14 Facts About Terence Hill, Icon of the Spaghetti Western

Terence Hill came into the world on March 29, 1939, in Venice, Italy, under the name Mario Girotti. His father was Italian, his mother German. He spent part of his childhood in Germany, in the village of Lommatzsch, where his mother was from.

During the war years, the Girotti family lived temporarily in Saxony. They witnessed the bombing of Dresden up close. After the war, the family returned to Umbria, where Terence spent his school years.

At age 12, Mario was discovered by director Dino Risi during a swimming competition. He got a role in Vacanze col gangster (1951). That marked the start of his career as a child actor, which he combined with his studies and sports.

Alongside his acting work, Hill studied literature for a while. He was known for being more than just a film face: someone with broad interests who only later decided to focus entirely on film.

In the 1960s, he got the chance to break through internationally. Studios asked him to take an American-sounding name. From a list, he chose Terence Hill. His partner Carlo Pedersoli then became Bud Spencer.

Their first film together, God Forgives... I Don't! (1967), laid the foundation for dozens of successful films. Hill often played the quick, charming smooth talker; Spencer the clumsy but warmhearted powerhouse. Their partnership became beloved worldwide.

The films They Call Me Trinity (1970) and Trinity Is Still My Name (1971) made them internationally famous. With a mix of humor, western action, and parody, these films were at the time even the highest-grossing Italian productions ever made.

Strikingly, Hill didn't provide his own voice in many of his films. In the Italian versions, voice actors were often used instead. It wasn't until his later television work, such as Don Matteo, that he began using his own voice as standard.

Hill and his wife Lori adopted their son Ross in 1973. In 1990, Ross died in a car accident in Massachusetts. The loss deeply affected Hill, but despite his grief, he continued working in the film world.

Alongside his Italian passport, Hill also became a US citizen. In 2022, he additionally obtained German citizenship, through his mother's heritage. That gives him three nationalities.

Since 2000, Hill has played the lead in the television series Don Matteo, about a priest who solves murders. The series has been running for more than twenty years and is a massive success in Italy. Hill once again grew into an audience favorite through it.

Terence Hill didn't limit himself to acting. He directed films such as Don Camillo (1984) and Lucky Luke (1991). In 2018, he wrote and directed Il mio nome e Thomas, a project he himself called a spiritual tribute.

Hill is Catholic, and his faith plays a role in his choices. His connection to Umbria and his family ties always mattered deeply to him. Despite international fame, he remained rooted in his Italian background.

In 2017, the video game Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans was released, introducing new generations to their iconic film style. Festivals and museums also exist in honor of the duo. In 2010, Hill and Spencer jointly received a lifetime achievement award, confirming their status as cultural icons.