Richard Harrison, an American actor who found stardom in Italian sword-and-sandal films, spaghetti Westerns, and low-budget ninja movies, has died at 90 of natural causes in Los Angeles. Though he landed minor roles in major Hollywood productions, he established himself as a leading man abroad, particularly in Italy, where he became a recognisable celebrity. His unexpected international career saw him make over 100 B-movies whilst navigating a diverse circle of creative figures.

Born in Salt Lake City in 1936, Harrison moved to Hollywood at 17 and initially worked as a model and gymnasium attendant before securing bit parts in films. After relocating to Italy in the early 1960s, he became an instant leading man, starring in productions including spaghetti Westerns scored by Ennio Morricone. He notably turned down the role in Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" but claimed to have recommended Clint Eastwood for the part that launched Eastwood's career. In the late 1970s, as European work diminished, Harrison transitioned to Hong Kong-produced ninja films, eventually returning to Los Angeles in 1986, where he and his second wife Francesca built a Malibu home later destroyed in the Palisades Fire.