1960s B-movies
During the 1960s Harrison appeared mostly in B-movies, many of which are now considered to be cult films.
Harrison relocated to Italy in the early 1960s with his first wife Loretta and became a minor star in sword and sandal films, Eurospy films and spaghetti westerns. His first Italian film and first starring role was in The Invincible Gladiator (1962), directed by Alberto De Martino and Antonio Momplet. Arguably Harrison's most well known film from his early career is the western Gunfight at Red Sands (Duello nel Texas), directed by Ricardo Blasco in 1963. Gunfight at Red Sands is also noteworthy for being the first Italian Western to feature an Ennio Morricone score. Harrison turned down Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars and recommended Clint Eastwood for the role. Harrison joked that was his greatest contribution to the cinema.
The 1968 film Joko Invoca Dio...I Muori AKA Vengeance, directed by Antonio Margheriti, is another favorite among spaghetti western fans. Luciano Martino's 1965 movie Secret Agent Fireball, Harrison's first Eurospy film, is also often cited as his best film in the genre, and one of his better earlier films. He again played the role of CIA Agent Fleming in a sequel Killers Are Challenged in 1966.
The Italian actor Bruno Piergentili who made European features during this period was given the name "Dan Harrison", perhaps to evoke Richard's name.
Read more about this topic: Richard Harrison (actor)