Messina, Roberto


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Messina, Roberto

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:28

Niente rose per OSS 117 (1968).jpg
Roberto Messina in Niente rose per OSS 117 (1968)

Roberto Messina was a stuntman, actor and stunt co-ordinator active in Italian films from the start of the 60’s until the end of the 70’s and in international films into the early 90’s.

Roberto was born in Casablanca, Morocco on January 2nd 1934. He was the older brother of stuntman Emilio Messina.

Along with his brother Emilio, alongside whom he often appeared, he first appeared in peplums, then continued working steadily through the cycles of the eurospy, spaghetti western and poliziotteschi genres. On those occasions where he was credited it was often under the pseudonym of Bob or Robert Messenger. He also worked as an Italian dubbing artist for Italian films and later as a stunt co-ordinator.

At the start of the 80’s both brothers relocated to Florida, USA and throughout the next decade he continued to work as a stuntman and stunt co-ordinator, predominantly for Italian productions shot in Florida.

News has come via Facebook, reportedly originating from Roberto's grandson, that he passed away on January 9th 2024, aged 90.

Filmography as actor

1962
  1. L'ira di Achille .... Soldier (uncredited)
  2. Maciste, il gladiatore più forte del mondo .... Gladiator / Tavern brawler (uncredited)
  3. Sodoma e Gomorra .... Hebrew (credited as "Emilio and Roberto Messina")

    1963
  4. Ercole contro Moloch .... Gladiator prisoner (uncredited)
  5. I dieci gladiatori .... Praetorian / Gladiator (uncredited)
  6. Il duca nero .... Soldier (uncredited)
  7. Maciste, l'eroe più grande del mondo .... Prison guard (uncredited)

    1964
  8. Ercole l'invincibile .... Guard / Liberated prisoner (uncredited)
  9. Gli invincibili dieci gladiatori .... Man in Spartacus' camp (uncredited)
  10. I magnifici brutos del West .... One of Tom's men (uncredited)
  11. I tre centurioni .... Wrestler (uncredited)
  12. Il colosso di Roma .... Guard outside Porsenna's tent (uncredited)
  13. Il magnifico gladiatore .... Dacian prisoner (uncredited)
  14. Il trionfo dei dieci gladiatori .... Soldier / Gladiator / Freedom fighter (uncredited)
  15. Il trionfo di Ercole .... Golden fighter (uncredited)
  16. L'ultimo gladiatore .... Guard at the arena (uncredited)
  17. La spia che venne dall'ovest .... Furio (uncredited)
  18. Le maledette pistole di Dallas .... Zeke (credited as "Rob Messanger")
  19. Maciste gladiatore di Sparta .... Gladiator (uncredited)
  20. Queste pazze pazze donne .... Thug in disco brawl (uncredited)
  21. The Fall of the Roman Empire .... Gladiator (uncredited)
  22. Tre dollari di piombo .... Mark (credited as "Rob Messanger")

    1965
  23. Asso di picche - Operazione controspionaggio .... Oakes henchman (uncredited)
  24. Il boia scarlatto .... One of Anderson's henchmen (credited as "Robert Messenger")
  25. La magnifica sfida .... unknown role (credited)
  26. Operazione poker .... Omar, OS-10 (credited as "Bob Messenger")
  27. Superseven chiama Cairo .... Trainer (uncredited)

    1966
  28. Agente segreto 070 thunderbay missione grasshopper .... Sgt. Bear of Scotland Yard (credited as "Bob Messanger")
  29. James Tont operazione D.U.E. .... Spring henchman (uncredited)
  30. L'affare Beckett.... Hammond (credited as "Bob Messenger")
  31. Le spie amano i fiori .... Henchman in street fight (uncredited)
  32. Uno sceriffo tutto d'oro .... Jane's husband (credited as "Bob Messenger")
  33. Un angelo per Satana .... Villager (uncredited)

