Trivia

Brother to Domenico Cianfriglia.

Athletic Italian stunt man and small part actor, a former boxer. Using the monikers 'Ken Wood' or 'John Richmond', he was often seen in the films of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (as well as in many spaghetti westerns) and made his screen debut as the body double of Steve Reeves in 'Hercules'.

Giovanni made his debut at a very young age, he did it as an extra and stuntman for Steve Reeves in the film The Labors of Hercules in 1958, a role that he managed to win thanks to his talent and his athletic physique.

Giovanni Cianfriglia appeared in 17 films starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill , almost always in supporting roles during fight scenes.

His main activity in the world of cinema was however that of an interpreter: he acted in a large number of films in Italy , France and the United States under the direction of dozens of directors, including Sergio Corbucci , Michele Lupo , Enzo G. Castellari and Umberto Lenzi ,.

He died in Anzio on 30 October 2024 at the age of 89. The following day, the funeral took place in the church of Saints Pio and Antonio, in Anzio.

He also acted in crime films with Maurizio Merli.

Giovanni Cianfriglia was also known as Ken Wood.

Cianfriglia debuted as the body double of Steve Reeves in Hercules, then he started appearing, often uncredited, as a stuntman in dozens of genre films.

At the beginning of his career at Cinecittà he made costume films such as The Pirate of the Black Hawk (1958), Morgan the Pirate (1960), The Trojan War (1961), Romulus and Remus (1961), Son of Spartacus (1962), A Queen for Caesar (1962), Revenge of the Gladiators .

As a character actor he was often credited with pseudonyms, including Ken Wood and John Richmond .