Latest news with #SpaghettiWestern
See - Sada Elbalad
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Jack Betts, "Spider-Man" Actor, Dies at 96
Yara Sameh Jack Betts, who starred in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" (2002) and over a dozen Spaghetti Western films, has died at the age of 96. Betts died Thursday in his sleep at his Los Osos, Calif. home, his nephew, Dean Sullivan, said. Jack Betts Born Jack Fillmore Betts (saying he bore a relation to the 13th POTUS Millard Fillmore) on April 11, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ, he grew up in Miami, where he eventually studied theater at the University of Miami. Afterward, he moved to New York City, where he made his Broadway debut in 1953's "Richard III". When a friend asked him to help with an audition for Lee Strasberg's famed nonprofit, The Actors Studio, the director of the prestigious acting school granted him a three-year scholarship to study there. As a result, the venerated Elia Kazan later cast him in a production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". He later returned to Broadway for Kazan's 1959 production of "Sweet Bird of Youth", as well as a late '70s revival of "Dracula", in which he once portrayed the eponymous count as Raul Julia's standby. Betts' first film credit was in 1959's "The Bloody Brood", and in 1966 he was cast as the title character in Franco Giraldi's "Sugar Colt", billed as Hunt Powers for the first time, that kicked off a string of credits in over a dozen Spaghetti Westerns through the 1970s. On the television side, Betts racked up several appearances in daytime soaps, including "General Hospital", "The Young Marrieds", "The Edge of Night", "The Doctors", "Another World", "All My Children", "Falcon Crest", "Search for Tomorrow", "Guiding Light", "Generations", and "The Young and the Restless". His other notable arcs included episodes for "Perry Mason" and The F.B.I." as well as turns in popular series like "Gunsmoke", "Seinfeld", "Mad TV", "Frasier", "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Friends", "The Mentalist", and "Monk". Betts was great friends with "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Doris Roberts, whom he met at The Actors Studio in the '50s; the two shared a home from the late '80s until she died in 2016. Jack Betts in 'Spider-Man' In "Spider-Man", Betts notably portrayed Henry Balkan, the Oscorp Technologies board chairman, who booted Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn from the company, kicking off the Green Goblin's villainous arc. Later on in the movie, Osborn parrots back the phrase to Balkan as he vaporizes the board in an attack on Times Square while gleefully shouting: 'Out, am I?'. Additional film credits include 1993's "Falling Down," with Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall, the 1995 Val Kilmer-starring "Batman Forever", and 1998's "Gods and Monsters" opposite Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser. In addition to his nephew, Betts' survivors include his nieces, Lynne and Gail, and his sister, Joan, who turns 100 in November. Following the news of his death, Beverly Hills Playhouse shared a tribute to the late star on Instagram, writing: 'Our beloved Jack Betts passed away peacefully at home. It is a sad day for the BHP as we have enjoyed his presence for so many years. There are actors who credit him with their not giving up because of his encouragement. We were so fortunate to have enjoyed his great spirit, passion and true dedication to the work. There was only ever one like this and we are the richer for having his presence in our theatre. Rest in peace, Jack.' read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jack Betts Dies: ‘Spider-Man' Actor Was 96
Jack Betts, the character actor who appeared in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) and over a dozen Spaghetti Western films, has died at the age of 96. Per The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news, Betts died Thursday in his sleep at his Los Osos, Calif. home, his nephew, Dean Sullivan, said. More from Deadline Andrew Garfield Says Spider-Man Return "Would Have To Be Very Weird" & The "Creative Freedom" Of Animated 'Spider-Verse' Movies Jon Bernthal Helped Tom Holland With Spider-Man Audition Tape: "Not That I Take Responsibility" New 'Spider-Man' With Tom Holland Gets Title - CinemaCon Born Jack Fillmore Betts (saying he bore a relation to the 13th POTUS Millard Fillmore) on April 11, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ, he grew up in Miami, where he eventually studied theater at University of Miami. Afterward, he moved to New York City, where he made his Broadway debut in 1953's Richard III. When a friend asked him to help with an audition for Lee Strasberg's famed nonprofit, The Actors Studio, the director of the prestigious acting school granted him a three-year scholarship to study there. As a result, the venerated Elia Kazan later cast him in a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. (He later returned to Braodway for Kazan's 1959 production of Sweet Bird of Youth, as well as a late '70s revival of Dracula, in which he once portrayed the eponymous count as Raul Julia's standby.) Betts' first film credit was in 1959's The Bloody Brood, and in 1966 he was cast as the title character in Franco Giraldi's Sugar Colt, billed as Hunt Powers for the first time. That kicked off a