Richard Talmadge

Richard Talmadge (Sylvester Metzetti,Ricardo Metzetti, or Sylvester Ricardo Metzetti,Munich, Germany, December 3, 1892 – January 25, 1981) was a German-born American actor, stuntman and film director.

When he arrived in Hollywood in 1910, he began his career as a stuntman for Douglas Fairbanks, before becoming an actor himself. His films include American Manners, The Poor Millionaire, Dancing Dynamite, Speed Madness, and the Pirate Treasure serial. He was the lead in The Cavalier (1928), film released by Tiffany Pictures with only a music and sound effects soundtrack.

He never got rid of his German accent, so with the advent of the talkies, he started working behind the cameras as assistant director, stunt coordinator and director. His later work included How the West Was Won, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Casino Royale.

He was the stepfather of polo player Sue Sally Hale. His brothers, Otto and Victor Metzetti both had success as stunt performers, and were members of the vaudeville troupe the Flying Metzettis, (or the Five Metzettis) who were the first to perform the quadruple back somersault in 1917, at Barnum and Bailey's, with Richard as voltiguer.

Richard Talmadge died of cancer at the age of 88 on January 25, 1981, in Carmel, California. He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, his grave marked with the name "Richard Metzetti Talmadge".

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