Claudio Camaso (born Claudio Volonté; 3 February 1939 – 16 September 1977) was an Italian actor, noted as much for his troubled, violent life as for his performances. He was the younger brother of Gian Maria Volonté.[2]
Claudio Volonté was born in Turin in 1939, in the days leading up to the Second World War. His father, Mario, was a committed fascist who commanded a unit of the paramilitary Black Brigades (Brigate Nera) at Chivasso during the final months of the Italian Social Republic, while his mother Carolina (née Bianchi) was a scion of the Milanese haute bourgeoisie.[3] In the aftermath of the war, Mario Volonté was sentenced to thirty years in prison upon being found guilty of aiding the military operations of the enemy "by ordering and participating in rounding up elements of the resistance movement in which many murders and robberies were committed".[4] Although excluded from the general amnesty pronounced by the then justice minister, Palmiro Togliatti, he only served eight years of his sentence.[3] His absence nevertheless led to a life of privations and hardships for the rest of the Volonté family.
Following in the footsteps of his elder brother Gian Maria, Claudio decided to become an actor, and at some point in the early 1960s he adopted the pseudonym of Claudio Camaso. From 1964 to 1976 Camaso appeared in more than twenty films, again emulating his brother by starring in Spaghetti Westerns such as Antonio Margheriti's film Vengeance (1968). Latterly he reverted back to his real name, maintaining a career as a supporting actor by participating in Westerns, gialli movies and lurid, low-budget mondo productions, of which CIA Secret Story (Faccia di spia; 1975) – his last film, in which he played Che Guevara – is perhaps a prime example.
Controversies
Unlike his brother, who was noted for his attachment to radical left-wing causes, Camaso's youth was marked by clear neo-fascist sympathies. While still a minor he was acquitted on a charge of taking part in a demonstration that damaged property owned by the Italian Communist Party (PCI), and he was later accused of being involved in a bomb attack on another Communist Party building.[5] In February 1965, Camaso was arrested while performing as an SS Officer in the controversial Rolf Hochhuth play The Deputy – a production that had already been subject to attempts by the authorities to close it down – and he was subsequently charged with planting a bomb that had damaged a side entrance to the Vatican City.[6] The Baltimore Sun reported that the police based their suspicions of Camaso on his past record and the fact that he sported a beard, which matched the description of one of the perpetrators given by an eyewitness; the newspaper also noted, however, that he had by this time apparently renounced his earlier extreme-right opinions and joined the Italian Socialist Party of Proletarian Unity (PSIUP).[5] Maintaining that he should not be judged by "my old judiciary errors", Camaso denied the charge made against him, claiming that he was in the company of his girlfriend on the evening when the crime took place.[6] Nine months on, in October, he was cleared by a magistrate on the grounds that he had "no case to answer".[7]
Murder of Vincenzo Mazza and suicide
In August 1977 Camaso was arrested for stabbing a man to death in a street brawl. Hank Werba, Rome bureau chief for the film industry magazine Variety, reported the situation thus:
Actor Claudio Volonte [sic], younger brother of Italo thesp Gian Maria Volonte, gave himself up to the police after he stabbed a friend to death in old Rome early this month. As he turned himself in, Volonte said the fatal stabbing of film gaffer Vincenzo Mazza was involuntary. The incident took place after Mazza intervened during a personal altercation between Volonte, under the influence of alcohol, and his ex-wife, a shopkeeper in Campo de' Fiori.[8]
The Italian communist daily l'Unità further reported that the incident had occurred on 26 July, not August as the Variety article had suggested, and that Camaso's young daughter Saba had witnessed the attack.[9]
On 16 September 1977, while in police custody, Camaso committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell in Regina Coeli prison.
^Mirko Capozzoli (9 March 2020), "Gian Maria Volonté - Biografia", www.mirkocapozzoli.it. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
^Fabio Melelli (2002). Altre storie del cinema italiano. Morlacchi, 2002. ISBN8887716900.
^ abEditorial staff (15 April 2019), "Gian Maria Volonte: Un attore contro", L'Intellettualle Dissidente. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
^Archivio di Stato di Torino, Corte d'Assise di Torino, Sezione Speciale, Fascicolo 191, Salone U, Scaffale 21 e seguenti - Sentenza contro Mario Volonté, 27 November 1946.
^ abWeldon Wallace, 'Vatican Bombing is Laid to Actor: Performer In 'The Deputy' Linked By Beard', Baltimore Sun, 19 February 1965, p. 1.
^ ab'Brother of Director of 'Deputy' Linked to Bombing', New York Times, 19 February 1965, p. 18.
^'Cleared of Vatican Bomb Charge', Times, 29 October 1965, p. 11.
^Hank Werba, 'Chatter: Rome', Variety, 17 August 1977, p. 61.
