Born in Rome, Ciani started his career as a stuntman; then he became the body double for Steve Reeves in Hercules Unchained and in The Giant of Marathon, in which he also played a minor role.
[1] In the early 1960s he adopted the stage name Alan Steel and starred the leading roles in a number of peplum films with good commercial success.
[1] He had the distinction as being one of the very few native Italians to play the heroes of the peplum features.
In addition to playing roles named either Hercules, Ursus, or Samson, he played Robin Hood in the 1976 adventure film Storia di arcieri, pugni e occhi neri.
[1] Ciani died in his sleep at his house in Ostia, Rome, at age 79, just two days short of what would have been his 80th birthday.