    1967
  34. Bandidos .... Doc (credited)
  35. Il figlio di Django .... Logan (credited as "Bob Messenger")
  36. Il magnifico Texano .... Deputy (uncredited)
  37. Kommissar X - Drei grüne Hunde / Strategic command chiama Jo Walker .... Khemal hanchman (uncredited)
  38. Per 100.000 dollari t'ammazzo .... Soldier (uncredited)
  39. Un colpo da re .... Truefinger (unconfirmed role - credited as "Bob Messenger")

    1968
  40. Angelica e il gran sultano .... Seaman (uncredited)
  41. Carogne si nasce .... Bill Ryan (uncredited)
  42. L'invincibile Superman .... Wrestler fighting Superargo (uncredited)
  43. Niente rose per OSS 117 .... Assistant to OSS 117 (uncredited)
  44. T'ammazzo!... Raccomandati a Dio .... Ralph (credited)
  45. Uno dopo l'altro .... Bartender (uncredited)

    1969
  46. 5 per l'inferno .... German soldier (uncredited)
  47. Gli specialisti .... One of Boot's friends (uncredited)
  48. Le calde notti di Poppea .... One of Druso's men (uncredited)
  49. Sono Sartana, il vostro becchino .... Gunman (uncredited)
  50. Una lunga fila di croci .... Rodriguez (uncredited)

    1970
  51. Le Mans - Scorciatoia per l'inferno .... Race car driver (uncredited)
  52. Lo chiamavano Trinità... .... Brawler (uncredited)
  53. Wanted Sabata .... Conrad Hilton (credited)

    1971
  54. Arriva Durango... pago o muori .... Morris (credited)
  55. Continuavano a chiamarlo Trinità .... Monastery attack henchman (uncredited)
  56. È tornato Sabata... hai chiuso un'altra volta! .... McLintock henchman (uncredited)
  57. Il diavolo a sette facce .... Driver in car chase (credited)
  58. Il giorno del giudizio .... Poker player (uncredited)
  59. Il ritorno del gladiatore più forte del mondo .... Soldier at the tavern (uncredited)
  60. Kommissar X jagt die roten Tiger / F.B.I. operazione Pakistan .... Bosco (credited)
  61. Quel maledetto giorno della resa dei conti .... Barroom brawler (uncredited)
  62. Se t'incontro t'ammazzo .... Outlaw (uncredited)

    1972
  63. Afyon oppio .... Henchman (credited)
  64. E poi lo chiamarono il magnifico .... Barman (uncredited)
  65. I bandoleros della dodicesima ora .... Saloon diner (uncredited)
  66. Il prode Anselmo e il suo scudiero .... One of Ottone's men (uncredited)
  67. Io monaca... per tre carogne e sette peccatrici .... One of Shaw's brawlers (credited)
  68. Poppea... una prostituta al servizio dell'impero .... Cook in first tavern / Gladiator / Thermae brawler (uncredited)
  69. Seminò morte... lo chiamavano il Castigo di Dio! .... Miller henchman (credited)
  70. Sotto a chi tocca .... unknown role (uncredited)

    1973
  71. Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli .... Tag wrestler (uncredited)
  72. Dagli archivi della polizia criminale .... unknown role
  73. ...E il terzo giorno arrivò il corvo .... Gunman (uncredited) (re-used footage)
  74. Kid il monello del west .... Saloon brawler (uncredited)
  75. Ming, ragazzi! .... Footballer (uncredited)
  76. Piazza pulita .... Pole henchman (uncredited)
  77. Piedone lo sbirro .... Tunis fighter (uncredited)
  78. Provaci anche tu, Lionel .... Goran henchman (credited)
  79. Sentivano uno strano, eccitante, pericoloso puzzo di dollari .... Bank employee-henchman (uncredited)

