Acted in Vittorio De Sica's landmark classic of neorealism, "The Bicycle Thief"

Worked as an assistant to Italian and American filmmakers (Mervyn LeRoy, Raoul Walsh, William Wyler) in Italy

Worked as an assistant director on such American productions as "Helen of Troy" (1956), "The Nun's Story", "Ben Hur" (both 1959)

First credit as co-screenwriter, "Nel segno di Roma/Sign of the Gladiator"

Replaced ailing Mario Bonnard as director (also co-screenwriter) on "Last Days of Pompeii" starring Steve Reeves; refused to accept screen credit

Directed first credited feature film, "The Colossus of Rhodes"

Worked as assistant to Robert Aldrich on "Sodom and Gomorrah"

Achieved international success with the first installment in his "Man with No Name" trilogy, "A Fistful of Dollars" (under the pseudonym Bob Robertson), starring Clint Eastwood

Credited with the story idea for "My Name Is Nobody"

Headed his own production company, Rafran Cinematografica

Briefly moved to France in the late 1970s

Last major directorial effort, "Once Upon a Time in America"