Bud Spencer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bud Spencer
Spencer in 1973
Born	Carlo Pedersoli (1929-10-31)31 October 1929 Naples, Kingdom of Italy
Died	27 June 2016(2016-06-27) (aged 86) Rome, Italy
Resting place	Campo Verano, Rome, Italy
Alma mater	Sapienza University of Rome
Occupation	Actor Professional swimmer Water polo player
Years active	1950–2010
Spouse(s)	Maria Amato ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	3
Awards	David di Donatello Special Award

Carlo Pedersoli (born October 31, 1929 – died June 27, 2016), known to everyone as Bud Spencer, was a famous Italian actor, amazing swimmer, and water polo player. He was best known for his fun action-comedy movies and Spaghetti Western films. He often starred with his long-time friend and film partner, Terence Hill. Together, they became super popular and brought millions of people to movie theaters around the world. Bud Spencer and Terence Hill made 18 movies together.

When he was younger, Bud Spencer was a very successful athlete and swimmer. He even swam for a special sports group called Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Oro. Besides sports, he earned a law degree and invented many things, getting patents for them. He also became a licensed pilot for both airplanes and helicopters. Bud Spencer cared a lot about kids and helped fund many children's charities, including the Spencer Scholarship Fund.

Early Life and Beginnings

Carlo Pedersoli was born on October 31, 1929, in Naples, Italy. His family moved to Rome in 1940, where he went to high school and joined a swimming club. He was a very smart student and finished school before he turned 17. He then started studying chemistry at Sapienza University of Rome.

In 1947, his family moved to South America. Carlo stopped his studies for a while and worked at the Italian consulate in Brazil. This is where he learned to speak Portuguese very well.

Swimming and Water Polo Star

Carlo Pedersoli returned to Italy in 1949. He played water polo for a team in Rome and won several Italian swimming championships. He was the first Italian swimmer to swim 100 meters freestyle in under one minute! This happened on September 19, 1950, when he swam it in just 59.5 seconds.

He competed in international events, too. In 1950, he was part of the European championships. He also won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1951 Mediterranean Games in Egypt. Carlo even went to the 1952 Summer Olympics in Finland and the 1956 Summer Olympics in Australia, reaching the semi-finals in the 100-meter freestyle both times.

As a water polo player, he helped his team win the Italian Championship in 1954. He also won a gold medal with the Italian national team at the 1955 Mediterranean Games. His amazing swimming career ended in 1957.

Years later, in 2005, he received a special award called the Caimano d'oro (Gold Caiman) from the Italian Swimming Federation. In 2007, he also got diplomas to be a swimming and water polo coach.

Becoming a Movie Star

Spencer in 2009

Bud Spencer's first small movie role was in an Italian comedy short in 1950. In 1951, he appeared in a big movie called Quo Vadis. During the 1950s and early 1960s, he played small parts in other Italian films.

In 1960, he married Maria Amato. He also signed a contract to write songs for singers and movie soundtracks.

Team-Up with Terence Hill

In 1967, a film director offered him a role in a movie called God Forgives... I Don't!. On the set, he met Mario Girotti, who would become his famous movie partner. The director asked both actors to change their names because they sounded "too Italian" for a Western film. Carlo Pedersoli chose the name Bud Spencer. He picked "Bud" from Budweiser beer and "Spencer" from the actor Spencer Tracy.

In their movies, Terence Hill often played the quick and agile character, while Bud Spencer was usually the strong, grumpy, but kind-hearted man. Together, they made 18 films. Some of their most famous movies include the Spaghetti Westerns They Call Me Trinity (1970) and its sequel, Trinity Is Still My Name (1971). Their last movie together was Troublemakers in 1994.

Bud Spencer's memorial statue in downtown Budapest

These movies became incredibly popular, especially in Europe, parts of Asia, and South America. Because people loved them so much, other filmmakers tried to create similar duos.

Bud Spencer also wrote parts of the screenplays for some of his movies. After 1983, he started working more on television shows. In the 1990s, he starred in the TV action-drama Extralarge. He published his autobiography in 2011 and even released a cookbook with his favorite recipes!

A Short Try at Politics

In 2005, Bud Spencer decided to try politics. He ran for a position in the Lazio region of Italy, but he didn't win. He once said, "In my life, I've done everything. There are only three things I haven't been – a ballet dancer, a jockey and a politician. Since the first two are out, I'll try politics."

Personal Life

Funeral of Spencer in Rome

Bud Spencer married Maria Amato in 1960. They had three children: Giuseppe, Cristiana, and Diamante. After starring in a movie about airplanes, Spencer became a licensed jet airplane and helicopter pilot. In 1984, he started an air-mail company called Mistral Air, which also transported pilgrims. He later sold the company. Bud Spencer's grandson, Carlo Pedersoli, Jr., is a mixed martial arts fighter.

His Passing

Bud Spencer passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on June 27, 2016, in Rome. His son, Giuseppe Pedersoli, said that his father "died without pain in presence of his family, and his last word was 'grazie'" (which means "thank you" in Italian). He was buried in the Campo Verano cemetery in Rome.

His Lasting Impact

Graffiti (mural) for Bud Spencer (2016 Filatorigát neighborhood, Budapest)

In 2018, Bud Spencer received the America Award after his death, from the Italy-USA Foundation.

In Hungary, where his movies were extremely popular, a large bronze statue of Bud Spencer was put up in downtown Budapest in 2017. His daughter, Cristiana, was there for the unveiling. The statue has a special message on its base that says, "Mi sohasem veszekedtünk" ("We Never Fought"). This was a quote from Terence Hill, talking about their long and wonderful friendship.

A video game called Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans, based on their movies, was released in 2018.

In 2021, the Bud Spencer Museum opened in Berlin, celebrating his life and career.

Movies and TV Shows

Film

Television

Video Games

See also

In Spanish: Bud Spencer para niños