Actor Bud Spencer dies

(ANSA) - Rome, June 28 - Italian actor Bud Spencer has died aged 86, his son Giuseppe Pedersoli told ANSA on Tuesday.
    Spencer, whose real name was Carlo Pedersoli, died peacefully on Monday afternoon in Rome with his family by his side, his son said. ''He did not suffer, he had all of us next to him and his last word was 'thank you''', Pedersoli said.
    Born on October 31, 1929, in Naples, Spencer moved to Rome to become a star of Spaghetti Westerns and comedies.
    He played in over 130 films from the 1950s to the 2000s, including the blockbuster They Call Me Trinity (1970), together with co-star Terence Hill. They pair went on to make many successful films together. He was beloved by the public mainly as the star of over 17 Westerns, although he played in a wide range of movies including Ermanno Olmi's drama Singing behind Screen (2003). Before he discovered acting, Spencer was a promising swimmer and became the first Italian in 1950 to swim 100m in under one minute. He reportedly chose his professional name to pay homage to Spencer Tracy and Budweiser, his favorite beer.