Born to a family of actors and stunt performers, Ottaviano Dell'Acqua's early life was already set on a path of artistic expression and physical daring. As a child, he began acting in Italian Spaghetti Western productions, showcasing his youthful appearance and fearless attitude, which quickly made him a sought-after talent in both stunt performing and character acting. Throughout the 1970s, he frequently appeared alongside one or more of his siblings, including Roberto, Alberto, and Arnoldo, in various film roles.
As the 1980s arrived, Dell'Acqua transitioned to stunt coordinating, working on a wide range of projects, from major Hollywood productions to smaller European films, and has continued to do so ever since. His work in this capacity has earned him recognition within the horror genre, particularly for his role in creating the iconic worm-eyed zombie mask for Lucio Fulci's 1979 film ZOMBIE, also known as ZOMBI 2. Meanwhile, his most prominent mainstream appearance might be in Martin Scorsese's 2002 epic drama GANGS OF NEW YORK, where he played one of Bill the Butcher's key henchmen.
Interestingly, Dell'Acqua has also taken on leading roles under the pseudonym "Richard Raymond" for director Bruno Mattei, with his most notable performance being in the 1983 film RATS: THE NIGHTS OF TERROR, in which he is top-billed. Coincidentally, the same year he appeared in multiple post-apocalyptic films, including RAGE and AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK, though his name was not credited in these productions.
