Mario Brega (25 March 1923 – 23 July 1994) was an Italian character actor. His heavy build meant that he regularly portrayed a thug in his films, particularly earlier in his career in westerns. Later in his career, however, he featured in numerous Italian comedy films. Brega stood at and well over at his heaviest but after the 1960s slimmed down significantly.

Biography

Brega was born in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. He was a butcher before he drifted into acting, where his heavy physique ensured him a plethora of character roles. Debuting with director

Dino Risi Dino Risi (23 December 1916 – 7 June 2008) was an Italian film director. With Mario Monicelli, Luigi Comencini, Nanni Loy, and Ettore Scola, he was one of the masters of ''commedia all'italiana''. Biography Risi was born in Milan. He had an ...

, he then played some minor roles in

Sergio Leone Sergio Leone ( ; ; 3 January 1929 – 30 April 1989) was an Italian filmmaker, credited as the pioneer of the spaghetti Western genre. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema. Leone's film-making style ...

Spaghetti Western The spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's filmmaking style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

movies: ''

A Fistful of Dollars ''A Fistful of Dollars'' (, (''For a Fistful of Dollars'')) is a 1964 spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood in his first leading role, alongside Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, Si ...

'', as Chico; ''

For a Few Dollars More ''For a Few Dollars More'' () is a 1965 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone. It stars Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunters and Gian Maria Volonté as the primary villain. Klaus Kinski plays a supporting role as a se ...

'', as Niño; ''

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ''The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'' (, literally "''The good, the ugly, the bad''") is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Cleef as "the Bad", and Eli Wallach a ...

'' as Corporal Wallace; and also as a gangster in ''

Once Upon a Time in America ''Once Upon a Time in America'' () is a 1984 epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone, and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American venture produced by The Ladd Company, Emb ...

''. He appeared in many other Spaghetti Westerns, including ''

Death Rides a Horse ''Death Rides a Horse'' () is a 1967 Italian spaghetti Western directed by Giulio Petroni, written by Luciano Vincenzoni and starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law. Plot Bill, a boy whose father was killed and mother and sister were gang-r ...

'', '' The Great Silence'', and '' My Name is Nobody''. Later in his career he had comical roles with director

Carlo Verdone Carlo Gregorio Verdone (born 17 November 1950) is an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director. Best known for his comedic roles in Italian classics which he also wrote and directed such as ''Fun Is Beautiful'' and ''Bianco, rosso e Verdone ...

, such as in '' Un sacco bello'' and ''

Talcum Powder Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, with the chemical formula . Talc in powdered form, often combined with corn starch, is used as baby powder. This mineral is used as a thickening agent and lubricant. ...

''. He died of

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

in Rome in 1994.

Filmography

* ''La mascotte dei diavoli blu'' (1947) * ''

A Man of Straw ''A Man of Straw'' () is a 1958 Italian drama film directed by Pietro Germi. It was entered into the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Pietro Germi Pietro Germi (; 14 September 1914 – 5 December 1974) was an Italian film director, scree ...

'' (1958) – Man who blocks Andrea davanti versus the driver (uncredited) * '' World of Miracles'' (1959) – Man with a black eye (uncredited) * ''Gli scontenti'' (1961) * '' Day by Day, Desperately'' (1961) * '' Eighteen in the Sun'' (1962) * ''

I motorizzati ''I motorizzati'' is a 1962 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque, consisting of five segments all sharing cars as main theme. Cast *Ugo Tognazzi as Achille Pestani * Nino Manfredi as Nino Borsetti * Franco Franchi ...

'' (1962) – Edoardo * ''

March on Rome The March on Rome () was an organized mass demonstration in October 1922 which resulted in Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party (, PNF) ascending to power in the Kingdom of Italy. In late October 1922, Fascist Party leaders planned a march ...

'' of

(1962) – Mitraglia * '' The Girl from Parma'' (1963) – Brega – policeman (uncredited) * '' Uno strano tipo'' (1963) * '' The Hours of Love'' (1963) * ''

The Scapegoat A scapegoat is a goat used in a religious ritual or the victim of scapegoating, the singling out of a party for unmerited blame. Scapegoat or The Scapegoat may also refer to: Places * Scapegoat Wilderness, a Wilderness Area in Montana ** Scapego ...

'' (1963) * '' I mostri'' (episodio ''La nobile arte'') (1963) – Rocchetti (segment "La nobile Arte") * '' Let's Talk About Women'' (1964) * '' Two Mafiamen in the Far West'' (1964) – Uomo con Rio * ''

'' (1964, by

) – Chico * '' Buffalo Bill, Hero of the Far West'' (1964) – Big Sam Donaldson * '' I complessi'' (1965) – (segment "Il complesso della schiava nubiana") * ''

'' (1965, by

) – Nino (Indio's Gang) * '' An Angel for Satan'' (1966) – Carlo Lionesi * '' The Ugly Ones'' (1966) – Miguel * ''

'' (1966, by

) – Corporal Wallace * '' Omicidio per appuntamento'' (1967) – Mario Galante * '' No Diamonds for Ursula'' (1967) – Sansone * ''

'' by Giulio Petroni (1967) – Walcott's Henchman in Waistcoat * '' Hallelujah for Django'' (1967) – Andreas / Yanaro * '' A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die'' (1968) – Krant * ''Il suo nome gridava vendetta'' (1968) – Dirty * '' The Girl Who Couldn't Say No'' (1968) – Cripple * '' The Great Silence'' by

Sergio Corbucci Sergio Corbucci (; 6 December 1926 – 1 December 1990) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. He was one of the main exponents of the Spaghetti Western genre during the 1960s and 1970s, with his most notable work ...