    1974
  80. ...altrimenti ci arrabbiamo! .... Gymnast (uncredited)
  81. Arrivano Joe e Margherito .... Henchman (credited)
  82. Carambola .... Clydeson henchman (uncredited)
  83. Il bestione .... Thug (uncredited)
  84. Le amanti del mostro .... Farmer (uncredited)
  85. Processo per direttissima .... Assailant of Laura Baldini (uncredited)
  86. Quelli che contano .... Henchman in red (uncredited)
  87. The Arena / La rivolta delle gladiatrici .... Gladiator (uncredited)

    1975
  88. Carambola, filotto... tutti in buca .... Bakery brawler (uncredited as actor)
  89. Colpo in canna .... Don Calo henchman (uncredited)
  90. L'esorciccio .... Man in Pasquale's garage (uncredited)
  91. Noi non siamo angeli .... Boxing referee (credited as Stunt man)
  92. Simone e Matteo - Un gioco da ragazzi .... Henchman on ship (uncredited as actor)

    1976
  93. Il vangelo secondo Simone e Matteo .... Cook (uncredited)
  94. Keoma .... Caldwell henchman / Caldwell henchman (uncredited)
  95. Quelli della calibro 38 .... Saro Nistri's henchman (uncredited)
  96. Squadra antifurto .... Commissioner Tozzi (credited)
  97. Squadra antiscippo .... Commissioner Tozzi (credited)

    1977
  98. Cuibul salamandrelor .... Fred (credited)
  99. I due superpiedi quasi piatti .... Fred henchman (credited)
  100. La malavita attacca. La polizia risponde .... Gunman at the Alicomo (uncredited)
  101. La polizia è sconfitta .... Friend of the Tunisian (uncredited)
  102. Mannaja .... Rebelling miner (uncredited)
  103. Squadra antitruffa .... Commissioner Tozzi (credited)
  104. Zanna Bianca e il grande Kid .... Miner (uncredited as actor)

    1978
  105. Battaglie negli spazi stellari .... Guard (uncredited)
  106. Il commissario di ferro .... Kidnapper who collects the ransom money (uncredited)
  107. Il figlio dello sceicco .... Bedouin leader (credited)
  108. Non sparate sui bambini .... Beaumont henchman (uncredited)
  109. Piedone l'africano .... Police nun (uncredited)
  110. Quel maledetto treno blindato .... American prisoner (uncredited)
  111. Sam & Sally (TV series) - season 1, ep. 2: "Bedelia" .... Henchman (uncredited)
  112. Scontri stellari oltre la terza dimensione .... Soldier (uncredited)
  113. Squadra antimafia .... Commissioner Tozzi (credited)
  114. Un poliziotto scomodo .... Corchi henchman (uncredited)

    1979
  115. Return of the Saint (TV series) - ep. 19: "Murder Cartel" .... Mario (credited)
  116. Sette uomini d'oro nello spazio .... Boxing match referee (uncredited)
  117. Torino centrale del vizio .... Henchman (uncredited)

    1980
  118. Popeye .... Gozo (credited)

    1981
  119. Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro .... Pirate (uncredited)

    1983
  120. Cane e gatto .... One of Don Salvatore's men (uncredited)

    1984
  121. Jungle Warriors .... (credit only)

    1985
  122. Miami supercops .... Duran henchman (uncredited)

    1989
  123. Bersaglio sull'autostrada .... Bodyguard (credited)

    1992
  124. Out of Control .... Collins (credited as "Robert Messina")
Roberto's Production Credits

1964
  1. Le maledette pistole di Dallas .... Credited as Consulenze acrobatiche

    1965
  2. Operazione poker …. Credited for Special Effects

    1966
  3. Uno sceriffo tutto d'oro .... Credited as Maestro d'armi

    1970
  4. Wanted Sabata .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1971
  5. Arriva Durango... pago o muori .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1972
  6. Io monaca... per tre carogne e sette peccatrici .... Credited as Stunt coordinator
  7. Seminò morte... lo chiamavano il Castigo di Dio! .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1975
  8. Carambola, filotto... tutti in buca .... Credited as Maestro d'armi
  9. Simone e Matteo - Un gioco da ragazzi .... Credited for Special effects

