Richard Harrison at Brian's Drive-In Theater

biography

Born on May 26, 1935, in Salt Lake City, Utah, actor and model Richard Harrison enjoyed a 40-year in films until his retirement from acting in the 1990s. He left Utah for Los Angeles in 1953, taking a job at a gym and in the process getting in shape. Much like his contemporary Ed Fury, Harrison started his career as a physique model in the 1950s and graced the covers of numerous magazines. He also developed an interest in acting and began training on stage. At age 22, the handsome Harrison made his film debut in the science fiction effort Kronos (1957; with Jeff Morrow). Several more films followed, including the musical romance South Pacific (1958; with Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, and Ken Clark) and the war drama Battle Flame (1959; with Scott Brady and Robert Blake).

LEFT: Late 1950s cover of Adonis. CENTER and RIGHT: Late 1950s beefcake photos

While he was getting steady film work, Harrison's career didn't blossom until he signed a contract with American International Pictures (AIP) for the adventure Master of the World (1961; with Vincent Price and Charles Bronson). That same year, he married his first wife, Loretta, and gained James H. Nicholson, co-owner of AIP, as a father-in-law. He then headed to Rome and became a star in a string of sword and sandal films beginning with The Invincible Gladiator (1961; with Isabelle Corey). Popular with audiences worldwide, he went on to star in such peplums as Gladiators 7 (1962; with Loredana Nusciak), Medusa Vs. the Son of Hercules (1962; with Arturo Dominici), and Giants of Rome (1964; with Ettore Manni).

Harrison ran with the sword and sandal genre until it died out in 1965. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he easily made the transition to other film genres; his Eurospy films include Secret Agent Fireball (1965), Killers Are Challenged (1966; with Susy Andersen), and Ring Around the World (1966; with Helene Chanel and Giacomo Rossi Stuart). Harrison also starred in a few entertaining heist crime dramas such as Master Stroke (1967; with Adolfo Celi and Margaret Lee) and 28 Minutes for 3 Million Dollars (1967). His spaghetti westerns were among the best, including One Hundred Thousand Dollars for Ringo (1965; with Massimo Serato) and Vengeance (1968; with Spela Rozin).

the films of richard harrison

The Invincible Gladiator (1961)

From Harrison's exciting sword and sandal epic The Invincible Gladiator

Gladiators Seven (1962)

Stills from the peplum Gladiators Seven, theatrically released in the US by MGM

Medusa Against the Son of Hercules (1963)

From Medusa Against the Son of Hercules

Secret Agent Fireball (1965)

LEFT: As American spy Robert Flemimg in Secret Agent Fireball. CENTER and RIGHT: With Dominique Boschero

Temple of a Thousand Lights (1965)

As bank robber Alan Foster in the Italian adventure Temple of a Thousand Lights

Vengeance (1968)

Harrison is the betrayed outlaw Rocco in the violent spaghetti western Vengeance. Perhaps Harrison's best spaghetti western is the 1963 film Gunfight at Red Sands

The Sewer Rats (1974)

With Dagmar Lassander in the drama The Sewer Rats

Ninja Terminator (1985)

As Ninja Master Harry (with a Garfield phone!) in Ninja Terminator

Ninja Dragon (1986)

As Ninja Master Gordon in Ninja Dragon

richard harrison today

Harrison's career continued to be strong throughout the 1970s and 1980s starring in action films. In the early 1990s, Harrison and his second wife Francesca moved to Palm Springs, California. He ran for the office of mayor in 1995 and again in 1999 but lost the race to incumbent Will Kleindienst. The retired actor was recently awarded a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. His most recent film project was the experimental film Jerks, made in 2000.

