The Fake Bud Spencer and Terence Hill: The Untold Story of the Simon and Matthew Impostors

Simone and Matteo, the cinematic duo brought to life by actors Paul Lawrence Smith and Antonio Cantafora, became massive hits from Italy to Czechoslovakia through deliberate casting and physical resemblance to Bud Spencer and Terence Hill.

The Rise of Paul Lawrence Smith as the Robust Giant “Simon”

Born in Everett, Massachusetts, on June 24, 1936, Paul Lawrence Smith weighed eight and a half kilograms at birth and grew into an imposing figure standing 193 centimeters tall. Before entering the film industry, Smith studied psychology and philosophy at Harvard University and played competitive football, later earning a master’s degree and studying at Florida State University. His acting career began after he relocated to New York, worked as a night club bouncer, and met director and producer Otto Preminger at a party who cast him in the 1960 film Exodus. Smith later relocated to Israel, where he lived, married, volunteered in the Six-Day War, and appeared in local films before moving to Italy in 1973. In Italy, producers capitalized on his striking physical resemblance to Bud Spencer, casting Smith alongside Antonio Cantafora in films such as 1974’s Karambol, Karambol 2, Noi non siamo angeli, and the popular Šimon a Matouš jedou na Riviéru and Šimon a Matouš. Smith later successfully sued an American television network that altered his name to Bob Spencer, establishing the legal importance of his own identity in film credits. Moving back to the United States in 1977, Smith transitioned to character roles, playing a sadistic prison guard in Midnight Express and a loyal servant in Red Sonja, before retiring from acting in 1999 and eventually returning to Israel where he lived under the Hebrew name Adam Eden until his death on April 25, 2012, at age 75.

Antonio Cantafora and the Transformation into “Matteo”

Born in Crotone, Calabria, on February 2, 1944, Antonio Cantafora studied acting under playwright, actor and director Alessandro Fersen before launching his film career in the 1967 film El Desperado. Italian filmmakers recognized his bright blue eyes and striking resemblance to Terence Hill, pairing him with Paul Lawrence Smith under the English pseudonym Michael Coby. Cantafora mastered Hill’s characteristic charm, card tricks, and quick-witted demeanor in films like Karambol and the Šimon a Matouš adventures, which achieved massive popularity in Czechoslovakia thanks to local dubbing. Following the slapstick era, Cantafora maintained a career in European cinema, taking on character roles in Federico Fellini’s Interview and Dario Argento’s The Card Player, alongside television appearances in Elisa z Rivombrosy until his final film role in the 2023 horror movie Crypt of Evil. Alongside acting, Cantafora was a painter influenced by his Calabrian roots, exhibiting hundreds of artworks internationally alongside his wife Paola Ester, who accompanied his vernisages with piano and song, before his sudden death from a myocardial infarction in Rome on April 20, 2024, at age 80.

The Legacy of the Italian Copycat Duo

While originally conceived as alternatives to the films of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, the films featuring Smith and Cantafora endured due to high-energy stunt work, catchy soundtracks, and comedic chemistry. The physical pairing allowed Italian producers to capture a share of the European box office. Both actors ultimately transcended their origins as lookalikes—Smith through Hollywood character acting and Cantafora through European dramatic roles and fine art—leaving a lasting imprint on international popular culture and Eastern European television programming.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who were Simone and Matteo? Simone and Matteo were fictional comedic characters played by Paul Lawrence Smith and Antonio Cantafora in a series of Italian adventure films created to mirror the popular style of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill.
• Were Paul Lawrence Smith and Antonio Cantafora related? No, they were not related. Smith was an American actor born in Massachusetts, while Cantafora was an Italian actor born in Calabria.
• What happened to Paul Lawrence Smith? After an international career that included films like Midnight Express and Red Sonja, Smith retired from acting in 1999, moved back to Israel, took the name Adam Eden, and passed away in 2012 at age 75.
• When did Antonio Cantafora pass away? Antonio Cantafora died of a heart attack in Rome on April 20, 2024, at the age of 80, after a long career spanning film, television, and painting.