    1977
  10. Zanna Bianca e il grande Kid .... Credited as Stunt co-ordinator

    1980
  11. Popeye .... Credited as Stunt co-ordinator

    1981
  12. Freddie of the Jungle .... Credited as Stunt co-ordinator

    1984
  13. Jungle Warriors .... Credited as Stunt co-ordinator

    1985
  14. Final Justice .... Credited as Stunt co-ordinator

    1989
  15. Bersaglio sull'autostrada .... Credited as Director of 2nd unit
  16. Cat Chaser .... Credited as Stunt co-ordinator
  17. Curse II: The Bite .... Credited as "Robert Messina", as Stunt co-ordinator
  18. Sonny Boy .... Credited as "Robert Messina", as Stunts

    1992
  19. Out of Control .... Credited as "Robert Messina", as Stunt co-ordinator

    1994
  20. Botte di Natale.... Credited as Stunt

More Roberto!
There are still a few movies where Roberto is credited by various online sources, so if anybody has images of him in the films below you know what to do.
  • Quel giorno Dio non c'era (Il caso Defregger) (1969) - IMDb, ANICA
  • La modification (1970) - IMDb as Policeman
  • Senza famiglia, nullatenenti cercano affetto (1972). He plays a rioter, identifiable from his unique comb-over, but I couldn't get any usable shots of him from the rather soft "HD" copy on You Tube.
  • S+H+E (1980) I'm pretty certain he plays one of the henchmen who make a human bridge, but it would take a good quality copy to confirm this and to get images.

Messina is missing!
As often seems to be the case we also have a selection of films where Roberto is credited by some online resource, but where we have been unable to find him.
  • Asso di picche - Operazione controspionaggio (1965) - IMDb with no role given, Emilio appears but Roberto doesn't.
  • Spara, Gringo, spara (1968) - IMDb as Soldier in Doneghan's Army. Not found.
  • Gli fumavano le Colt... lo chiamavano Camposanto (1971) - IMDb as Saloon patron. Searched for by several people, but not found.
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 17/03/2024, 13:42, edited 59 times in total.

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:31

L'ira di Achille (1962) as Soldier
robertomessina.jpg

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:33

Maciste, il gladiatore più forte del mondo (1962) in dual roles as Tavern brawler and Gladiator
robertomessina4.jpg
robertomessina3.jpg
robertomessina6.jpg
robertomessina2.jpg
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 30/08/2021, 10:36, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:36

Sodoma e Gomorra (1962) credited as "Emilio and Roberto Messina", but barely seen, as Hebrew and now added in a second role as a Courtier
messinar2.jpg
messinar3.jpg
messinar.jpg
messinar4.jpg
Images upgraded, second role added
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 16/12/2021, 11:06, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:40

Ercole contro Moloch (1963) as Gladiator
robertomessina.jpg

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:43

I dieci gladiatori (1963) in duel roles as Praetorian (according to IMDb this role is called Methodius) and Gladiator
MESSINAR2.png
MESSINAR.png

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:46

Il duca nero (1963) as Soldier. That's him with his head down, in the film he's identifiable but is constantly moving so this is the nearest you can get to a good shot of him.
messina.jpg

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 11:49

Ercole l'invincibile (1964) in dual roles as a Guard and a Liberated prisoner
messinar.jpg
messinar2.jpg
messinar3.jpg
messinar4.jpg
messinar5.jpg
Images upgraded, 2nd role added
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 06/12/2022, 10:37, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 12:07

I tre centurioni (1964) as Wrestler
messinar.jpg
messinar2.jpg
messinar3.jpg
messinar5.jpg
messinar6.jpg

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Re: Roberto Messina

Post by PeplumParadise » 25/05/2020, 12:10

Il colosso di Roma (1964) as Guard outside Porsenna's tent
messinar.jpg

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