^Fulvio Casali, 'Si consegna in tribunale l'attore Claudio Volonté', l'Unità, 6 August 1977, p. 10.
claudio, camaso, born, claudio, volonté, february, 1939, september, 1977, italian, actor, noted, much, troubled, violent, life, performances, younger, brother, gian, maria, volonté, bornclaudio, volonté, 1939, february, 1939, turin, italydied16, september, 197. Claudio Camaso born Claudio Volonte 3 February 1939 16 September 1977 was an Italian actor noted as much for his troubled violent life as for his performances He was the younger brother of Gian Maria Volonte 2 Claudio CamasoBornClaudio Volonte 1939 02 03 3 February 1939 1 Turin ItalyDied16 September 1977 1977 09 16 aged 38 Rome ItalyCause of deathSuicide by hangingOther namesClaudio VolonteOccupationActorYears active1964 1976SpouseVerena BaerChildren1 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Controversies 3 Murder of Vincenzo Mazza and suicide 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career EditClaudio Volonte was born in Turin in 1939 in the days leading up to the Second World War His father Mario was a committed fascist who commanded a unit of the paramilitary Black Brigades Brigate Nera at Chivasso during the final months of the Italian Social Republic while his mother Carolina nee Bianchi was a scion of the Milanese haute bourgeoisie 3 In the aftermath of the war Mario Volonte was sentenced to thirty years in prison upon being found guilty of aiding the military operations of the enemy by ordering and participating in rounding up elements of the resistance movement in which many murders and robberies were committed 4 Although excluded from the general amnesty pronounced by the then justice minister Palmiro Togliatti he only served eight years of his sentence 3 His absence nevertheless led to a life of privations and hardships for the rest of the Volonte family Following in the footsteps of his elder brother Gian Maria Claudio decided to become an actor and at some point in the early 1960s he adopted the pseudonym of Claudio Camaso From 1964 to 1976 Camaso appeared in more than twenty films again emulating his brother by starring in Spaghetti Westerns such as Antonio Margheriti s film Vengeance 1968 Latterly he reverted back to his real name maintaining a career as a supporting actor by participating in Westerns gialli movies and lurid low budget mondo productions of which CIA Secret Story Faccia di spia 1975 his last film in which he played Che Guevara is perhaps a prime example Controversies EditUnlike his brother who was noted for his attachment to radical left wing causes Camaso s youth was marked by clear neo fascist sympathies While still a minor he was acquitted on a charge of taking part in a demonstration that damaged property owned by the Italian Communist Party PCI and he was later accused of being involved in a bomb attack on another Communist Party building 5 In February 1965 Camaso was arrested while performing as an SS Officer in the controversial Rolf Hochhuth play The Deputy a production that had already been subject to attempts by the authorities to close it down and he was subsequently charged with planting a bomb that had damaged a side entrance to the Vatican City 6 The Baltimore Sun reported that the police based their suspicions of Camaso on his past record and the fact that he sported a beard which matched the description of one of the perpetrators given by an eyewitness the newspaper also noted however that he had by this time apparently renounced his earlier extreme right opinions and joined the Italian Socialist Party of Proletarian Unity PSIUP 5 Maintaining that he should not be judged by my old judiciary errors Camaso denied the charge made against him claiming that he was in the company of his girlfriend on the evening when the crime took place 6 Nine months on in October he was cleared by a magistrate on the grounds that he had no case to answer 7 Murder of Vincenzo Mazza and suicide EditIn August 1977 Camaso was arrested for stabbing a man to death in a street brawl Hank Werba Rome bureau chief for the film industry magazine Variety reported the situation thus Actor Claudio Volonte sic younger brother of Italo thesp Gian Maria Volonte gave himself up to the police after he stabbed a friend to death in old Rome early this month As he turned himself in Volonte said the fatal stabbing of film gaffer Vincenzo Mazza was involuntary The incident took place after Mazza intervened during a personal altercation between Volonte under the influence of alcohol and his ex wife a shopkeeper in Campo de Fiori 8 The Italian communist daily l Unita further reported that the incident had occurred on 26 July not August as the Variety article had suggested and that Camaso s young daughter Saba had witnessed the attack 9 On 16 September 1977 while in police custody Camaso committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell in Regina Coeli prison Filmography EditYear Title Role Notes1965 I Knew Her Well Adriana s First Boyfriend1966 Wake Up and Die Franco MagniFury in Marrakesh as Claudio VolonteMaigret and His Greatest Case Giorgio Genaro1967 Ten Thousand Dollars for a Massacre Manuel VasqiezFire of LoveJohn the Bastard Don Francisco Tenorio1968 Cronica de un atraco ScottPer 100 000 dollari ti ammazzo Clint ForestVengeance Professor MendozaGarter Colt Red Rosso 1969 The Unnaturals Alfred Sinclair1971 La grande scrofa nera as Claudio VolonteA Bay of Blood Simon as Claudio Volonte1974 All Screwed Up Bruno cook from Turin as Claudio VolonteIl tempo dell inizio Medico Servo di 1 categoria as Claudio Volonte1975 Faccia di spia Che Guevara as Claudio VolonteReferences Edit Mirko Capozzoli 9 March 2020 Gian Maria Volonte Biografia www mirkocapozzoli it Retrieved 21 June 2021 Fabio Melelli 2002 Altre storie del cinema italiano Morlacchi 2002 ISBN 8887716900 a b Editorial staff 15 April 2019 Gian Maria Volonte Un attore contro L Intellettualle Dissidente Retrieved 21 June 2021 Archivio di Stato di Torino Corte d Assise di Torino Sezione Speciale Fascicolo 191 Salone U Scaffale 21 e seguenti Sentenza contro Mario Volonte 27 November 1946 a b Weldon Wallace Vatican Bombing is Laid to Actor Performer In The Deputy Linked By Beard Baltimore Sun 19 February 1965 p 1 a b Brother of Director of Deputy Linked to Bombing New York Times 19 February 1965 p 18 Cleared of Vatican Bomb Charge Times 29 October 1965 p 11 Hank Werba Chatter Rome Variety 17 August 1977 p 61 Fulvio Casali Si consegna in tribunale l attore Claudio Volonte l Unita 6 August 1977 p 10 External links EditClaudio Camaso at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Claudio Camaso amp oldid 1092949270, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