string of credits in over a dozen Spaghetti Westerns through the 1970s. On the television side, Betts racked up a number of appearances in daytime soaps, including General Hospital, The Young Marrieds, The Edge of Night, The Doctors, Another World, All My Children, Falcon Crest, Search for Tomorrow, Guiding Light, Generations and The Young and the Restless. His other notable arcs included episodes for Perry Mason and The F.B.I., as well as turns in popular series like Gunsmoke, Seinfeld, Mad TV, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, The Mentalist and Monk. (Betts was great friends with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts, whom he met at The Actors Studio in the '50s; the two shared a home from the late '80s until her death in 2016.) In Spider-Man, Betts notably portrays Henry Balkan, the Oscorp Technologies board chairman who tells Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn, 'You're out, Norman,' kicking off the Green Goblin's villainous arc. Later on in the movie, Osborn parrots back the phrase to Balkan, as he vaporizes the board in an attack on Times Square, gleefully shouting: 'Out, am I?' Additional film credits include 1993's Falling Down with Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall, the 1995 Val Kilmer-starring Batman Forever and 1998's Gods and Monsters opposite Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser. In addition to his nephew, survivors include his nieces, Lynne and Gail, and his sister, Joan, who turns 100 in November. Following the news of his death, Beverly Hills Playhouse shared a tribute to the performer on Instagram, writing: 'Our beloved Jack Betts passed away peacefully at home. It is a sad day for the BHP as we have enjoyed his presence for so many years. There are actors who credit him with their not giving up because of his encouragement. We were so fortunate to have enjoyed his great spirit, passion and true dedication to the work. There was only ever one like this and we are the richer for having his presence in our theatre. Rest in peace, Jack.' Best of Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries 2024 Hollywood & Media Deaths: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Remembering Shelley Duvall: A Career In Photos
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Spider-Man actor dies aged 96: Jack Betts shared home with Everybody Loves Raymond star
Spider-Man and Spaghetti Western actor Jack Betts has died at the age of 96. The Hollywood veteran, who befriended Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts and whom he went on to share a home with, died in his sleep at his house in Los Osos, California, on Thursday. Born in Miami, Florida, in 1929, Mr Betts studied theater and first began his career in a Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare's Richard III. He would go on to play an array of debonair characters across TV shows and movies, including cameos in Batman Forever in 1995 and Batman & Robin two years later. But it was his performances as Hunt Powers across a swathe of Italian Spaghetti Western films that immortalised him on the big screen. He first appeared as the gun-slinger in Franco Giraldi's Sugar Coat in 1966 after bluffing his way into contention for the starring role. And after finding success in the role, it would be the first of around 12 consecutive films in which Mr Betts held it - a run that ended in 1972. Despite worldwide recognition for his performances, his films at that time did not air in the US or Canada - a problem made all the more difficult due to the stardom of his hotel neighbour. Mr Betts, who befriended Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts (left) and whom he shared a home with, died in his sleep on Thursday He told The Dev Show in 2021: 'In the hotel next to mine was Clint Eastwood,' 'He'd go up to his mountain and do his Western and I'd go up to my mountain and do my Western. But while his films had distribution all over the world, my films were distributed [everywhere] except Canada and America.' When returning home from Italy, Mr Betts turned his hand to Broadway again where he starred as Dracula between 1977-80. In the years after, he appeared on many TV shows, including a lengthy run as Dr Ivan Kiping in the series, One Life to Live, which ended in 1985. Three years later, Mr Betts accepted Ms Roberts' invitation to move from his place in New York and into a downstairs apartment in her Hollywood Hills home. After Ms Roberts' death in 2016, Mr Betts said the pair were 'best friends to the very end' and that they had 'wonderful times together'. They even shared the screen when Mr Betts appeared in an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond in 1999. He also made fleeting appearances in shows such as Seinfield, Frasier, Friends and Power Rangers. In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, his character played a pivotal role after telling Norman Osborn, played by Willem Dafoe, that he was 'out' at his company. This spurred Osborn onto become the Green Goblin, who would later return and kill Mr Betts' character, Henry Balkan, and his fellow Oscorp businessmen. News of his death has touched movie fans, who have taken to social media to share their tributes. One wrote: 'Well shoot, another Hollywood gunslinger rides into the sunset. Jack Betts was one of those actors who could make even a B-movie feel like an A-list production.'
