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Giuliano Gemma was born in Rome on September 2, 1938. He grew up in Reggio Emilia but returned to Rome with his parents in 1944. While playing on the grass, he discovered a World War II bomb that exploded, leaving lasting scars visible on his face. Throughout his life, he participated in various sports, including boxing, gymnastics, and tennis, and also worked in a circus. During his youth, he developed a strong passion for cinema. He was familiar with many prominent Italian actors, admired Burt Lancaster, and decided to pursue acting. Initially, he worked as a stuntman and took on minor roles in major productions like "Ben Hur," where his role went uncredited. Director Duccio Tessari gave him his first leading role in the film "Arrivano i Titani." Luchino Visconti cast him as a general in "Il gattopardo," although most of his scenes were cut. He then secured significant roles in "Angelica," directed by Bernard Borderie, where he starred as the lead, and in early spaghetti westerns, where he was credited as Montgomery Wood. Films such as "Una pistola per Ringo," "Il ritorno di Ringo," and "Un dollaro bucato" rank among his biggest hits. Later, he delivered his most notable performances in "Il deserto dei Tartari" by Valerio Zurlini and "Il prefetto di ferro" by Pasquale Squitieri. He earned prestigious awards including Best Actor at the Karlovy Vary Festival, Best Actor at the Montréal Film Festival, and the Grolla d'Oro at the San Vincent Festival. In 1986, he was honored as Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana.
In his later years, Gemma primarily worked in Italian television and discovered a new passion for sculpture, in which he became quite skilled. He is the father of actresses Vera Gemma and Giuliana Gemma.
