Brad Harris, Actor in Sword-and-Sandal Movies, Dies at 84
Variety
By Rebecca Rubin
November 7, 2017
Brad Harris, best known for his work in sword-and-sandal movies, died Tuesday. He was 84.
The actor and stuntman worked in Europe for majority of his career, appearing in over 50 spy films and spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s, including “The Fury of Hercules,” “Pirates of the Mississippi,” “Black Eagle of Santa Fe,” “Kiss, Kiss, Kill, Kill,” “Spy Today, Die Tomorrow,” “Death Trip,” “The Mad Butcher” and “Supermen.”
In addition to his movie work, he appeared on the small screen as Deputy Duffy in the soap opera “Falcon Crest” from 1984-1989.
Born in Idaho, Harris later moved to California and attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship where he studied economics. After sustaining injuries from football, he was advised to take up weightlifting, which then sparked an interest in bodybuilding.
Upon graduation, he secured work in the industry as a stand-in and stuntman. Harris made his big-screen debut in the 1957 biographical film “Monkey on My Back.”
His first leading roles were in Gianfranco Parolini’s 1961 films “Goliath Against the Giants” and “Samson.” Parolini and Harris went on to work together on several titles written and directed by Parolini.
Harris appeared in over 50 spy films and spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s, including “The Fury of Hercules,” “River Pirates of the Mississippi,” “Black Eagle of Santa Fe,” “Kiss, Kiss, Kill, Kill,” “Spy Today, Die Tomorrow,” “Death Trip,” “The Mad Butcher” and “Supermen.”
Later in his career, he served as an executive producer on several of his films including “King of Kong Island” and “The Mutations.”
Harris married actress Olga Schoberova in 1967. They had a daughter, Sabrina, before they divorced in 1969. In 1971, Schoberova remarried studio executive and producer John Calley, who adopted Sabrina.
HARRIS, Brad (Brad Jan Harris)
Born: 7/16/1933, St. Anthony, Idaho, U.S.A.
Died: 11/7/2017, Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.
Brad Harris’ westerns – actor, stuntman, master of arms:
Love Me Tender – 1956 [stunts]
3:10 to Yuma – 1957 [stunt double Richard Jaeckel]
Cowboy – 1958 [stunt double Richard Jaeckel]
13 Fighting Men - 1960 (Private Fowler)
River Pirates of the Mississippi – 1963 (Tom Cook) [stunt coordinator]
Massacre at Marble City – 1964 (Phil Stone) [master of arms, stunt coordinator]
Black Eagle of Santa Fe – 1965 (Brad Howard/Chet ‘Blacky’ James) [stunt coordinator]
Rattler Kid – 1967 (Sheriff Bill Manners) [stunts]
Durango is Coming, Pay or Die – 1970 (Durango) [stunts]
Wanted Sabata – 1970 (Sabata) [stunts]
Django… Adios! – 1971 (Sheriff Django/Durango) [stunts]
Dallas (TV) – 1984, 1985, 1989 (Mason)