Biography for
Terence Hill

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Terence Hill was born as Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939 in Venice, Italy to a chemist. His mother was German, and as a child the family lived near Dresden, Saxony, Germany where they survived the ally bombings of world War II. Italian film-maker Dino Risi discovered him at a swimming meet and he made his first film at the age of 12, Vacanze col gangster (1951) (Holiday for gangsters). He continued acting to finance his studies and motorcycle hobby. After studying classical literature at the University of Rome for three years, he decided to devote full time to acting. In 1962 he appeared in Luchino Visconti's Gattopardo, Il (1963), He then signed a contract for a series of adventure and western films in Germany. In 1967 he returned to Italy to play the lead in Dio perdona... Io no! (1967). While on location in Almeria, Spain, he married an American girl of Bavarian descent, Lori Zwicklbauer, who was the dialogue coach for the picture. The producers of this movie wanted him to change his name. He then got a list with 20 names on it and 24 hours time to choose one of these names. He decided to take Terence Hill cause he liked it the most and it has the same initials as his mother's name (Hildegard Thieme). They only told the public that "Hill" was his wife's name out of publicity reasons. At this time of upcoming feminism a man who took his wife's name was something special. In 1976 Hollywood called and he appeared in March or Die (1977) with Gene Hackman and starred in Mr. Billion (1977) with Valerie Perrine. Since then he has concentrated on action/adventure films starring himself and often working with long time partner Bud Spencer. Terence lives in Massachusetts and is a film producer, as well as talented and respected actor.

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Father of actor Ross Hill.

Father of actor Jess Hill.

Part of the reason he was cast in the westerns was because he looked just like another actor who made hit westerns, Franco Nero. When Nero was not available to do a western, Italian producers cast Hill. Hill then went on to make a name for himself as a western star.

His mother was German, his father an Italian chemist.

Changed his name in 1967. Hill stated on his official German website (http://www.terencehill.de/de_interview_qa.html) that it was made up by film producers who gave him a list with 20 names and 24 hours time to choose one of the names. He picked "Terence Hill" for he liked this name the most and it has his mother's initials whose name was "Hildegard Thieme". Most people to this day think that "Hill" was his wife's name. But her name was Lori Zwicklbauer and is today Zwicklbauer-Hill after she took his name. It was for publicity reasons when they said that Hill took his name from his wife. At this time of upcoming feminism a man who chose to take his wife's name was something special.

Appeared in 18 films with frequent co-star Bud Spencer.

His adopted son, Ross Hill, died in 1990 through a road accident.

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