Tomas Milian, a multifaceted American actor with Cuban roots, received his training at the prestigious Actors Studio. Prior to embarking on a successful cinematic journey, he made his mark on the Broadway stage, appearing in a select few productions. Additionally, he had the privilege of performing in a show by the renowned French playwright Jean Cocteau at the esteemed Spoleto festival. It was during this period that he caught the attention of the esteemed Italian director Mauro Bolognini, thus marking the beginning of a remarkable and varied film career in Italy.
Throughout his career, Milian had the opportunity to portray a diverse range of characters, including a disturbed psychopath in the 1966 film "The Ugly Ones" (also known as "Bounty Killer"). He would subsequently refine and expand his repertoire to include an impressive array of neurotic and sadistic killers, initially in "spaghetti westerns" (many of which were directed by the acclaimed Sergio Corbucci) and later in violent action and police thrillers (some of which were directed by the prolific Umberto Lenzi).
As his filmography evolved, Milian's roles gradually transitioned into action comedies, as he became synonymous with the iconic characters of thief "Er Monnezza" and cop Nico Giraldi. The latter, originally inspired by the lead character in the 1973 film "Serpico," was a particularly popular and enduring figure in 1970s and 1980s Roman cinema.
