Stelio Candelli, a remarkably gifted and accomplished individual, was born on March 28, 1931, in the picturesque and historic city of Trieste, Italy, a place that would undoubtedly have a profound impact on his formative years. His parents, who were gainfully employed by the state, played a significant and influential role in his early life, providing him with a stable and nurturing environment that would shape his future endeavors.
Following the completion of his grammar school education, Candelli's passion for the performing arts, which had been burning brightly within him, led him to pursue a higher education in this field. He enrolled at the prestigious Academy of Dramatic Arts, a renowned institution that would provide him with the necessary skills and knowledge to hone his craft. During his three-year tenure at the academy, from 1954 to 1957, Candelli would have been immersed in a rigorous curriculum that would have helped him develop his acting skills, as well as his understanding of the art of dramatic performance.
Noted character actor's cinematic odyssey commenced in 1957 with his inaugural appearance in the film "Gwendolyn," where he shared the screen with the highly acclaimed thespian Raf Vallone.
The 1960s proved to be a pivotal decade in his professional trajectory, as he made notable appearances in a string of Euro-westerns and Spy films, adopting the pseudonym Stanley Kent in the process.
Among his impressive repertoire of nine Euro-westerns, several titles stand out for their quality and popularity, including "The Last Tomahawk," released in 1965, "Blood at Sundown," which premiered in 1967, "Drummer of Vengeance," and the dual-released "Viva Django!" in 1971.
Additionally, his impressive filmography boasts "Trinity and Sartana are Coming," which hit theaters in 1972.
Candelli's extensive filmography encompasses a diverse range of cinematic endeavors, extending beyond feature-length productions to include a multitude of small, made-for-television projects. In the year 1996, Candelli made the pivotal decision to relocate to England, where he had the opportunity to collaborate with the esteemed BBC on the television series "Vengeance".
Notably, beyond his notable contributions to the realm of filmmaking, Candelli embarked on a parallel career in the theatrical arts, making his stage debut in the year 1960 with a production of a play penned by the renowned Goldoni. This marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with the esteemed actress Lydia Alfonsi, with whom he shared the stage for a period of two seasons, spanning from 1974 to 1976. It is worth noting that Candelli's last cinematic appearance was in the 1990s, specifically in the film "Mean Tricks".
