Carlo Pedersoli, known worldwide as Bud Spencer, was born on October 31, 1929, in Naples, Italy. His family was well-off and belonged to the Neapolitan middle class. His father was Alessandro Pedersoli, an industrialist, and his mother was Rosa Facchetti. The family valued education and sports, and Bud showed an early aptitude for both.
Early Life:
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As a young man, Carlo Pedersoli was a bright student. He completed high school with excellent marks and briefly studied chemistry at the University of Rome La Sapienza.
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However, his true passion was sports. By his early twenties, he became a prominent competitive swimmer, even representing Italy in the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He was the first Italian to swim the 100-meter freestyle in under one minute.
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Outside swimming, he also played water polo at a high level and won championships with Italian clubs.
How He Got into Acting:
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After retiring from competitive sports, Carlo Pedersoli needed a new path. His towering height (1.92 meters / 6'4") and burly physique naturally attracted attention in the film industry.
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He first appeared as a stuntman and extra in Italian peplum (sword-and-sandal) films during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
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His official screen name "Bud Spencer" came later. "Bud" was inspired by his favorite American beer, Budweiser, and "Spencer" as a nod to Spencer Tracy, one of his favorite actors.
Transition to Stardom:
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His big break came when he was cast alongside Mario Girotti (Terence Hill) in western comedies that would define both their careers. Their first major hit together was "God Forgives... I Don't!" (1967).
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Bud Spencer's on-screen persona was shaped by his size, sense of humor, and charisma. He usually played the gruff, strong, yet good-hearted character who resolved conflicts with his fists rather than guns.
Terence Hill, born Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939, in Venice, Italy, came from a different background than Bud Spencer. His upbringing blended both Italian and German influences.
Family and Early Life:
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Father: Girolamo Girotti, an Italian chemist.
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Mother: Hildegard Thieme, a German from Dresden, which made Mario bilingual from a young age.
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During World War II, his family moved to Germany to avoid the bombings in Italy, living in Dresden during some of the war’s final years. This experience left a lasting impression on him, especially witnessing the destruction of Dresden.
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After the war, the family returned to Italy, settling in Rome.
Path to Acting:
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Terence Hill’s entry into acting happened by pure chance. At age 12, a director spotted him at a swimming pool in Rome. His blonde hair and striking looks made him stand out.
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He began appearing as a child and teenage actor in Italian films in the early 1950s, often playing noble or romantic roles, quite different from his later action-comedy image.
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At the same time, he pursued academic studies. He attended the University of Rome La Sapienza where he studied classical literature and philosophy, showing an interest in intellectual pursuits beyond acting.
How "Terence Hill" Was Born:
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By the mid-1960s, as Italian cinema shifted toward Spaghetti Westerns and international markets, producers encouraged Italian actors to adopt English-sounding names to appeal to global audiences.
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Mario Girotti chose the name Terence Hill reportedly from a list provided by producers. It’s said he picked it partly because it contained the initials of his mother’s name, Hildegard Thieme.
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His athletic ability, combined with his experience as a young actor, made him a natural fit for physically demanding roles.
The Turning Point:
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His real breakthrough came when paired with Bud Spencer. Their on-screen chemistry was instant: Terence playing the agile, sharp-tongued, charming character, while Bud played the heavy-fisted, gruff counterpart.
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Their first major collaboration was "God Forgives... I Don’t!" (1967), just like Bud.
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Together, they became icons of a uniquely Italian style of Western and action-comedy film.
Here’s a clean, focused list of all the films where Terence Hill and Bud Spencer starred together as a duo—excluding ensemble films or cameos. These are movies where both are co-leads and share most of the screen time together:
Official Terence Hill & Bud Spencer Duo Films:
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God Forgives... I Don’t! (1967)
(Dio perdona... io no!) -
Ace High (1968)
(I quattro dell'Ave Maria) -
Boot Hill (1969)
(La collina degli stivali) -
They Call Me Trinity (1970)
(Lo chiamavano Trinità...) -
Trinity Is Still My Name (1971)
(...continuavano a chiamarlo Trinità) -
All the Way, Boys (1972)
(Più forte, ragazzi!) -
Crime Busters (1977)
(I due superpiedi quasi piatti) -
Odds and Evens (1978)
(Pari e dispari) -
I’m for the Hippopotamus (1979)
(Io sto con gli ippopotami) -
Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure (1981)
(Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro) -
Go for It (1983)
(Nati con la camicia) -
Double Trouble (1984)
(Non c'è due senza quattro) -
Miami Supercops (1985)
(Poliziotti dell'8ª strada) -
Troublemakers (1994)
(Botte di Natale)
✅ Notes:
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This list covers their classic filmography as a duo between 1967–1994.
