Lou Castel

A Colombian-born actor, Lou Castel has appeared in German, French, and Italian films. Castel moved to Europe and attended the Italian National Film School (Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia) but didn't graduate. He had a bit part in the Luchino Visconti epic, "The Leopard," in 1963 then received an enormous break when he was given the starring role in Marco Bellocchio's 1965 hit, "Fist in His Pocket." A year later, he was cast in the revisionist historical film, "Francis of Assisi," in the title role. He played the alter ego of German director, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, in the 1971 film, "Beware of a Holy Whore," and co-starred in the Wim Wenders historical drama, "The Scarlet Letter," in 1973. Castel worked with Wenders again in his critically acclaimed film, "The American Friend," as well as appearing in lower budget exploitation films like the 1978 thriller, "Flesh Color," and the horror film, "Obscene Desire." In the 1980s, he starred in Fulvio Wetzl's thriller, "Rorret," and in the '90s had a supporting part in the Olivier Assayas hit, "Irma Vep." In his long and varied career, he has also worked with directors Pier Paolo Pasolini and Philippe Garrel.