The National
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish spaghetti Western film funded and led entirely by women
Spaghetti Western, which Fox promises will be rich with many much-loved Hollywood ingredients including some good old-fashioned gun-toting outlaws, Sheriffs, wagons, saloons, bar brawls and shootouts, will be 'very different' from your usual cowboy films. The Wild West movie will have a very special flavour, Sicilian cooking, inspired by a big bowl of pasta which was served to Fox at a restaurant. READ MORE: Film set during Highland Clearances wows at Cannes Film Festival 'Honestly, I wish it was a more romantic reason, but I was in an Italian restaurant, and I was looking down at my bowl of pasta, and I thought, 'oh my God, this is so good',' she said. 'And then I thought, 'why didn't cowboys eat this'? 'Because pasta's super light, they could have carried it on the trail, and then I started wondering if tomatoes and basil and all those ingredients would grow.' Fox (below) went on to explain that she looked at the soil composition of Sicily and the American Southwest and found that it was very similar, along with the weather, which then got her thinking about creating a real Spaghetti Western film. (Image: Colin Hattersley) 'I started dreaming that there was this guy who had dreams of going and becoming a cowboy at the height of cowboy culture, and this poor woman was kind of thrown into his dream, and it really becomes about her story,' Fox added. Spaghetti Western is set in 1881 when Elena Fardella, a young Sicilian widow, finds herself thrust into the battle for control of the remote, dust-blown town of Eden, New Mexico. Her only weapon is her skill as a cook and determination to use food to bring people together. Fox said that she wanted to explore the cultural melting pot, which was the wild west through food in her film, breaking down stereotypes and tropes the cowboy genre has long clung to. 'You start realising that the cowboy culture that we know now, which is kind of the typical rugged individualist male cowboy, it's not really true,' she said. 'The wild west was full of immigrants, and those immigrants brought their own culture to the wild west, and that started becoming cowboy culture. (Image: Colin Hattersley) 'It was a collaboration of all different kinds of ethnicities.' The entire project is female-led and aims to be fully funded by women – with a sizable portion of backers being Scots. Along with London-based producer, Diana Phillips, Fox believes it's essential to have more films created from the female gaze and with female financing. Fox, who is best known for her award-winning movie Stella and her romantic memoir Three Things You Need To Know About Rocket, said she has been lucky throughout her career to work with a lot of talented people who believe in her work, but they have been predominantly male. The filmmaker explained that the more she wondered why the screen industry is so male-dominated the more she realised that history is often seen through the lens of people who don't get to tell it. Fox said: 'It's a sector that's overwhelmingly dominated by men. Men decide who and what to fund, the films and TV that we watch, and our cultural narratives. Even the films with female central characters are largely made through the male gaze.
