Giovanni "Nello" Pazzafini was an actor and stuntman active in Italian films from the late 1950's until the early 1990's.
He was born on May 15th 1934 in Rome, Italy and died on November 27th 1997, aged 63.
His earliest known role comes from 1958, after which he quickly became one of the busiest stuntmen in peplum movies. When spaghetti westerns came along he scored a number of larger credited acting roles.
Nello's daughter, Laura, is active on Facebook, where she does a good job of keeping her father's name in the public eye.
I am sure there can still be additional roles to be found for Nello.
FILMOGRAPHY
- Afrodite, dea dell'amore (uncredited) .... Guard saving prisoners
1959 - Annibale (uncredited) .... Wrestler / Soldier
- Il figlio del corsaro rosso (uncredited) .... Spanish Soldier
- Il marito bello : il nemico di mia moglie (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Nando Terenzi's son
- Il terrore dei barbari (uncredited) .... Barbarian
- L'arciere nero (uncredited) .... Guard
1960 - Il cavaliere dai cento volti (uncredited) .... Gypsy who gets stabbed
- Il terrore della maschera rossa (uncredited) .... Guard
- La strada dei giganti (uncredited) .... Bouncer
- La vendetta dei barbari (uncredited) .... Visigoth warrior
- La Venere dei pirati (uncredited) .... Pirate
1961 - Goliath contro i Giganti (credited and Master of Arms) .... Jagoran
- Il colosso di Rodi (uncredited) .... Gong banger
- L'ultimo dei Vikinghi (uncredited) .... Viking
- La guerra di Troia (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Warrior in battle of strength
- La vendetta di Ursus (uncredited) .... Guard overseeing slaves at the mill
- Le baccantis (uncredited) .... Theban courtier
- Ursus e la ragazza tartara (uncredited) .... Tartar guard
1962 - 2 samurai per 100 geishe (uncredited) .... Martial arts trainer
- Il gladiatore di Roma (uncredited) .... Gladiator with Marcus
- Il trionfo di Robin Hood (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Black Peter
- Maciste contro i mostri (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Chief of the Cave People
- Ursus gladiatore ribelle (uncredited) .... Gladiator
1963 - Ercole contro Moloch (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Archepolos
- Golia e il cavaliere mascherato (uncredited) .... Gypsy
- L'invincibile cavaliere mascherato (credited?) .... Alonzo
- Maciste contro i cacciatori di teste (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Guna
- Maciste, l'eroe più grande del mondo (credited?) .... Gladiator
- Sansone contro i pirati (credited) .... Sandor
- Totò e Cleopatra (uncredited) .... Soldier (re-used footage)
- Ursus nella terra di fuoco (uncredited) .... Fighter
- Zorro contro Maciste (uncredited) .... Rebek henchman
1964 - Coriolano eroe senza patria (uncredited) .... Prisoner / Soldier
- Ercole contro Roma (credited) .... Segesto
- Gli invincibili dieci gladiatori (uncredited) .... Soldier (re-used footage)
- Gli invincibili tre (credited) .... Samur
- Gli schiavi più forti del mondo (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Rebel slave
- I due gladiatori (credited?) .... Captain of the guards
- I lunghi capelli della morte (credited as John Carey) .... Monk
- I magnifici brutos del West (uncredited) .... Henchman
- Il colosso di Roma (uncredited) .... Soldier (re-used footage)
- Il Leone di Tebe (credited) .... Wrestler
- Il magnifico gladiatore (uncredited) .... Gladiator
- Il ponte dei sospiri (uncredited) .... Bepi
- L'ultimo gladiatore (uncredited) .... Member of Lucilius's escort
- La rivolta dei barbari (uncredited) .... Revolting barbarian
- La vendetta di Spartacus (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Follower of Arminio
- Maciste alla corte dello zar (uncredited) .... Guardian of the cave
