Carlo Pedersoli

Carlo Pedersoli was born in Santa Lucia but later became known as Bud Spencer, a stage name by which he became well known in Italian film, mostly know in “Italian Westerns.” As a swimmer he won a silver medal at the 1951 Mediterranean Games and won the 1954 Italian title in water polo with SS Lazio. His first movie role came in 1951 but he considered himself minor league until the late 1960s. Prior to that time he earned a degree in law, registered several patents, and became a commercial airline and helicopter pilot.

In the 1970s and 80s Spencer appeared in multiple Italian films mostly with his extremely blue-eyed compatriot Terence Hill (alias Mario Girotti). He also served as a producer and director later in his career. In 1984 he established Mistral Air, an air-mail company that transported pilgrims, but he later sold the company. In 2005 he entered politics with little success, but he did serve for a few years at the Italian Embassy in Brazil.

In October 2021, to commemorate his activities as an actor in the series “The Italian Excellence of the Show”, an Italian postage stamp was released in his honour.