Giuseppe Mattei (August 31, 1928 – September 8, 2000) was a quintessential Italian character actor whose career served as a roadmap through the most popular genres of European cinema. Born in Rome, the heart of the Italian film industry, Mattei was a stalwart professional who appeared in dozens of productions, often bringing a tough, gritty energy to the screen.
To international cult cinema fans, Mattei is recognized for his role in the 1964 landmark The Last Man on Earth. In this haunting adaptation of I Am Legend, he portrayed the New People Leader, one of the infected-but-conscious individuals who eventually clash with Vincent Price’s Robert Morgan. His performance contributed to the film’s innovative depiction of a “new society” rising from the ashes of humanity, a concept that would influence decades of zombie and post-apocalyptic fiction.
Mattei’s versatility made him a favorite for directors across several “explosive” genres. He was a frequent player in the Peplum (sword-and-sandal) era, appearing in films like Revenge of the Barbarians (1960). As the industry shifted toward high-concept action and “Euro-Spy” films, he secured a role in the colorful cult favorite The Three Fantastic Supermen (1967). Later in his career, he transitioned into the brutal world of the Poliziotteschi (Italian crime films), most notably appearing in Lucio Fulci’s ultra-violent classic Contraband (1980).
Mattei passed away in his hometown of Rome in 2000 at the age of 72. While he often played supporting roles, his presence was a vital component of the “Italian Hollywood” era, providing the essential toughness and reliability that allowed these imaginative genre films to thrive on the global stage.
