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Ruggero Deodato was born on May 7, 1939 in Potenza, Italy, he grew up outside Rome during his grade school years. One of his close friends at the time was Renzo Rossellini, the son of famed Italian director Roberto Rossellini . Knowing his love for the movies, Renzo persuaded Ruggero to work as a second unit director for some of his father`s film productions.

From 1958 to 1967, Ruggero Deodato worked as a second unit director for several cult film directors such as Anthony M. Dawson (Antonio Margheriti), Riccardo Freda , and Joseph Losey. Deodato`s directorial debut was the action-fantasy Ursus, il terrore dei kirghisi (1964) , after Margheriti abandoned direction. Deodato`s claim to fame was the spaghetti western Django (1966). His career took off for real in 1968 when he directed a number of films based on comic books characters as well as musicals. During one, Deodato met and married actress Silvia Dionisio.

Between 1971 and 1975, Deodato worked in television in directing the series "All`ultimo minuto" (1971) as well as some TV commercials for various companies such as Esso Oil, Band-Aid, and Fanta. Deodato returned to movie making directing an erotic melodrama and a police thriller. At the same time his marriage to Silvia Dionisio fell apart. In 1977 Deodato directed the notorious Ultimo mondo cannibale (1977), and later Cannibal Holocaust (1980). Deodato traveled to New York City and directed the disturbing thriller La casa sperduta nel parco (1980) a semi-follow-up to Wes Craven`s The Last House on the Left (1972). Deodato made La casa sperduta nel parco (1980) in just 19 days of shooting on a tiny budget. Deodato then returned to directing action and horror flicks.

Deodato nowadays lives in Rome with his current partner Micaela Rocco and still works in directing movies and occasional TV series. He is allegedly planning a sequel for Cannibal Holocaust.