Worked as a part-time art critic and attended medical school before moving into filmmaking
Studied at legendary Italian director Luchino Visconti's Experimental Film Studios
Made his directorial debut in 1959 with the Italian-language comedy The Thieves
Rose to international prominence in 1979 with Zombi 2 (AKA Island of the Living Dead), billed by producers as an unofficial sequel to George Romero's 1978 classic Dawn of the Dead
At the time of his death, was set to direct Wax Mask, inspired by the 1953 Vincent Price classic House of Wax