Terence Hill, born Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939, in Venice, Italy, was the son of a chemist father and a German mother. As a child, his family lived near Dresden, Saxony, Germany, where they survived the Allied bombings of World War II.
Italian film-maker Dino Risi discovered Hill at a swimming meet, and he made his film debut at the age of 12 in Vacanze col gangster (1952). He continued acting to finance his studies and motorcycle hobby. After studying classical literature at the University of Rome for three years, Hill decided to devote full time to acting.
In 1962, he appeared in Luchino Visconti's The Leopard (1963),and then signed a contract for a series of adventure and western films in Germany. In 1967, he returned to Italy to play the lead in God Forgives... I Don't! (1967). While on location in Almeria, Spain, he married an American girl of Bavarian descent, Lori Zwicklbauer, who was the dialogue coach for the picture.
The producers of this movie wanted Hill to change his name, and he was given a list of 20 names to choose from within 24 hours. He decided to take the name Terence Hill, which had the same initials as his mother's name, Hildegard Thieme. The public was told that "Hill" was his wife's name, a move that was seen as special in the context of upcoming feminism.
In 1976, Hollywood called, and Hill appeared in March or Die (1977) with Gene Hackman and starred in Mr. Billion (1977) with Valerie Perrine. Since then, he has concentrated on action/adventure films, often working with long-time partner Bud Spencer.
Terence Hill now lives in Massachusetts and is a film producer, as well as a talented and respected actor.
