Born in Milan in 1933, he studies in Rome at the "National Dramatic Arts Academy" were reaches the degree in 1957. He starts working in teather and television, where he is soon noticed as one of the most promising actors of his generation. After a few short appearance in movies, he reaches notoriety with the character of Ramón Rojo in Sergio Leone's Pour une poignée de dollars (1964). The success is doubled in the following Leone's movie Et pour quelques dollars de plus (1965). The following ten years are the most intense of his career. In 1966 L'armée Brancaleone (1966) (directed by Mario Monicelli) is the most successful Italian movie of the year, in 1967 À chacun son dû (1967) (directed by Elio Petri) wins the grand prix du scenario at the Cannes Film Festival, and Volontè wins his first Nastro d'argento (The Silver Ribbon - the Italian most remarkable award), in 1970 for Enquête sur un citoyen au-dessus de tout soupçon (1970) (also directed by Elio Petri) makes Mr.Volonte' an international star. The movie wins the Academy award for best Foreign Film, the Grand prix at the Cannes Film Festival and The Golden Globe. Volontè wins both the silver ribbon and the Donatello's David awards in Italy for his acting. In 1972 he stars in two Italian movies as the main character La classe ouvrière va au paradis (1971) - directed by Elio Petri and L'affaire Mattei (1972) directed by Francesco Rosi) win tied the Cannes Film Festival where he wins
a special award. In his life Volontè has won a huge number of other prizes and mentions becoming the most celebrated Italian actor of the seventies and challenging with Vittorio Gassman and Marcello Mastroianni as the most popular Italian actor. He died in Greece in 1994.
