Terence Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Terence Hill
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Hill in 2018
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| Born |
Mario Girotti
29 March 1939 |
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| Years active | 1951–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Lori Zwicklbauer
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 2 |
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Terence Hill (born Mario Girotti; 29 March 1939) is a famous Italian actor, film director, writer, and producer. He started acting when he was a child. He became very well-known for his action and comedy movies, especially those he made with his long-time friend and acting partner, Bud Spencer. When he was most popular, Terence Hill was one of the highest-paid actors in Italy.
Some of his most famous films include funny Westerns, often called "spaghetti Westerns." Many of these movies were inspired by books from a German writer named Karl May about the Wild West. His most famous films are They Call Me Trinity (1970) and Trinity Is Still My Name (1971). Trinity Is Still My Name was the highest-earning Italian film at that time! He also starred in My Name Is Nobody (1973) with the famous actor Henry Fonda. Later in his career, Hill became very successful on Italian television. He played the main character in the popular TV series Don Matteo from 2000 to 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Terence Hill was born on March 29, 1939, in Venice, Italy. His mother, Hildegard Girotti, was German, and his father, Girolamo Girotti, was Italian and worked as a chemist.
During his childhood, Hill lived in a small German town called Lommatzsch in Saxony. He stayed there until the end of World War II.
Becoming an Actor
Starting as a Child Actor
Terence Hill was discovered when he was just 12 years old. An Italian filmmaker named Dino Risi saw him at a swimming competition. Soon after, he became a child actor. His first role was in Risi's film Vacation with a Gangster (1951), where he played Gianni, the leader of a group of orphans. He later said, "They were looking for a boy gang leader and they found me."
He had small parts in other films like Voice of Silence (1953) and It Happened in the Park (1953). He also appeared in Golden Vein (1954) and Folgore Division (1955).
Becoming a Leading Man
Terence Hill got his first main role in the movie Guaglione (1956). He also appeared in The Wide Blue Road (1956) and Lazzarella (1957).
He worked with famous actors like Gina Lollobrigida in Anna of Brooklyn (1958). In Hannibal (1959), he acted alongside Carlo Pedersoli, who would later become known as Bud Spencer. Hill also had lead roles in teen comedies like Cerasella (1959).
He continued to take on supporting roles in big films such as Carthage in Flames (1960) and The Story of Joseph and His Brethren (1961). He also appeared in The Wonders of Aladdin (1961) and Seven Seas to Calais (1962).
A very important role for him was in Luchino Visconti's big film The Leopard (1963). In this movie, he acted with Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. During this time, he also studied classical literature at an Italian university for three years.
Working in Germany
In 1964, Terence Hill went back to Germany. There, he starred in many adventure and Western films. These movies were based on popular novels by the German author Karl May. Some of these films included Last of the Renegades (1964) and three movies with Stewart Granger: Amongst Vultures (1964), The Oil Prince (1965), and Old Surehand (1965). He also appeared in Duel at Sundown (1965).
In 1967, he returned to Italy for the film Io non protesto, io amo.
Partnership with Bud Spencer
Terence Hill then starred with Bud Spencer (who was still known as Carlo Pedersoli) in the Western film God Forgives... I Don't! (1967). Even though they were in the same movie, Hannibal in 1959, they didn't actually meet during filming. For Westerns, actors often used American-sounding names to help sell the movies in other countries. That's when Mario Girotti changed his name to "Terence Hill." He chose it from a list of 20 names he was given. This movie was a huge success and made him a star!
After this, Hill made Django, Prepare a Coffin (1968), where he played the character Django. He then reunited with Spencer for Ace High (1968) and Boot Hill (1969).
A massive hit for both Hill and Spencer was the comedy Western They Call Me Trinity (1971). Hill also made a pirate movie called Blackie the Pirate (1971), where Spencer had a small part. They then teamed up again for a sequel to Trinity, called Trinity Is Still My Name (1972). This movie was even more popular than the first one!
Hill and Spencer continued to make movies together, including ... All the Way, Boys! (1972), which was their first adventure film that wasn't a Western.
International Success
Terence Hill has said that My Name Is Nobody (1973) is his favorite film. In this movie, he starred with the legendary actor Henry Fonda. The idea for the film came from the famous director Sergio Leone.
Hill and Spencer starred together again in Watch Out, We're Mad! (1974) and Two Missionaries (1974). Hill then made a Western without Spencer, A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (1975). He later moved from Italy to live in the United States.
He made his first English-language film, Mr. Billion (1977). After returning to Italy for Crime Busters (1977) with Spencer, Hill made another English film, March or Die (1977).
It's interesting to know that even though Terence Hill speaks both Italian and English very well, other actors often provided his voice in his films. This is called "dubbing." In the Italian versions, different actors voiced him until the 1970s, when Pino Locchi became his main voice. For the English versions, Lloyd Battista dubbed him in several films. However, from Mr. Billion onwards, Hill started to dub his own English voice.
Hill and Spencer continued their successful partnership in films like Odds and Evens (1978), I'm for the Hippopotamus (1979), Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure (1981), and Go for It (1983).
Directing and Television Career
Becoming a Director
Terence Hill started directing films himself. He directed, produced, and starred in The World of Don Camillo (1984). He also teamed up with Spencer for Double Trouble (1984) and Miami Supercops (1985). Hill also wrote the story for They Call Me Renegade (1987).
Television Success
Hill directed and starred in the film Lucky Luke (1991), which was filmed in the United States. This movie led to a TV series of the same name.
He worked with Bud Spencer one last time in Troublemakers (1994), which Hill also directed.
In 2000, he got the main role in the Italian TV series Don Matteo. In this show, he plays a kind parish priest who helps the police solve crimes in his community. This role was very popular and earned him an award for "Outstanding Actor of the Year" at the Monte Carlo Television Festival.
While working on Don Matteo, he also appeared in and co-directed TV movies like Doc West (2009) and Triggerman (2009). In 2010, he filmed another Italian TV series called Un passo dal cielo (One Step from Heaven), where he played a chief of the state foresters.
In 2018, Hill directed and starred in the film My Name Is Thomas. The same year, a video game called Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans was released, featuring both him and Bud Spencer.
Life Outside Movies
Terence Hill is married to Lori Hill. They had two sons, Jess (born 1969) and Ross (1973–1990). Sadly, Ross died in a car accident in 1990 in the U.S. This happened while Hill was getting ready to film Lucky Luke (1991).
He is a citizen of the United States. In 2022, he also received German citizenship because his mother was German.
Images for kids
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Terence Hill's signature
See also
In Spanish: Terence Hill para niños