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These are considered the official "Hill & Spencer films" where the story revolves around just the two of them—no supporting ensemble overshadowing their partnership.
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Their final film together was Troublemakers in 1994, a Christmas-themed Western comedy.
Here’s a focused list of films where Bud Spencer starred without Terence Hill—either solo or with other co-stars. This covers both his action-comedy and more serious roles, but excludes their joint films:
Bud Spencer’s Solo Films & Projects (Without Terence Hill):
1. It Can Be Done Amigo (1972)
(Si può fare... amigo)
With: Jack Palance
2. Even Angels Eat Beans (1973)
(Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli)
With: Giuliano Gemma
3. Flatfoot (Piedone) Series
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Flatfoot (Piedone lo sbirro) (1973)
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Flatfoot in Hong Kong (Piedone a Hong Kong) (1975)
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Flatfoot in Africa (Piedone l'africano) (1978)
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Flatfoot in Egypt (Piedone d'Egitto) (1980)
Bud plays Inspector "Flatfoot" Rizzo, a tough but kind-hearted Naples cop.
4. The Five Man Army (1969)
(Un esercito di cinque uomini)
With: Peter Graves
5. They Called Him Bulldozer (1978)
(Lo chiamavano Bulldozer)
6. The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (1979)
(Uno sceriffo extraterrestre... poco extra e molto terrestre)
7. Everything Happens to Me (1980)
(Chissà perché... capitano tutte a me)
Sequel to "The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid".
8. Buddy Goes West (1981)
(Occhio alla penna)
9. Bomber (1982)
With: Jerry Calà
Bud as a retired boxer returning to the ring.
10. Banana Joe (1982)
One of his most famous solo roles as a jungle trader protecting his village.
11. Superfantagenio (Aladdin) (1986)
Italian take on the Aladdin story, with Bud playing a genie.
12. Big Man (TV Series) (1988–1989)
Six TV movies where Bud plays Jack Clementi, a private investigator and insurance agent.
13. Extralarge (TV Series) (1991–1993)
With: Philip Michael Thomas (of Miami Vice fame)
Bud as private detective Jack Costello in Miami.
✅ Notes:
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Bud’s solo films leaned toward the same mix of action and comedy, but with a slightly more serious or fatherly tone compared to his duo films with Hill.
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The Flatfoot series and Banana Joe were especially popular in Europe.
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His later TV projects like Big Man and Extralarge marked a shift from cinema to television.
Here’s a clear, structured list of films where Terence Hill starred without Bud Spencer—including both his early career and later solo projects:
Terence Hill’s Solo Films (Without Bud Spencer)
Early Career (Before Partnering with Bud Spencer):
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Viva Django (Preparati la bara!) (1968)
(Spaghetti Western where Hill plays Django. Not part of the original Franco Nero series.) -
Django, Prepare a Coffin (Preparati la bara!) (1968)
(Also released under alternate titles. Often confused but distinct from the original Django films.) -
The Tough and the Mighty (La collera del vento) (1970)
Solo Films During and After the Bud Spencer Era:
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My Name Is Nobody (Il mio nome è Nessuno) (1973)
With: Henry Fonda
A standout Spaghetti Western produced by Sergio Leone. Hill plays the legendary "Nobody". -
A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (Un genio, due compari, un pollo) (1975)
With: Patrick McGoohan, Klaus Kinski
Western comedy sometimes marketed as part of the Trinity series, but without Bud. -
Mr. Billion (1977)
An Italian-American comedy-action film directed by Jonathan Kaplan. -
Renegade (Renegade - Un osso troppo duro) (1987)
Hill plays a drifter helping a boy claim his inheritance. -
Lucky Luke (1991 Film + TV Series)
Italian adaptation of the French comic. Hill starred in and directed several episodes and the film version. -
Doc West (2009, TV Movie – Part 1 & 2)
Hill returns as a Western doctor-gunslinger. A late-career project filmed in English. -
My Name Is Thomas (Il mio nome è Thomas) (2018)
Hill’s final starring film, which he also directed. A reflective road movie dedicated to Bud Spencer’s memory.