- Maciste, gladiatore di Sparta (uncredited) .... Gladiator
- Sandok, il Maciste della giungla (uncredited) .... Temple guard
- Sansone contro il corsaro nero (credited) .... Black pirate's lieutenant
- Zorikan lo sterminatore (credited) .... The Vizier
1965 - Adiós gringo (uncredited) .... Gil Clawson
- Asso di picche - Operazione controspionaggio (uncredited) .... Man on the boat
- Golia alla conquista di Bagdad (credited) .... Horval
- I predoni del Sahara (uncredited) .... Hamid
- Il mistero dell'isola maledetta (credited as Ted Carter) .... Malik
- Maciste il vendicatore dei Maya (uncredited) .... Ulmar
- Slalom (uncredited) .... Hitman at Nabila bar
- Un dollaro bucato (credited as Peter Surtess) .... Henchman
- Una vergine per il principe (uncredited) .... General
1966 - A Man Could Get Killed (credited) .... Abdul
- Agente 3S3, massacro al sole (uncredited) .... José
- Arizona Colt (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Clay
- La resa dei conti (credited) .... Hondo
- New York chiama Superdrago (uncredited) .... Opelsman
- Per pochi dollari ancora (credited as Red Carter) .... Sgt. Brian Pitt
- Un milione di dollari per sette assassini (credited as Red Carter) .... Bruto
- Zorro il ribelle (credited as Red Carter) .... Cobra
1967 - 7 pistole per un massacro (credited) .... King
- Faccia a faccia (credited) .... Vance
- I giorni della violenza (credited) .... Butch
- Il raggio infernale (credited as Ted Carter) .... Frank
- Killer calibro 32 (credited as Red Carter) .... Fitch
- La morte non conta i dollari (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Doc Lester
- Wanted (credited) .... Padre Carmelo
1968 - Carogne si nasce (credited) .... Alan Adams
- Corri uomo corri (credited) .... Riza
- Il pistolero segnato da Dio (credited) .... Circus ringmaster
- Joe... cercati un posto per morire! (credited) .... Fernando
- Killer, adios (credited) .... Jack Bradshaw
- Le dolci signore (uncredited) .... role?
- Vivo per la tua morte (credited as Ted Carter) .... Bill Savage
1969 - Cinque figli di cane (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Gangster brawling at brothel
- La battaglia di El Alamein (credited) .... Italian sergeant
- La legge dei gangsters (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Driver
- La morte sull'alta collina (uncredited) .... Billiard player
- Le calde notti di Poppea (credited) .... Padre Colonnius
- Zenabel (credited?) .... Captain in the inn
1970 - C'è Sartana... vendi la pistola e comprati la bara! (credited) .... Mantas
- Colpo rovente (credited) .... Not found
- La furia dei Khyber (credited) .... Tanauduriam
1971 - Confessione di un commissario di polizia al procuratore della repubblica (credited) .... Prisoner
- Gli fumavano le Colt... lo chiamavano Camposanto (credited) .... Cobra Ramirez
- L'arciere di fuoco (credited?) .... Little John
- L'uomo dagli occhi di ghiaccio (uncredited) .... Man in the elevator
- La spada normanna (credited) .... Ghippo
- Quel maledetto giorno della resa dei conti (credited) .... Convict
- Vivi ragazza vivi! (poster credit as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Captain Emmanuel
1972 - Alleluja e Sartana figli di... Dio (uncredited) .... One of The Wolf's men
- Amico, stammi lontano almeno un palmo (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Butch
- Boccaccio (uncredited) .... Husband of the woman in the tub
- ...E alla fine lo chiamarono Jerusalem l'implacabile (credited) .... Bullseye Joe
- Every Little Crook and Nanny (uncredited) .... Ganucci's bodyguard
- Girolimoni, il mostro di Roma (uncredited) .... Fiaccarini
- Il terrore con gli occhi storti (uncredited) .... Ivan
- Il West ti va stretto, amico... è arrivato Alleluja (credited?) .... Abel
- Poppea... una prostituta al servizio dell'impero (uncredited) .... Soldier (re-used footage)
- Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso (credited) .... Giovanni Rau
- Uomo avvisato mezzo ammazzato... Parola di Spirito Santo (credited) .... Colonel
- Trinità e Sartana figli di... (uncredited) .... Mexican soldier at the fort
1973 - Ci risiamo, vero Provvidenza? (credited) .... Gorilla
- Diario di una vergine romana (uncredited) .... Gong banger (re-used footage)
- Dio, sei proprio un padreterno! (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Thug in prison
- Elena sì... ma di Troia (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Tavern keeper
- Giovannona Coscialunga disonorata con onore (credited) .... Frenceschino
- Il consigliori (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Killer
- Lo chiamavano Tresette... giocava sempre col morto (credited) .... Cotton Joe
- Piedone lo sbirro (uncredited) .... Thug
- Storia de fratelli e de cortelli (uncredited) .... Gambler
- Troppo rischio per un uomo solo (credited) .... Prison inmate
- Una vita lunga un giorno (credited) .... Nello
1974 - Carambola (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Clydeson henchman
- De tresillo no hay más que uno (credited) .... Carlo Striker
- L'arbitro (uncredited) .... Pitch invader
- Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare (uncredited) .... Malone henchman
- Superuomini, superdonne, superbotte (uncredited) .... Fighter in the village
1975 - Africa Express (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Hunter henchman
- Colpo in canna (uncredited) .... Don Calo henchman
- Il lupo dei mari (credited) .... Ship crew member
- L'uomo della strada fa giustizia (uncredited) .... Grimetti
- La spacconata (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Card player
- Lo sgarbo (uncredited) .... Gambling hall bouncer
- Simone e Matteo: Un gioco da ragazzi (credited?) .... French seaman
1976 - 40 gradi all'ombra del lenzuolo (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Car dealer
- Il conto è chiuso (credited) .... Rico henchman
- Il secondo tragico Fantozzi (uncredited) .... Clown
- Il vangelo secondo Simone e Matteo (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Convict
- L'unica legge in cui credo (uncredited) .... Negro
- La madama (credited) .... Scagnozzi
- La poliziotta fa carriera (uncredited) .... Mojefuma
- San Pasquale Baylonne prottetore delle donne (credited?) .... Prospero
- Sangue di sbirro (uncredited) .... Man protecting Belle
- Squadra antifurto (uncredited) .... Ship's captain
1977 - Clouzot & C. contro Borsalino & C. (credited) .... Micione
- La belva col mitra (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Caporali
- La polizia è sconfitta (credited) .... Tunisian
- Mannaja (uncredited) .... Valler henchman
- Napoli si ribella (uncredited) .... Assassin of The Sheik
1978 - Il figlio dello sceicco (uncredited) .... Airport controller
- L'ultimo guappo (credited?) .... Salvatore
- La banda del gobbo (credited) .... Carmine Ciacci
- La liceale nella classe dei ripetenti (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Tecla's husband
- Lo chiamavano Bulldozer (uncredited) .... Thug
- Un poliziotto scomodo (uncredited) .... Gangster
1979 - Riavanti... Marsch! (credited) .... Bolchi
- S+H+E (uncredited) .... Hitman in the Roman forum
- Sette uomini d'oro nello spazio (uncredited) .... Security guard in the casino
- Un uomo in ginocchio (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Patranka
1980 - Il vizietto II (La cage aux folles II) (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Mangin
- L'uomo puma (uncredited) .... Kobras henchman
- La città delle donne (uncredited) .... Party guest
- Luca il contrabbandiere (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Traitor
1981 - Il cappotto di legno (credited) .... Al Carrera
