Kirk Morris at Brian's Drive-In Theater

biography

Born Adriano Bellini in Venice, Italy, on August 26, 1942 (some sources claim 1938 and 1946), actor Kirk "Kirky" Morris worked as a gondolier in his native city beginning in his teens. Spotted for films by an Italian producer, Morris went to Rome in the early 1960s to begin a film career. Throughout his career which lasted about ten years, Kirk Morris starred in a number of sword and sandal films, such as Colossus and the Headhunters (1963), which Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans will recall from season six. One of Morris's best films is the unusual The Witch's Curse (1962). He portrayed Hercules at least three times on screen, most notably in Hercules, Samson, and Ulysses (1963; with Iloosh Khoshabe and Liana Orfei).

Various photos of Kirk Morris

After the peplum craze died out in the mid 1960s, Morris's acting career began to slide. He made fewer films after 1965, starring in a couple of westerns such as Little Rita of the West (1967; with Rita Pavone, Terence Hill, and Gordon Mitchell) and I'll Die for Vengeance (1968; with Gordon Mitchell and Alan Steel) before before leaving the screen in 1970.

the films of kirk morris

Triumph of the Son of Hercules (1961)

As Maciste in Triumph of the Son of Hercules

Hercules in the Valley of Woe (1962)

Screen captures from Hercules in the Valley of Woe (thanks to Nathalie Manier)

The Witch's Curse (1962)

From The Witch's Curse. In this film, Maciste curiously turns up in 17th century Scotland to battle the forces of evil

Colossus and the Headhunters (1963)

As Maciste in Colossus and the Headhunters; this film once aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000

Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (1963)

In Hercules, Samson and Ulysses, Kirk Morris portrayed Hercules to Iloosh Khoshabe's Samson and Enzo Cerusico's Ulysses

Terror of the Steppes (1965)

From the Italian adventure Terror of the Steppes with Kirk Morris as Sandar

Star Pilot (1966)

As Belsy in the Italian science fiction flick Star Pilot

Rita of the West (1967)

LEFT: As Ringo in the musical western Rita of the West. RIGHT: With Rita Pavone

kirk morris today

Scenes from Triumph of the Son of Hercules with Kirk Morris as Maciste were used in a deodorant commercial in the late 1960s. The spot includes celluloid footage of Maciste flexing his muscles, and restraining the horses of Memphis' Queen Tenefis in the chariot torture, with a female voice-over declaring, "My brother works hard. He needs a strong deodorant."

After his film career cooled, Morris took on a new career as an actor and model in fotoromanzi, a photo novel craze that was popular in Italy in the 1970s. Morris later moved to the U.S. and went into advertising and went on to produce films in Italy. Today, Kirk Morris is 80 years old and has retired.

filmography

FILM
Overrun! (1970)
Seven Red Berets (aka Congo Hell) (1969) with Ivan Rassimov, Serge Nubret, and Priscilla Drake
I'll Die for Vengeance (1968) with Gordon Mitchell and Alan Steel
Rita in the West (1967) with Terence Hill and Gordon Mitchell
Star Pilot (1965) with Leonora Ruffo and Gordon Mitchell
Falcon of the Desert (1965) with Aldo Sambrell
Maciste, the Avenger of the Mayans (1965) with Maria Teresa Gentilini and Luciano Marin
Conqueror of Atlantis (aka Kingdom of the Sand) (1965) with Helene Chanel
Desert Raiders (1964) with Rosalba Neri
Atlas Against the Czar (1964) aka Samson Vs. the Giant King
Terror of the Steppes (1964) with Moira Orfei
Hercules of the Desert, aka Devil of the Desert Against the Son of Hercules (1964) with Helene Chanel and Rosalba Neri
The Slave Merchants (1964)
Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (1963) with Iloosh Khoshabe
Samson and the Sea Beasts (1963) with Margaret Lee and Daniele Vargas
Colossus and the Headhunters (1963) with Laura Brown
Clash of Steel (1962) with Gianna Maria Canale
Devil of the Desert Against the Son of Hercules (1962)
The Witch's Curse (1962) (aka Maciste in Hell)
Hercules in the Valley of Woe (1961) with Raimondo Vianello, Liana Orfei, Franco Franchi, and Ciccio Ingrassia
Triumph of the Son of Hercules (1961) with Cathia Caro

links

Go to the Other Hercules Heroes page, featuring Peter and David Paul, Paul Wynter, Jacques Sernas, and Richard Lloyd.

kirk morris trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Kirk Morris's 1962 adventure The Witch's Curse

kirk morris film now showing

Watch Kirk Morris in the 1963 peplum Colossus and the Headhunters

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This page premiered May 21, 1998.
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Kirk Morris

(b. August 26, 1942)