✅ Notes:
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Hill’s signature solo role is arguably My Name Is Nobody—often cited as one of the last great Spaghetti Westerns.
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His later career focused more on directing and producing, especially after Bud Spencer’s passing in 2016.
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Terence Hill’s solo films tended to have a more reflective, romantic, or whimsical tone compared to the fist-fighting, slapstick style he was known for with Spencer.
That’s a good place to focus. Here’s a grounded, respectful summary of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill’s final years together as public figures, before Bud’s passing in 2016:
Their Later Years: Public Appearances, Tributes, and Final Collaborations
1. Last Projects as a Duo:
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After their final film Troublemakers (1994), both Bud and Terence largely pursued solo projects.
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They didn’t act together again in a film, but they remained close friends and occasionally reunited for public events, award shows, and interviews in Italy and Germany especially.
2. TV Specials and Reunion Events:
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Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Bud and Terence often appeared together on Italian and German television specials dedicated to their legacy.
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For example, they were featured guests at award shows like the Goldene Kamera Awards in Germany, where they were honored for lifetime achievement.
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In 2010, they appeared together on several Italian talk shows promoting Bud Spencer’s autobiography: "Altrimenti mi arrabbio" (Otherwise, I’ll Get Angry).
3. Personal Reflections & Public Tributes:
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Bud published a series of books about his life starting in the late 2000s. Terence Hill also spoke warmly in interviews, often saying they never had serious arguments in all their years of working together—a rare thing in show business.
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Their friendship became as legendary as their films, with both emphasizing that it was built on trust, simplicity, and a shared sense of humor.
4. Bud Spencer’s Passing – June 27, 2016:
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Bud passed away peacefully in Rome at age 86. His family reported his last words were simply: "Grazie" (Thank you).
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After his death, there was a huge outpouring of tributes across Italy, Germany, and beyond. Public squares, movie marathons, and murals were dedicated in his honor.
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Terence Hill was deeply affected. He gave a heartfelt tribute, saying:
“I lost my best friend. I’m sure he’s riding his horse somewhere now, like we used to in our films.”
5. Terence Hill’s Quiet Tribute – His Final Film:
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In 2018, Terence Hill released My Name Is Thomas, a quiet road movie he directed and starred in. It wasn’t a comedy; it was introspective and gentle, and he openly dedicated it to Bud’s memory.
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He said in interviews that making the film was part of saying goodbye to his old friend.
Why They Stand Out
Unlike many on-screen duos, Bud Spencer and Terence Hill never relied on vulgarity or cruelty for their humor. Their style was about:
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Fists over guns, but without blood.
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Big-hearted brawls where no one really got hurt.
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Laughing at life, even when things were tough.
Yes, you’re right to bring that up.
Blackie the Pirate (Italian: Il corsaro nero) from 1971 does star both Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.
However, it’s a bit of an exception:
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Terence Hill plays Blackie as the lead.
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Bud Spencer plays a smaller, supporting role as Captain Skull, and they do not share as much direct screen time or the usual buddy dynamic.
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It wasn’t part of their classic action-comedy formula. It’s more of a straightforward pirate adventure film.
That’s why in most duo film lists, Blackie the Pirate is either left out or marked with a note. They are both in it, but it doesn’t fit the typical “Hill & Spencer” vibe fans know them for.
Aside from Blackie the Pirate (1971), there are very few cases where both Bud Spencer and Terence Hill appeared in the same film without it being part of their classic buddy formula. Here's what is confirmed and what is not:
Films Where Both Appear But Not as Classic Duo:
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Blackie the Pirate (Il corsaro nero) — 1971
✅ Confirmed, as you said. -
Hannibal (Annibale) — 1959
✅ Both appeared as extras before they were famous. Bud played a minor Roman soldier; Terence (still Mario Girotti) was also an uncredited extra.
This is purely historical trivia. No one would recognize them in these roles at the time. -
Little Known Ensemble Appearances / Cameos
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There are no widely confirmed feature films beyond those two where both acted together but not as a duo.
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Some documentaries, tribute specials, and interviews may include film-like montages or brief skits they filmed later in life, but these aren’t considered official movies.
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✅ Summary for Your List:
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Blackie the Pirate: Special mention — Same film, but different character arcs, minimal shared scenes.
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Hannibal (1959): Pre-fame curiosity — Same film, but both as extras. Not part of their joint filmography.