- La nouvelle malle des Indes (TV mini series) (credited) .... Bartholdo
- La salamandra (uncredited) .... Manzini's bodyguard
- Napoli, Palermo, New York - Il triangolo della camorra (uncredited) .... Sgt. Martinez
- Una vacanza bestiale (uncredited) .... Captain of the guards
1982 - Ator 2: L'invincibile Orion (credited as Ned Steinberg) .... Wallon
- Banana Joe (credited) .... Torcillo's driver
- Bomber (uncredited) .... Bar customer
- Giovani, belle... probabilmente ricche (credited) .... Alfio
- Le cadeau / Il regalo (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Bodyguard of the emir of Qrator
- Tradimento (credited) .... Chiara
- Vieni avanti cretino (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Gargiulo
1983 - Endgame - Bronx lotta finale (credited as Nat Williams) .... Kijawa
- La guerra del ferro: Ironmaster (credited) .... One of Vood's tribe
1984 - Dagobert (uncredited) .... One of Dagobert's soldiers
- Non c'è due senza quattro (credited) .... Tango
1985 - Caccia al ladro d'autore (TV series) - episode 3: "Un galeone pieno di suoni" (uncredited) .... Pool hall thug
- L'alcova (uncredited) .... The gardener
- Ladyhawke (uncredited) .... One of Fornac's men
1986 - Il Bi e il Ba (uncredited) .... Gangster
1987 - The Barbarians and Co. (uncredited) .... Jacko's companion
1988 - Big Man: Polizza droga (TV) (credited) .... Mobster
1989 - I promessi sposi (TV mini-series) (credited as stuntman - as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Man in the angry crowd
- La piovra 4 (TV mini-series, episodes 1, 4 & 6) (credited) .... Girgenti
1991 - Piedipiatti (credited as Giovanni Pazzafini) .... Sailor
1992 - Cosi fan tutte (uncredited) .... Man on the bus
- L'urlo della verità (credited) .... Thug
Additional credits
- Western, Italian Style (TV documentary) (1968) .... Himself
Più Pazzafini!
There are plenty more titles where Nello is rumoured to appear that I have been unable to find copies of, so if anybody has any of the titles below you know what to do...
- Mission spéciale à Caracas (1965) IMDb
- Il maschio ruspante (1972) ANICA
- Carioca tigre (1976) IMDb
- Vento, vento, portali via con te (1976) ANICA
- Kenn' ich, weiß ich, war ich schon! (1981) IMDb as "Spaghetti-Schmeisser"
- Manolesta (1981) IMDb as Autista dell'Atac
- Sicilian connection (1987) IMDb
- Diritto di vivere (1990) ANICA
There are 4 additional titles I am aware of where Nello may appear which I am unable to add for reasons of information copyright
No Nello!
As always seems to be the case with actors with large online filmographies, there are a few titles where he is credited somewhere online, but either he does not appear or else I was unable to find him for some reason.
- La polizia incrimina, la legge assolve (1973) ANICA as Sicario
- Sistemo l'America e torno (1974) IMDb as Trainer of basketball team
- Zanna Bianca e il cacciatore solitario (1973) ANICA
- Carambola, filotto... tutti in buca (1975) Credited on IMDb as Henchman, but checked several times and not found
- Italia a mano armata (1976) IMDb as Prisoner
- L'adolescente (1976) IMDb
- Italia: Ultimo atto? (1977) IMDb
- L'importante è non farsi notare (1979) ANICA as Russian military
- Sabato, domenica e venerdì (1979) IMDb as Gustavo's brother
- Squadra antigangsters (1979) IMDb says he should appear in the pre-title sequence. The copy I watched didn't have a pre-title sequence.
- Bosco d'amore (1981) IMDb
- Ator l'invincibile (1982) IMDb as Bardak, credited as Nat Williams. The actor playing this role is definitely not Nello, who does appear in the sequel.
- Il mondo di Yor (1983) IMDb as Tribal elder. I posted images of this role, but popular opinion was that it was not Nello.
- She (1984) IMDb as Tribal member. Possibly confused with Nello's appearance in S+H+E?
- La vendetta (1989) IMDb as Gunman