Antonio Cantafora (2 February 1944 – 20 April 2024), also known professionally as Michael Coby, was an Italian film and television actor.

Antonio Cantafora
Born(1944-02-02)2 February 1944
Died20 April 2024(2024-04-20) (aged 80)
Rome, Italy
Other namesMichael Coby

Life and career

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Born in Crotone, Cantafora studied acting with Alessandro Fersen, then he made his film debut in 1967.[1] Between 1973 and 1977, he made a series of films with Paul L. Smith, a couple formed with the purpose of copying the successful films of the duo Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.[2][3] Smith played Bud Spencer-like characters, while Coby was thanks to a vague resemblance a Terence Hill lookalike.[4] [1][5] Later Cantafora continued his career mainly as a character actor, working with prominent directors such as Federico Fellini, Jerzy Skolimowski, Bruno Barreto, Alberto Lattuada, Mauro Bolognini.[1] Cantafora died of a heart attack in Rome on 20 April 2024, aged 80.[6][7]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Enrico Lancia,Roberto Poppi. Gli attori. Gremese Editore, 2003.
  2. ^ Hughes 2004, p. 238.
  3. ^ Paolo Mereghetti. Il Mereghetti - Dizionario dei film. B.C. Dalai Editore, 2010. ISBN 8860736269.
  4. ^ Heger, Christian (2019). Die rechte und die linke Hand der Parodie - Bud Spencer, Terence Hill und ihre Filme (in German). Marburg, Germany: Schüren Verlag GmbH. p. 113. ISBN 978-3-7410-0333-2.
  5. ^ Marco Bertolino, Ettore Ridola. Bud Spencer & Terence Hill. Gremese Editore, 2002.
  6. ^ "Si è spento a Roma Antonio Cantafora, attore e pittore crotonese" (in Italian). il Crotonese. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  7. ^ Redazione (20 April 2024). "Morto l'attore Antonio Cantafora. Recitò con Fellini, Lattuada e Bolognini". Esperia Tv (in Italian). Retrieved 22 April 2024.

Sources

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