Sergio Ciani

Riding on a cinematic tidal wave ignited by Montana-born bodybuilder and one-time "Mr Universe" Steve Reeves in the cult hit Le fatiche di Ercole (1958) [aka Hercules], Steel was actually one of the very few native Italians to play these colossal he-men as most were transported from America or England.

Steel started off his beefcake run off as a body double for Reeves in both the "Hercules" sequel Ercole e la regina di Lidia (1959) [Hercules Unchained] and in The Giant of Marathon (1959) [Giant of Marathon], in which he also had bit roles.

One of a load of ab-normal muscular men who stood on the Neopolitan pectoral pedestal during the sword-and-sandal craze of the early 1960s, Sergio Ciani was born in Italy and went by the aptly-named stage moniker "Alan Steel" while in the meat of his film career.

Playing assorted mythological demigods in cheaply-made but highly popular spectacles of the early 1960s, the actor also occasionally went by his birth name.

In the late 1960s he and fellow movie musclemen Kirk Morris and Gordon Mitchell served up a "spaghetti western" entitled Sapevano solo uccidere (1968) [Saguaro].

Within a couple of years Steel was posing front-and-center as Herk himself in Sansone (1961) [Samson] opposite another physique-minded American import, Brad Harris in the title role. On numerous occasions Steel was asked to play the legendary Greek hero, as well as the equally well-built demigods Samson and Ursus, even though the film titles often fused (or confused) them in their titles.

It was not surprising to find Steel cast as a heavy during his prime as well -- menacing the very heroes he was prone to playing -- such as his crazed emperor Commodus in Ursus gladiatore ribelle (1962) [Ursus, the Rebel Gladiator] opposite Dan Vadis.

He also played the supporting role of Kaldos in The Fury of Hercules (1962) [The Fury of Hercules] when it was Brad Harris' turn to play the title role. By mid-decade the Herculean phase had faded away and Steel went on, unlike others peplum stars, to other film styles -- dramas, thrillers, horror, oaters, even comedies.

In contrast, his Hercules serves as a mere sidekick in the Zorro-like spectacle Hercules and the Masked Rider (1963) [Hercules and the Masked Rider] starring Ettore Manni.

Steel starred as Hercules in Hercules Against Rome (1964) [Hercules Against Rome], Maciste e la regina di Samar (1964) [Hercules Against the Moon Men], Hercules and the Black Pirates (1964) [Hercules and the Black Pirate], and Lost Treasure of the Incas (1964) [Hercules and the Treasure of the Incas], the second movie mentioned being one of the only spectacles to actually incorporate science fiction into the genre.

In 1976 Steel starred in and co-wrote a Robin Hood movie, and in 1979 ended his on-camera appearances with the Italian comedy Baby Love (1979).

As a footnote, in 1993 Australian filmmakers took Alan's film Samson and the Mighty Challenge (1964) [Samson and the Mighty Challenge] and did a total re-edit to create a brand new feature (an action comedy), with original scenes, Aussie actors and a new soundtrack.