword and sandal comedy in which all the men take on women's roles while the women do the 'men's' work. Although Fury never appeared as Hercules in film, he made his mark as Maciste, Ursus, and Colossus in several popular peplums in the early 1960s.
the films of ed fury
Ursus (1961)
LEFT: Poster from Ursus. CENTER A and CENTER B: Stills from Ursus(thanks to Michael Barnum). RIGHT: From Ursus
From Ursus
more ed fury
After the release of Ursus in the Land of Fire (1963), Fury cooled his film career, but he reemerged on television in the late 1960s, acting in episodes of Columbo, The Brian Keith Show (aka The Little People), the Doris Day Show, and a few made-for-television films. His most recent film appearance was in Dinosaur Valley Girls (1996). Also, Fury made an appearance on the Game Show Network in January 2000.
My Little Margie, Vol. 4 [DVD] DVD
Episodes include "The Hawaii Story," "Vern's Winter Vacation," "Miss Whoozis," "Star of Khyber," "The Unexpected Guest," and "Honeyboy Honeywell." 150 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; biographies.
Demetrius And The Gladiators [DVD](1954) DVD
The story of Christian persecution in ancient Rome begun in "The Robe" continues here, as arena fighter Victor Mature pits his newfound faith against the might of demented emperor Caligula. Also stars Susan Hayward, Jay Robinson, Debra Paget, Michael Rennie, William Marshall, and Ernest Borgnine. 102 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 4.0, Dolby Digital stereo, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; theatrical trailers.
Bowanga Bowanga (1951)/Wild Women Of Wongo (1958)/Virgin Sacrifice (1959) [DVD] DVD
"1,000 Adventures! 10,000 Dangers!" Who knows how much fake footage? First, the bogus African shockumentary "Bowanga Bowanga" has it all: gals running around in leopard-skin suits, white hunters drawing the attention of jungle sirens, and native dances that could've come from the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders repertoire. Next, the beautiful, alligator-worshipping "Wild Women of Wongo" leave their Neanderthal husbands for a neighboring island's muscular men in a silly Stone Age romp. With Ed Fury, Adrienne Bourbeau. Finally, Samson (David DaLie) is an animal hunter investigating the spearing death of his partner, in "Virgin Sacrifice." With Angelica Morales, Linda Cordova. AKA: "Fury of the Jungle." 196 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English
Wild Women Of Wongo [VHS](1958) VHS
"Wild" indeed is the only way to describe this silly Stone Age romp, as the beautiful, alligator-worshipping Wongo women leave their Neanderthal husbands for the muscular men of a neighboring island. With Ed Fury, Billy Day, Zuni Dyer, and Adrienne Bourbeau (no, not "Maude's" daughter). 80 min.
Fox/MGM Hollywood Musicals Collection [DVD] DVD
Sixty-two-disc set includes "Whoopee!," "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum," "Kid Millions," "March of the Wooden Soldiers," "Goldwyn Follies," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," "Down Argentine Way," "Moon Over Miami," "Belle of the Yukon," "The Dolly Sisters," "State Fair" (1945), "Bloodhounds of Broadway" (1952), "Hans Christian Andersen," "With a Song in My Heart," "Call Me Madam," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Carmen Jones," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Daddy Long Legs" (1955), "Guys and Dolls," "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "The King and I" (1956), "Love Me Tender," "South Pacific," "Can-Can," "Flaming Star," "West Side Story," "Wild in the Country," "Follow that Dream," "Kid Galahad" (1962), "State Fair" (1962), "Beach Blanket Bingo," "The Sound of Music," "Frankie and Johnny," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Clambake," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Hello, Dolly!," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "New York, New York," "All That Jazz," "Hair," "The Apple," "A Chorus Line," "The Fantasticks," "Moulin Rouge" (2001), and "De-Lovely."
South Pacific (Special Edition) [DVD](1958) DVD
Popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about life on a lonely Pacific island post during World War II where a young Navy nurse falls for a French plantation owner. Can their love survive, even as the shadow of war looms ever closer? Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston star. Songs include "There Is Nothin' Like a Dame," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Happy Talk," and more; based on James Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific." Includes the original theatrical release and the roadshow version; 151 min./172 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.0, Dolby Digital stereo, French Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; featurettes; photo gallery; sing-along songs; theatrical trailer; more. Two-disc set.