filmography

FILM
Jerks (2000) with Francis Fallon
Angel Eyes (1993) with Erik Estrada, John Phillip Law, and Fred Olen Ray
Evil Spawn (1991) with Gordon Mitchell
Highway to Hell (1991)
Empire of the Dark (1990)
Terminal Force (1990) with Michelle Bauer and Troy Donahue; directed by Fred Olen Ray
Dark Mission (1988) with Christopher Mitchum and Christopher Lee
Cobra Vs. Ninja (1987)
Hands of Death (1987)
Ninja Avengers (1987)
Ninja Hunt (1986)
Ninja the Protector (1986)
Honor Thy Father (1986) with Rossano Brazzi, Eddie Constantine, Vincent Gardenia, and Donald Pleasence
Majestic Thunderbolt (1985)
Ninja Thunderbolt (1985)
Neve a Capri (1984)
Hunter's Crossing (1983)
Kiko corri come il vento (1982)
Intrusion Cambodia (1981)
La mondana nuda (1980)
Sex and Black Magic (1980)
I guappi non si toccano (1979)
Napoli storia d'amore e di vendetta (1979)
Pakleni otok (1979)
La guerre du petrole (1978) with Gordon Mitchell
Napoli: i 5 della squadra speciale (1978)
Provincia violenta (1978)
The Mad Dog Killer (1977) with Helmut Berger and Marisa Mell
The Desert Tigers (1976) with Gordon Mitchell and Brad Harris
Bloody Avengers (1976)
The Human Factor (1975)
Four Assassins (1975)
Quei paracul... pi di Jolando e Margherito (1975) with Gordon Mitchell
The Sewer Rats (1974) with Gordon Mitchell and Dagmar Lassander
Revenge of the Godfather (1972) with Erika Blanc
Trinity (1972)
Joe Dakota (1972)
Deadly Trackers (1972) with Anita Ekberg and Rik Battaglia
Los fabulosos de Trinidad (1972)
His Name Was King (1971) with Klaus Kinski
Lo sceriffo di Rockspring (1971)
Acquasanta Joe (1971) with Ty Hardin
Abre tu fosa, amigo, llega Sabata (1971) with Raf Baldassarre
The Hideout (1971)
Reverend Colt (1971) with Guy Madison
Vengeance (1970)
Dig Your Grave Friend... Sabata's Coming (1970) with Erika Blanc
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You (1970) with Ian McShane and John Gavin
36 Hours to Hell (1969)
Between God, the Devil and a Winchester (1968) with Gilbert Roland
Uno dopo l'altro (1968)
Hot Diamonds in Cold Blood (1968)
Doctor Faustus (1967) with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor
Fantabulous (1967) with Adolfo Celi
28 minuti per 3 milioni di dollari (1967)
Rojo (1967) with Raf Baldassarre
Mission Casablanca (1966)
Master Stroke (1967) with Adolfo Celi and Margaret Lee
Ring Around the World (1966)
Secret Agent Fireball (1965)
$100,000 for Ringo (1965) with Massimo Serato
Temple of a Thousand Lights (1965) with Daniele Vargas
Adventures of the Bengal Lancers (1964)
Two Gladiators (1964) with Giuliano Gemma
Giants of Rome (1964)
Jungle Adventurer (1964)
Revolt of the Praetorians (1964) with Giuliano Gemma
Messalina Vs. the Son of Hercules (1964) with Lisa Gastoni and Marilu Tolo
Medusa Against the Son of Hercules (1963)
Sons of Vengeance (1963) with Gloria Milland and Raf Baldassarre
Gunfight at Red Sands (1963) with Giacomo Rossi-Stuart
The Saracens (1963)
The Invincible Gladiator (1963)
Gladiators 7 (1962)
Avenger of the Seven Seas (1961)
Master of the World (1961) with Vincent Price and Charles Bronson
Battle Flame (1959) with Robert Blake and Scott Brady
Too Much, Too Soon (1958) with Dorothy Malone, Errol Flynn, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Ray Danton, Martin Milner, and Vampira
South Pacific (1958) with Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, Ray Walston, France Nuyen, Doug McClure, Ken Clark, and Ron Ely
Kronos (1957) with Jeff Morrow, Barbara Lawrence, George O'Hanlon, and Morris Ankrum
Jeanne Eagels (1957) with Kim Novak, Jeff Chandler, Charles Drake, and Virginia Grey

links

Go to the Other Hercules Heroes page, featuring Pierre Brice, Georges Marchal, Iloosh Khoshabe (aka Rod Flash), Peter and David Paul, Jacques Sernas, and Paul Wynter.

richard harrison trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Richard Harrison's 1965 eurospy thriller Secret Agent Fireball

richard harrison film now showing

Watch Richard Harrison's 1961 sword and sandal film The Invincible Gladiator

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This page premiered April 25, 2001.
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Richard Harrison

(b. May 26, 1935)