A cousin of director Enzo G. Castellari and nephew of director Marino Girolami, Massimo Vanni became involved in the Italian film industry at a young age both as a bit-part player and stuntman before slowly graduating to larger more dramatic roles toward the end of the decade. A skilled acrobat and fight choreographer, Vanni himself became known as the Italian Jackie Chan of the 1980's, usually getting a good fight scene in before meeting with an inevitable demise.

Filmography

• 2026ZOE - Il segreto degli onori — David Collins
• 2025Balboa — Mickey
• 2025Nel nome dell'odio — Sé stesso
• 2024L'uomo che disse no — Alberto Gemma
• 2021Dietro la notte — Stunt Coordinator
• 2021I Am Santa Claus — Nanni
• 2021Rocky Giraldi - Delitto a Porta Portese — Questore
• 2013Roma criminale — Gargiulio
• 2008Bastardi — Brasi
• 2008Solitaire — Moriero
• 2008Ti stramo - Ho voglia di un'ultima notte da manuale prima di tre baci sopra il cielo — Professore
• 2007E guardo il mondo da un oblò — Uomo che tradisce la moglie
• 2006Baciami piccina — Stunt Coordinator
• 2006The Borgia — Soldier
• 2006The Stone Merchant — Stunts
• 2005Belle da morire 2 — Killer
• 2005Come Into the Light — Stunt Coordinator
• 2005Crime Novel — Guardaspalle Gemito (uncredited)
• 2005Il ritorno del Monnezza — Gargiulo
• 2005The Clan — Stunt Coordinator
• 2003Five Moons Plaza — Brigatista con mitra, Master at Arms
• 2002A Perfect Love — Stunt Coordinator
• 2002Gangs of New York — Bar Bouncer (uncredited), Stunts
• 2001Stregati dalla luna — Stunt Coordinator
• 2001Vajont — Roncacci, Stunt Coordinator
• 2000Alex the Ram — Stunt Coordinator
• 1998Kidnapping – Ein Vater schlägt zurück — Angelo
• 1998La quindicesima epistola — Michele
• 1997Body and Soul — Killer
• 1997Desert of Fire — Albino
• 1997The Wax Mask — Victor
• 1996Jack Frusciante è uscito dal gruppo
• 1995Segreto di Stato — Following Hitman
• 1994A Pure Formality
• 1994First Action Hero — Drake, Stunt Coordinator
• 1994Una grande voglia d'amore — Nicole's Friend
• 1993Skinheads — Master at Arms
• 1992Pierino Stecchino
• 1990After Death — David, Stunt Coordinator
• Appointment in Trieste
• 1989Born to Fight — Prisoner #1
• 1989Shocking Dark — First Soldier (Practicing Nunchucks), Stunt Coordinator
• 1989Sinbad of the Seven Seas — Man (uncredited)
• 1988Cop Game — Head of the Killers
• 1988Robowar — Pvt. Larry Guarino, Stunt Coordinator
• 1988Strike Commando 2 — Kelly Sellers
• 1988Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 — Bo (as Alex McBride)
• 1987Double Target — Russian Soldier (uncredited)
• 1987My Sister and I — Uomo nel treno
• 1987Strike Commando — Stunt Coordinator
• Attentato al Papa — Informer Policeman
• 1986The Lieutenant of the Carabinieri — Thief
• 1985Light Blast — Policeman in Warehouse
• 1985The Repenter
• 1985È arrivato mio fratello — poliziotto
• 1984Blastfighter — Dying Police Officer
• 1984Rats: Night of Terror — Taurus
• 1984Tuareg: Desert Warrior — Corporal, Stunts
• 1983Escape from the Bronx — Big Little Man
• 1983The New Barbarians — Mako
• 19821990: The Bronx Warriors — Blade
• 1982The Gorilla — ladro baffuto
• 1981Crime at the Chinese Restaurant — brigadiere Gargiulo
• 1981The Last Shark — Jimmy (as Max Vanders)
• 1980Crime at Porta Romana — Brigadier Gargiulo
• 1980Day of the Cobra — Beltrame
• 1980The Last Hunter — Phillips
• 1979Assassination on the Tiber — Brigadier Gargiulo, Stunts
• 1979The Face with Two Left Feet — Paolo
• 1979The House by the Edge of the Lake — Manuel
• 1978Little Italy — Gargiulo
• 1978Magnum Cop — Vinnie
• 1978The Inglorious Bastards — French Resistance
• 1977Destruction Force — Marchetti
• 1977Highway Racer — Man (uncredited)
• 1977Nerone — Painter
• 1977The Heroin Busters — Massimo
• 1977The Swindle — brigadiere Gargiulo
• 1977Weapons of Death — Rosati - Undercover Cop
• 1976A Special Cop in Action — Fabbri
• 1976Hit Squad — Brigadier Gargiulo, Stunts
• 1976Keoma — Caldwell's Henchman at Wagon (uncredited), Stunts
• 1976Rome, the Other Face of Violence — Agent Vanni (uncredited), Stunts
• 1976The Big Racket — Rudy's Enforcer, Stunts
• 1976The Loves and Times of Scaramouche
• 1975Cry, Onion! — Buck, Lamb Henchman, Stunts
• 1975Emanuelle and Françoise — Robi
• 1975Seven Beauties — Man in Prison (uncredited)
• 1975Violent Rome — Mr. Valli, Stunts
• 1975We Are No Angels — Shark Henchman
• 1974Lovers and Other Relatives — Mr. Muscle
• 1974Street Law — Hood #2
• 1973High Crime — Killer
• 1972Hector the Mighty — Gang (uncredited)

Appearances as themselves (6)

• 2026Juso per ferie — Self
• 2024Pretendo l'inferno — Self
• 2017Tracce di Bene — Self
• 2008Dragonland: L'Urlo di Chen terrorizza ancora l'occidente — Self
• 2008Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered - Volume 1 — Self
• 2007Quelli del Maledetto Treno Blindato - Making of 'Inglorious Bastards' — Self