Goliath And The Sins Of Babylon (1963)/Colossus And The Amazon Queen [DVD](1960) DVD
First, when the city of Nefer is forced by conquering Babylon to pay a tribute of virgins, in strides Goliath (Mark Forest) to compete in a chariot race and free the put-upon maidens. This wild Italian action-adventure co-stars Jose Greci, Giuliano Gemma, and Erno Crisa. Next, two beefy gladiators fresh from the Trojan War are bamboozled into sailing for a secret island, captured by lusty Amazons, and kept as walking sperm banks. Rod Taylor and Ed Fury star in "Colossus and the Amazon Queen," a titillating sheets-and-shackles adventure. 180 min. total. Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English.
Ursus In The Land Of Fire (1963)/Ursus In The Valley Of Lions [DVD](1961) DVD
First, in "Ursus in the Land of Fire," the mighty scion of Hercules has his own labors to complete: battling five giants, surviving an earthquake, rescuing a beautiful princess, and breaking out of prison. Ed Fury, Claudia Mori, Adriano Micantoni star. AKA: "The Son of Hercules in the Land of Fire." Then, in "Ursus in the Valley of Lions," a boy reared by the big cats attempts to avenge his royal parents' deaths. With Fury, Moira Orfei, Alberto Lupo. AKA: "The Mighty Ursus," "The Valley of the Lions." Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English. Plays All Regions.
Ursus In The Valley Of The Lions [VHS](1961) VHS
Roaring Spanish/Italian muscleman saga about a boy reared by lions who grows up to become the greatest gladiator of the ancient world and avenge his royal parents' deaths. Ed Fury stars. AKA: "The Mighty Ursus," "The Valley of the Lions." 91 min.
Son Of Hercules In The Land Of Fire [DVD](1964) DVD
Ursus, the mighty scion of Hercules, has his own labors to complete: battling five giants, surviving an earthquake, rescuing a beautiful princess and breaking out of prison. Ed Fury plays the strongman; with Luciana Gilli. AKA: "Ursus in the Land of Fire." 87 min. Soundtrack: English (dubbed).
Dinosaur Valley Girls [DVD](1997) DVD
In this sexy and wacky fantasy, a martial arts star is hurled back in time when a magic amulet catapults him to the era of gorgeous cavewomen and dinosaurs. After falling in love with the luscious Hea-Thor, the actor must fend off beasts and brutes to return to the present. Karen Black, Denise Ames, Griffin Drew star. Unrated, nudity-filled director's cut; 94 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; "making of" documentary; audio commentary; screen tests; deleted scenes; theatrical trailers; scene access.
filmography
FILM
Dinosaur Valley Girls (1996) with Karen Black
Desperate Women (1978) with Ronee Blakely and Dan Haggerty
Letter from Three Lovers (1973) with Martin Sheen, June Allyson, Ken Berry, Juliet Mills, Robert Sterling, Barry Sullivan, and Lyle Waggoner
Ursus in the Land of Fire (1963) (aka The Son of Hercules in the Land of Fire)
Samson Against the Sheik (1962) (aka Maciste Against the Sheik)
Ursus in the Valley of the Lions (1961) (aka Son of Atlas in the Valley of the Lions)
Ursus (1961) (aka The Mighty Ursus and Ursus, Son of Hercules)
The Seven Revenges (1961) (aka The Seven Challenges and Ivan, the Conquerer)
Colossus and the Amazon Queen (1960) (aka Queen of the Amazons) with Rod Taylor
The Wild Women of Wongo (1958)
Raw Edge (1956) with Yvonne De Carlo, Rory Calhoun, Rex Reason, Mara Corday, and John Gavin
I Died a Thousand Times (1955) with Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, Lori Nelson, and Lon Chaney, Jr.
Female on the Beach (1955) with Joan Crawford, Jeff Chandler, Jan Sterling, and Charles Drake
Athena (1954) with Steve Reeves, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, and Ray Collins
The Country Girl (1954) with Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and William Holden
Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) with Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget, Anne Bancroft, William Marshall, and Richard Egan
The Great Diamond Robbery (1954)
The Eddie Cantor Story (1953)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) with Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, and Tommy Noonan
TELEVISION
All-New 3's a Crowd, 1999-2002 GSN game show. Fury appeared as a contestant in January 2000.
Cannon, episode The Reformer, originally aired January 7, 1976.
Columbo, episode Mind Over Mayhem, originally aired February 10, 1974.
The Brian Keith Show, episode The Thunderball Syndicate, originally aired December 1973.
The Doris Day Show, episode Singles Only, aired December 1969.
My Little Margie, episode Miss Whoozis, originally aired January 5, 1955.
links
Go to the Other Hercules Heroes page, featuring Peter and David Paul, Paul Wynter, and Richard Lloyd.
Click on the logo to go back to Brian's Drive-In Theater
This page premiered June 8, 1998.
Counter reset March 1, 2001.
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