**Sergio Leone (1929-1989)** was an iconic Italian director, screenwriter, and producer, universally recognized as the father of the "Spaghetti Western".

His career is inextricably linked to the revolution of the Western genre. He rose to fame with the "Dollars Trilogy" (starring Clint Eastwood), comprised of *A Fistful of Dollars* (1964), *For a Few Dollars More* (1965), and *The Good, the Bad and the Ugly* (1966). Epic masterpieces followed, such as *Once Upon a Time in the West* (1968), *Duck, You Sucker!* (1971), and his artistic testament, the gangster drama *Once Upon a Time in America* (1984).

His distinctive style is characterized by sweeping wide shots that capture majestic landscapes, followed by intense close-ups on faces and eyes, morally ambiguous characters, and a skillful use of silence interrupted by explosions of violence and Ennio Morricone's legendary soundtracks. Leone redefined the Western and influenced generations of filmmakers, creating a mythical and unforgettable cinema.