(1968) – Martin * '' A Noose for Django'' (1969) – Brandon's Partner * '' Death Knocks Twice'' (1969) – Riccardo Beni * '' The Reward's Yours... The Man's Mine'' di Edoardo Mulargia (1969) – Tim * '' The Divorce'' (1970) – Newsvendor * ''

Cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

'' (1970) * '' Gang War'' (1971) – Bellacque * ''Se t'incontro t'ammazzo'' (1971) – Grendel * '' Return of Sabata'' (1971) – Cameo (uncredited) * ''

In Prison Awaiting Trial ''In Prison Awaiting Trial'' () is a 1971 Italian drama film directed by Nanni Loy. It was entered into the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival where Alberto Sordi won the Silver Bear for Best Actor award. Plot Roman surveyor Giuseppe Di No ...

'' (1971) – Detenuto amico di Scalia (uncredited) * '' A Girl in Australia'' (1971) – Cameriere italiano a Brisbane (uncredited) * '' Decameron No. 2 - Le altre novelle del Boccaccio'' di Mino Guerrini (1972) – Ferondo * '' Sotto a chi Tocca!'' (1972) – Fregonese * '' Le mille e una notte e un'altra ancora…'' (1973) – Vizier * ''I racconti di Canterbury N. 2'' (1973) * '' Even Angels Eat Beans'' (1973) – Angelo's Weapon Master (uncredited) * ''Da Scaramouche or se vuoi l'assoluzione baciar devi sto... cordone!'' (1973) * '' My Name Is Nobody'' (1973) – Pedro * '' Basta con la guerra, facciamo l'amore'' (1974) – Garozzi * '' Charleston'' (1974) – Barman * '' I sette del gruppo selvaggio'' by Gianni Crea (1975) – Tornado * '' Convoy Buddies'' di Giuliano Carnimeo (1975) – Gang Member * '' Due cuori, una cappella'' (1975) – Il macellaio * '' Quant'è bella la Bernarda, tutta nera, tutta calda'' by Lucio Dandolo (1975) – Mirafiore (segment "Il Cavalier Mirafiore") * '' A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe'' (1975) – Officer at Fort * '' The Last Round'' (1976) – Bobo Belmondo * '' Destruction Force'' (1977) – Questore Alberti * ''

The Cat The Cat may refer to: Nickname * Mathilde Carré (1910-2007), French spy, double and possibly triple agent * Peter Bonetti (1941–2020), English footballer * Greg Cattrano (born 1975), American lacrosse player * Ernest Miller (born 1964), Amer ...

'' (1977) – Killer * ''Agonas horis telos'' (1978) * '' A Dangerous Toy'' (1979) – Un rapinatore * ''

Fun Is Beautiful ''Un sacco bello'', internationally released as ''Fun Is Beautiful'', is a 1980 Italian comedy film. The film, produced by Sergio Leone, marked the directorial debut of Carlo Verdone, as well his debut as main actor and as screenwriter. For this ...

'' di

(1980) – Mario * ''

Bianco, rosso e Verdone ''Bianco, rosso e Verdone'' is a 1981 Italy, Italian comedy film directed and starred by Carlo Verdone, playing three characters. It was produced by Sergio Leone, soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone and guest starred by Mario Brega, all forme ...

'' by

(1981) – The 'Prince' * '' Una vacanza del cactus'' (1981) – Zio Michele, zio di Augusto * '' Pierino la Peste alla riscossa'' (1982) – Giulio, padre di Pierino * ''

'' by

(1982) – Augusto * ''Pè sempe'' (1982) – Don Enrico * '' Occhio, malocchio, prezzemolo e finocchio'' (segment: ''Il mago'', 1983) – Alberigo * '' Vacanze di Natale'' (1983) – Arturo Marchetti * '' Amarsi un po''' (1984) – Augusto Coccia * '' Sogni e bisogni'' (1984) – Er Policlinico * ''

'' by

(1984) – Mandy * ''

Troppo forte ''Troppo forte'' (also known as ''Great'', ''He's Too Much'' and ''Too Much'') is a 1986 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Verdone. Plot Oscar Pettinari is a young hick from the suburbs of Rome, who gravitates around Cinecittà trying rather ...

'' di

(1986) – Sergio * '' Detective School Dropouts'' (1986) – Don Lombardi * '' Montecarlo Gran Casinò'' (1987) – Luciano * '' Crack'' (1991) – (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brega, Mario 1923 births 1994 deaths 20th-century Italian male actors Male actors from Rome Male Spaghetti Western actors Male Western (genre) film actors People of Lazian descent Burials at Campo Verano