Ed Fury (born Rupert Edmund Holovchik; June 6, 1928) is an American bodybuilder, actor, and model. He is best known for starring in a number of " sword-and-sandal" films in the 1950s and 1960s.

Biography

Born in

Long Island, New York Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18th ...

, Fury moved to

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

in the late 1940s and competed in numerous bodybuilding competitions, such as "Mr. Muscle Beach" in 1951 and 1953, coming in third and second respectively. In addition, he worked as a physique model for photographers

Bob Mizer Robert Henry Mizer (March 27, 1922 – May 12, 1992) was an American photographer and filmmaker, known for pushing boundaries of depicting male homoerotic content with his work in the mid 20th century. Biography Bob Mizer's earliest photographs ...

and

Bruce Bellas Bruce Harry Bellas (July 7, 1909 – July 1974) was an American photographer. He was influential in his work with male physiques and nudes. Bellas was well known under the pseudonym Bruce of Los Angeles. History and influence Bruce Harry Bellas ...

, and also made a couple of loops for Mizer's male erotica studio Athletic Model Guild (AMG). Fury began his acting career as a stage actor. After appearing in a handful of uncredited parts in films, he received his first bigger role in ''

The Wild Women of Wongo ''The Wild Women of Wongo'' is a 1958 American adventure film directed by James L. Wolcott and starring Jean Hawkshaw, Mary Ann Webb, Cande Gerrard, and Adrienne Bourbeau. It features low budget, stereotypical portrayals of fictional tropical i ...

'' (1958). In the 1960s, Fury travelled to

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

and took advantage of the popularity of "sword-and-sandal" films. Led by

Steve Reeves Stephen Lester "Steve" Reeves (January 21, 1926 – May 1, 2000) was an American professional bodybuilder, actor, and philanthropist. He was famous in the mid-1950s as a movie star in Italian-made sword-and-sandal films, playing the protagon ...

, who starred in ''

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

'' (1958), the popularity of those films allowed Fury to star in films such as ''

Colossus and the Amazon Queen ''Colossus and the Amazon Queen'' ( it, La regina delle Amazzoni/ ''Queen of the Amazons'') is a 1960 Italian sword and sandal comedy film directed by Vittorio Sala. Cast *Rod Taylor as Pirro *Ed Fury as Glauco *Dorian Gray as Antiope *Danie ...

'' (1960), ''

The Seven Revenges ''The Seven Revenges'' ( it, Le sette sfide, also known as ''Ivan the Conqueror'') is a 1961 Italian adventure film directed by Primo Zeglio. It features American actress Elaine Stewart and was filmed in Yugoslavia. Plot The leaders of Circas ...

'' (1961), and ''

Maciste Against the Sheik ''Maciste against the Sheik'' (Italian:''Maciste contro lo sceicco'') is a 1926 Italian silent adventure film directed by Mario Camerini and starring Bartolomeo Pagano, Franz Sala and Felice Minotti. It was part of the long-running Maciste se ...

'' (1962). He also starred as

Ursus Ursus is Latin for bear. It may also refer to: Animals * ''Ursus'' (mammal), a genus of bears People * Ursus of Aosta, 6th-century evangelist * Ursus of Auxerre, 6th-century bishop * Ursus of Solothurn, 3rd-century martyr * Ursus (''praefectus ...

in the film trilogy ''

'' (1961), ''

Ursus in the Valley of the Lions ''Ursus in the Valley of the Lions'' ( it, Ursus nella valle dei leoni, also known as '' Valley of the Lions'') is a 1962 Italian sword-and-sandal film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia. Although it was the fourth film in the Italian "Ursus" se ...

'' (1961), and ''

Ursus in the Land of Fire ''Ursus in the Land of Fire'' ( it, Ursus nella terra di fuoco), released directly to U.S. television as ''Son of Hercules in the Land of Fire'', is a 1963 Italian peplum film directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring Ed Fury as Ursus, and Adrian ...

'' (1963), before the popularity of "sword-and-sandal" films waned. Fury returned to acting in the early 1970s and appeared mostly in small parts in television series.

Selected filmography

* ''

Raw Edge ''Raw Edge'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Sherwood starring Rory Calhoun, Yvonne de Carlo, Mara Corday. It marked the movie debut of John Gavin under the name "John Gilmore". Plot In 1842, before law and order has come ...

'' (1956) * ''

'' (1958) * ''

'' (1960) * ''

'' (1961) * ''

Maciste against the Sheik ''Maciste against the Sheik'' (Italian:''Maciste contro lo sceicco'') is a 1926 Italian silent adventure film directed by Mario Camerini and starring Bartolomeo Pagano, Franz Sala and Felice Minotti. It was part of the long-running Maciste se ...

'' (1962) * ''

'' (1963)

References

Sources

External links

* Living people 1928 births 20th-century American male actors American bodybuilders American male adult models Male actors from California People associated with physical culture People from Long Island {{US-entertainer-stub