West Buchanan

Actor

16 de octubre de 1934 — 22 de noviembre de 1995 (61 años)
Born in October 1934, Buchanan made his first listed appearance late, at the age of 31 in the 1975 film C.I.A. Secret Story, directed by the arch provocateur Giuseppe Ferrara. Before this, however, he had already been active in Italian cinema for almost half a decade – much like many anonymous American adventurers – as a stuntman and extra, sometimes using the name Buck West. His part in C.I.A. Secret Story was largely insignificant, and although he played a named character in Edward Dmytryk’s big-budget spy film The Human Factor he was just one of a number of jobbing Americans buried deep in the credits (including a very young Danny Huston, who was only thirteen at the time). More fleeting appearances followed – in Pupi Avati’s Bordella, Dino Risi’s Telefoni bianchi – before he secured his first major role in Mino Guerrini’s comedy Vinella e Don Pezzotta, based on a successful radio play and starring Giorgio Bracardi. A religious parody, the third billed Buchanan played Padre Splendid, a modernizing priest sent to Italy from the States.

Next came his best known roles, internationally at least: three appearances in the series of cheapskate Star Wars rip offs directed by Alfonso Brescia. In War of the Planets he was again third billed, playing space captain John Richardson’s engineer and right hand man as he battles a giant, malevolent robot. It’s not a good film by any means, but with his stocky build and shocking blonde hair Buchanan made an impression. He was back for Battle of the Stars, although this time round only in a cameo role as a pilot and friend of space captain John Richardson, again battling a (different) giant, malevolent robot. Finally came another guest spot in War of the Robots, this time as an associate of space captain Antonio Sabato as he battles several malevolent if not particularly giant robots.

Around this time there were other films as well. He popped up in Lina Wertmuller’s A Night Full of Rain (78), Pier Carpi’s gothic horror film Ring of Darkness, in which he played the husband of the protagonist Anne Heywood, Nino Manfredi’s Nudo di donna and the Giorgio Bontempi’s ambitious espionage thriller Spy Connection (83), which was made for TV but also released on video in a shorter theatrical version.

In the early eighties he moved back to America, where he starred in David Hess’s slasher movie To All a Goodnight (80) and well down the credits in Walter Hill’s epic western The Long Riders. A handful of small roles followed in low budget films before he made his bow in Rex Pickett’s obscure 1988 production From Hollywood to Deadwood.

Buchanan died aged 61 in 1995.

Películas y series en Plex

  • Mi nombre es Ninguno
    Mi nombre es Ninguno1973
  • Forajidos de leyenda
    Forajidos de leyenda1980
  • The Arena
    The Arena1974
  • Cosmos: Situación límite
    Cosmos: Situación límite1977
  • La ambicion de Jodie Palmer
    La ambicion de Jodie Palmer1981
  • Víctimas del terrorismo
    Víctimas del terrorismo1975
  • The Optimist
    The Optimist2 seasons

Conocido por

  • Feliz nochebuena
    Feliz nochebuena1980
  • Cosmos: Situación límite
    Cosmos: Situación límite1977
  • Desnudo de mujer
    Desnudo de mujer1981
  • Biba, ya tenemos barco
    Biba, ya tenemos barco1980

Filmography

2021
1988
From Hollywood to Deadwood · as Deadwood Sheriff
1988
Party Line · as Bartender
1988
Buy & Cell · as Muncy
1986
Danielle Steel's Crossings · as Captain Fishing Boat
1984
Cento giorni a Palermo · as Bank Director
1983
The Optimist · as CoachEn Plex
1981
Nudo di donna · as Conte Bardolin
1981
Hard Country · as Airport AgentEn Plex
1980
Mi faccio la barca · as Solo Navigator
1980
The Long Riders · as MccorkindaleEn Plex
1980
To All a Goodnight · as Ralph
1979
Ring of Darkness · as Peter Rhodes
1978
The War of the Robots · as Herb Julian
1978
Battle of the Stars · as Captain Connolly
1978
1977
War of the Planets · as RichardEn Plex
1976
The Big Operator · as (as John West Buchanan)
1976
1976
House of Pleasure for Women · as Bordellista
1975
The 'Human' Factor · as AldoEn Plex
1975
1974
The Arena · as Arena SpectatorEn Plex
1973
My Name Is Nobody · as Man On Saloon BalconyEn Plex
1973
The Bull Buster · as Cast