ATHENS, Dec. 6 -- Renowned Italian actor Gian Maria Volonte died of a heart attack Tuesday while on location in the northern Greek city of Florina, police said. Volonte had arrived in Florina Monday with popular Greek director Theodore Angelopoulos and a film crew to look for shooting locations for a new film, 'The Gaze of Ulysses.'
He was found dead in his hotel room early Tuesday, Florina police said, apparently from a heart attack. Sources said Volonte appeared to be in good condition the day before and was planning to tour Florina on Tuesday. Born in Milan in 1933, Volonte made his debut in the Italian cinema in 1960 and was known for starring in films with strong political messages. But two of his best-known movies were the classic 1960s Westerns, 'A Fistful of Dollars' and 'A Few Dollars More,' starring Clinton Eastwood. The Italian film 'Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion' which won an Oscar in 1970 for best foreign film, sealed Volonte's reputation as a profound and dedicated actor. He was also remembered for his role in the film, A Ciascuno Il Suo (To Each His Own), dealing with the link between politics and crime in Sicily, which brought him wide acclaim across the Atlantic. He received the Palme D'Or in Cannes in 1983 and the De Sica Prize in 1988. Sources said Volonte had suffered from cancer for many years and had undergone surgery. Volonte was 61.