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Jeymes Samuel Unveils 'Spaghetti Western' – a Bold New Compilation of Soundtracks Celebrating the Iconic Era of Italian Western Cinema
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visionary filmmaker, musician, and creative force Jeymes Samuel proudly unveils Spaghetti Western, an electrifying new compilation of rare and essential tracks from the golden era of Italian Western cinema (1963-1972). Created in partnership with legendary Italian soundtrack label CAM Sugar, the compilation will be available on all digital streaming platforms starting June 20, with Deluxe Boxset, 2LP vinyl and CD editions via CAM Sugar/UMe. Personally overseeing every aspect of the release—from handpicking the 20 tracks from CAM Sugar's archive vault of over 2,000 original scores and designing the official artwork, to producing original compositions and penning liner notes—Jeymes Samuel offers an immersive and intimate perspective on one of cinema's most musically memorable genres. In addition to his musical contributions, Samuel adds a deeply personal visual element to the collection through the hand-painted cover and inside sleeve art, created exclusively for this release. The project blends music and art, uniting timeless Spaghetti Western scores with Samuel's own creative interpretations. Each track was carefully curated to evoke the rugged landscapes and heightened drama of the genre, while the artwork captures what these films ignite in his imagination- a visceral, visual journey into the wild, surreal beauty of Spaghetti Westerns. 'This isn't just a compilation - it's a love letter to the Spaghetti Western and the artists who transformed cinema forever. These soundtracks shaped my creative soul, and with this collection, I've blended timeless scores with my own interpretations to honor the genre's raw beauty and bold spirit. It's music, memory, and homage - an invitation into a world that continues to inspire,' said Jeymes Samuel, creator of Spaghetti Western. The album features compositions by legendary names including Ennio Morricone, Piero Umiliani, Nico Fidenco, Gianni Ferrio, and Carlo Rustichelli, as well as unforgettable vocal performances by Alessandro Alessandroni, Caterina Caselli, Jula De Palma, and others. Among its treasures are three tracks that have never been released on vinyl before, along with three more that are making their digital debut. Adding a fresh layer to the collection are two entirely new songs written, produced, and sung by Jeymes Samuel. ' The Light ' is a hauntingly modern Spaghetti Western anthem, and ' Unbroken ', which features a moving spoken word performance by Regina King layered over a sample of Daniele Patucchi's ' Lo Ammazzo' come un cane (seq.14). ' 'Collaborating with Jeymes on this project has been a true honor; his work transcends the idea of curation: it is a cultural statement, a poetic homage to Italian composers, and a profoundly human tribute to a genre often misunderstood. "Throughout this journey, we've come to know not only a remarkable creative mind but a rare artistic voice, curious, generous, and boundlessly multidimensional. In Jeymes' hands, a genre once overlooked or reduced to parody is reawakened in all its emotional and cinematic grandeur. His curation restores Spaghetti Western its dignity, reaffirming its rightful place in the cultural legacy of music and film,' said CAM Sugar. The Deluxe Boxset offers a truly immersive experience, including a standard 2LP, exclusive 7' and 10' vinyl editions with the unreleased tracks by Jeymes Samuel, and an exclusive storyboard from The Harder They Fall illustrated by Dwayne Turner. The package also includes a beautifully designed booklet featuring Samuel's liner notes and exclusive interviews with Regina King and David Oyelowo, along with a custom-designed dollar note featuring Samuel's own portrait. Pre-order Jeymes Samuel's Spaghetti Western Collection now: Jeymes Samuel's Spaghetti Western Collection will also be available on all principal Digital Streaming Platforms from June 20 ABOUT CAM SUGAR Founded in Rome, in 1959 and boasting over 2,000 original scores, CAM Sugar is the most extensive and representative catalogue of Italian and French Soundtracks, winner of over 500 international awards, including Oscar winning films like La Dolce Vita, Il Postino, Mondo Cane, 8 1/2 , Amarcord and more. CAM Sugar's archive includes work by some of the greatest Italian and French composers ever like Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Riz Ortolani, Philippe Sarde, Piero Piccioni, Alain Goraguer, Stelvio Cipriani, Piero Umiliani, Armando Trovajoli and many others. CAM Sugar celebrates the heritage of Italian cinema's golden age with a series of remastered releases in digital, vinyl and CD directly from original master tapes. Moreover, CAM Sugar interacts with international and intragenerational audiences by organizing listening sessions, DJ Sets and curations. Major international producers and directors pick and choose from our archive with hundreds of samples and synchronizations from movies to fashion campaigns.
