Richard Harrison, genre film star, dies at 90

American actor Richard Harrison has died in Los Angeles at the age of 90 due to natural causes. His death was confirmed by producer and longtime friend Joan Borsten.

Harrison, who began his career in Hollywood in the 1950s, achieved significant fame in Europe after moving to Italy in the early 1960s. He became a prominent star in the peplum (sword-and-sandal) and Spaghetti Western genres, appearing in over 100 productions across Europe and Asia. Notable films in his career include ‘The Invincible Gladiator’ and ‘Gunfight in the Red Sands’ (Duello nel Texas), the latter featuring a score by Ennio Morricone.

He is famously remembered for a pivotal moment in cinema history: Harrison turned down the role of the unnamed stranger in Sergio Leone’s 1964 classic ‘A Fistful of Dollars’. Instead, he recommended Clint Eastwood for the part, a decision that helped launch Eastwood’s legendary career.