Antonio Cantafora (2 February 1944 – 20 April 2024) was an Italian actor, also credited under the stage name Michael Coby.
Life and career Born in Crotone, Calabria, Cantafora studied acting with Alessandro Fersen, then he made his film debut in 1967's The Dirty Outlaws. He appeared in a string of Spaghetti Westerns, including opposite Klaus Kinski in And God Said to Cain (1970) and Black Killer (1971). He took on a number of leading man roles, including in Mario Bava's horror film Baron Blood (1972) and in the Italian-Hong Kong co-production Supermen Against the Orient (1973).
Between 1973 and 1977, he made a series of films with American actor Paul L. Smith, a couple formed with the purpose of copying the successful films of the duo Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. Smith played Bud Spencer-like characters, while Cantafora (under the new stage name 'Michael Coby') was thanks to a vague resemblance a Terence Hill lookalike. In Italy, these films were known as the cycle, after the names of their titular characters.
Later Cantafora continued his career mainly as a character actor, working with prominent directors such as Federico Fellini, Dario Argento, Jerzy Skolimowski, Bruno Barreto, Alberto Lattuada, and Mauro Bolognini. He largely retired from acting by the late 2000s, save for a brief comeback in the 2018 comedy One of the Family.
Personal life After retirement, Cantafora took up painting, and worked with the Calabria Film Commission. At the time of his death, he was developing a project about Pythagoras.
Death Cantafora died of a heart attack in Rome on 20 April 2024, aged 80.
Partial filmography
The Dirty Outlaws (1967) - Bill Lo stato d'assedio (1969) - Umberto Ombre roventi (1970) And God Said to Cain (1970) - Dick Acombar Shoot Joe, and Shoot Again (1971) - Jack's Man Black Killer (1971) - Ramon O'Hara Baron Blood (1972) - Peter Kleist Decameron proibitissimo (Boccaccio mio statte zitto) (1972) - Fra' Domenico Novelle galeotte d'amore (1972) Bounty Hunter in Trinity (1972) - Pizarro Metti lo diavolo tuo ne lo mio inferno (1973) - Ricciardetto L'affaire Crazy Capo (1973) - Antonio Marchesi Supermen Against the Orient (1973) - Max ...e continuavano a mettere lo diavolo ne lo inferno (1973) - Ricciardo Carambola! (1974) - Toby La badessa di Castro (1974) - Giulio Branciforti Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket (1975) - Coby Convoy Buddies (1975) - Matteo / Butch We Are No Angels (1975) - Angel The Diamond Peddlers (1976) - Matteo / Butch La casa (1976) - Philip Carioca tigre (1976) - Carlo Parodi Sahara Cross (1977) Enfantasme (1978) - Flavio, le hippy Midnight Blue (1979) - Pier Luigi Supersonic Man (1979) - Paul The Bitch (1979) - Nico Cantafora The Cricket (1980) - Alberto 'Cipria' Antonelli Gabriela (1983) - Tonico Bastos Scream for Help (1984) - Man At Motel Demons 2 (1986) - Ingrid's Father Puro cashmere (1986) - Jody Intervista (1987) - Spouse Il coraggio di parlare (1987) - Caporale Der Commander (1988) - Nick De Carlo Donna d'ombra (1988) - Vincenzo Torrents of Spring (1989) - Richter Vacanze di Natale '90 (1990) - Pippo Il ritorno del grande amico (1990) In camera mia (1992) - Mannari Giovanni Falcone (1993) - Totuccio Inzerillo Power and Lovers (1994) - Toto A spasso nel tempo (1996) - Casanova Marquise (1997) Il decisionista (1997) Hammamet Village (1997) Buck and the Magic Bracelet (1998) - Sergeant O'Connor The Card Player (2004) - Vice Squad Chief Marini I Viceré (2007) One Of The Family (2018) - Cicciuzzo
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