Dan Vadis

Biography

Dan Vadis was an American actor of Greek heritage who was born in Shanghai and became known for leading roles in Italian films of the 1960s. A former U.S. Navy sailor and bodybuilder, he joined Mae West's Muscleman Revue in the late 1950s. In the Italian peplum films, he was one of the muscular performers cast as Hercules, and his best-known part came in The Triumph of Hercules (1964), where he fought golden giants and tried to rescue a princess from a wicked relative. A follow-up, Hercules the Invincible, was included by Embassy Pictures in its Sons of Hercules television package. His speed and agility brought energy to fight scenes. When sword and sandal movies faded, he moved into Spaghetti Westerns and became a familiar face in Clint Eastwood pictures such as High Plains Drifter (1973), The Gauntlet (1977), Every Which Way but Loose (1978), Any Which Way You Can (1980) and Bronco Billy (1980). He died in 1987.

49years old at death

Born January 3, 1938Shanghai
Died June 11, 1987Lancaster
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19

Movie Career

Films: 9
Career span: 17 years1966 to 1983

Genres

Action56%, 5 films
Comedy44%, 4 films
Western44%, 4 films
Drama33%, 3 films
Adventure22%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Before acting, Vadis served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a bodybuilder, then joined Mae West's Muscleman Revue in the late 1950s.
Own stunts
In his films, Vadis brought obvious speed, dexterity, agility and durability that set him apart from other athletes and bodybuilders, giving much needed energy to fight scenes that might otherwise have been average.

Dan Vadis movies on Netflix

The Seven Magnificent Gladiators1983IMDb rating 3.8as Nicerote
Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1as Frank
Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2as Chief Big Eagle
Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3as Frank
The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4as Biker
Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5as Brownie
High Plains Drifter1973IMDb rating 7.4as Dan Carlin
The Scalphunters1968IMDb rating 6.7as Yuma
Fort Yuma Gold1966IMDb rating 5.9as Nelson Riggs

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Bronco Billy1980 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Chief Big Eagle
IMDb rating 6.214K votes
Cahill U.S. Marshal1973 Drama, Westernas Brownie
IMDb rating 6.57.9K votes
Every Which Way But Loose1978as Frank
IMDb rating 6.332K votes
The Scalphunters1968as Yuma
IMDb rating 6.75.2K votes
Fort Yuma Gold1966as Nelson Riggs
IMDb rating 5.9898 votes
The Gauntlet1977as Biker
IMDb rating 6.428K votes
Any Which Way You Can1980as Frank
IMDb rating 6.123K votes
High Plains Drifter1973as Dan Carlin
IMDb rating 7.474K votes

Most often with

Clint Eastwood directed three of these films. Clint Eastwood appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Clint Eastwood

Geoffrey Lewis

Bill McKinney

Walter Barnes

Sondra Locke

Roy Jenson

Clint EastwoodDirector, 3 films

Films together

Clint Eastwood5 films together, 1973 to 1980
Clint Eastwood's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Vadis as FrankEastwood as Philo Beddoe
- Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2Vadis as Chief Big EagleEastwood as Bronco Billy
- Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3Vadis as FrankEastwood as Philo Beddoe
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Vadis as BikerEastwood as Ben Shockley
- High Plains Drifter1973IMDb rating 7.4Vadis as Dan CarlinEastwood as The Stranger
Geoffrey Lewis4 films together, 1973 to 1980
Geoffrey Lewis's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Vadis as FrankLewis as Orville
- Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2Vadis as Chief Big EagleLewis as John Arlington
- Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3Vadis as FrankLewis as Orville
- High Plains Drifter1973IMDb rating 7.4Vadis as Dan CarlinLewis as Stacey Bridges
Bill McKinney4 films together, 1977 to 1980
Bill McKinney's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Vadis as FrankMcKinney as Dallas
- Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2Vadis as Chief Big EagleMcKinney as Lefty LeBow
- Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3Vadis as FrankMcKinney as Dallas
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Vadis as BikerMcKinney as Constable
Walter Barnes4 films together, 1973 to 1980
Walter Barnes's page
- Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2Vadis as Chief Big EagleBarnes as Sheriff Dix
- Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3Vadis as FrankBarnes as Tank Murdock
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Vadis as BrownieBarnes as Sheriff Grady
- High Plains Drifter1973IMDb rating 7.4Vadis as Dan CarlinBarnes as Sheriff Sam Shaw
Sondra Locke4 films together, 1977 to 1980
Sondra Locke's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Vadis as FrankLocke as Lynn Halsey-Taylor
- Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2Vadis as Chief Big EagleLocke as Antoinette Lily
- Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3Vadis as FrankLocke as Lynn Halsey-Taylor
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Vadis as BikerLocke as Gus Mally
Roy Jenson3 films together, 1977 to 1980
Roy Jenson's page
- Any Which Way You Can1980IMDb rating 6.1Vadis as FrankJenson as Moody
- Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3Vadis as FrankJenson as Woody
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Vadis as BikerJenson as Biker
Clint EastwoodDirector, 3 films, 1973 to 1980
All films by Clint Eastwood
- Bronco Billy1980IMDb rating 6.2Vadis as Chief Big Eagle
- The Gauntlet1977IMDb rating 6.4Vadis as Biker
- High Plains Drifter1973IMDb rating 7.4Vadis as Dan Carlin
Also three films together2 more actors
- John QuadeAny Which Way You Can (1980), Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and High Plains Drifter (1973)
- William O'ConnellAny Which Way You Can (1980), Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and High Plains Drifter (1973)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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