American Bullfighter, Artist Fulton Dies In Spain

John Fulton, an American artist who became a professional bullfighter in Spain, has died, family friends said Saturday. He was 65.

Fulton died in the Sagrado Corazon Hospital in Seville on Friday from complications following a heart attack Feb. 8. He had been in a coma since then, said Helen Fouche, a close friend who was with him when he died.

Fulton was the only professional American bullfighter to receive the coveted “confirmation” or recognition of his ranking by Madrid’s renowned Las Ventas bullring, which he did in 1967.

Fulton was born in Philadelphia on May 22, 1932.

His dream to fight bulls evolved while studying art in the Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende in the early 1950s.

After a few years as an apprentice there, he moved to Seville, where he combined his love for bullfighting with painting and where he was helped out financially by Ernest Hemingway.

In 1963, he became a professional bullfighter in Seville. He took part in dozens of fights in Spain before retiring in 1994.

“He did what few thought possible: be a foreigner and become a matador in Spain,” said Colombian bullfighter Vicente Salamanca, who has lived in Fulton’s house for the past five years.

In recent years, Fulton dedicated most of his time to his gallery in Seville. He designed several bullfighting posters and “suit of lights” costumes worn by matadors that glitter in the sun.

He did illustrations for American writer James Michener’s book “Miracle in Seville” and also wrote a primer on how to be a matador, titled “Bullfighting.”

Fulton was survived by his son Federico. Funeral arrangements had not been finalized.