RIP : Sergio Ciani aka Alan Steel

Sergio in action in HERCULES AGAINST ROME

Sergio Ciani, aka Alan Steel, died on September 5. He was 80 years old. He's one of my favourite PEPLUM stars. Very unique, amiable and yet could be menacing as well. He made the PEPLUM universe that much more cool. Sad.

Here's a brief summary taken from the HEROES & BEEFCAKE page :

Alan Steel, born Sergio Ciani, was one of several PEPLUM stars that was actually born in Italy and not imported fro another country. Big, beefy and red-haired, this Italian strongman made his screen debut in THE GIANT OF MARATHON wrestling with Steve Reeves. Faster than you can say Maciste, Sergio started appearing in his own mini-epics and became one of the most familiar faces that played Hercules and Maciste. Though most of his films are pure escapist fare, Alan did play a couple of serious PEP roles, including his impressive outing as Commodus in THE REBEL GLADIATOR.


HERCULES UNCHAINED

Future PEPLUM superstar Sergio Ciani, aka Alan Steel, first appeared in HERCULES UNCHAINED. Often erroneously credited as Steve Reeves' stuntman/body double in THE GIANT OF MARATHON, Sergio, or Alan, was Reeves' stuntman in a few scenes in HERCULES UNCHAINED, as shown in the screenshot directly below. Alan does appear, face in full view, in a couple of scenes (above).

THE GIANT OF MARATHON

Alan starred in a small role along with Steve Reeves

SAMSON

Alan co-starred with Brad Harris

FURY OF HERCULES

Daria (Luisella Boni) is weary of Kaldos (Alan Steel aka Sergio Ciani) in FURY OF HERCULES

THE REBEL GLADIATOR

Alan Steel, as Commodus, shows who's the master of gladiatorial action in THE REBEL GLADIATOR

Alan with José Greci and Dan Vadis

SAMSON & THE SLAVE QUEEN

Alan with Massimo Serato and Moira Orfei

HERCULES AGAINST THE MASKED RIDER

Alan Steel as Hercules

HERCULES & THE TREASURE OF THE INCAS

Also known as LOST TREASURE OF THE AZTECS

HERCULES & THE BLACK PIRATE

HERCULES AGAINST ROME

Two tavern whores fight over Hercules (Alan Steel) in HERCULES AGAINST ROME

HERCULES AGAINS THE MOON MEN

Queen Samara (Jany Clair) tempts Hercules (Alan Steel), or vice versa, in HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN

SAMSON & THE MIGHTY CHALLENGE

Sergio Ciani (aka Alan Steel) played a sorta dense Hercules in this comedy

Alan Steel fighting Nadir Moretti

THE THREE AVENGERS

Alan fighting Nello Pazzafini

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