Fighters as actors

crooked nose · Post by **crooked nose** » 18 Dec 2003, 00:14

The fight business is in large part show business and many boxers have made the move from the ring to stage and screen (not always with great success). There's a few I can think of offhand: Tony Danza, who was a lot more successful with the acting. Victor McLaglen fought Jack Johnson, then later fought John Wayne in "The Quiet Man". Carlos Palomino, Ray Mancini and Randy Cobb have done some movies. Many more have made acting a career or have had bit parts. It's surprising where they show up. can anyone add to the list?

Broncano · Post by **Broncano** » 18 Dec 2003, 01:12

Buddy Baer had a part in "Quo Vadis" and Max Baer starred in "The Prizefighter and the Lady" (The Lady being Myrna Loy)

Here's a studio shot for the film's promo:
http://dorothyfields.co.uk/images/f_prizef2.jpg

Of course years later, Max Baer's son became a well-known TV face through his part as Jethro in the Beverly Hillbillies.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » 18 Dec 2003, 01:23

Leo Houck:
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=112263
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0396337/

Tom Kennedy:
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=039793
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0448366/

Freddie Steele:
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=021553
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0824543/

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 18 Dec 2003, 13:09

Here are links to some other threads about boxer/actors:

http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2525
http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1931
http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1755
http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=382
http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3634
http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11409
http://www.boxrec.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12366

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 18 Dec 2003, 15:35

Curtis Cokes had quite a big part in Fat City.... that film also featured a number of other boxers including Luis Escobar I believe!.
Over the years Ive read conflicting accounts that Tony Zale played himself in the film 'Somebody up there likes me' which is a biopic of Rocky Graziano.... I have the film and have watched it a number of times but can't make my mind up as to whether Zale is really Zale!.... it looks like him....... does anyone know the answer to this puzzle so I can sleep at night?!?.....

8)

crooked nose · Post by **crooked nose** » 18 Dec 2003, 16:55

Cokes was actually quite good in "Fat City". That was one of the finest boxing films ever. Art Aragon also had a speaking role.
In "Raging Bull", Eddie Mustafa Muhammad portrayed Billy Fox.
I recall a film version of "Huckleberry Finn" from about 1960 in which Archie Moore was Jim.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 18 Dec 2003, 18:10

silkov wrote:Curtis Cokes had quite a big part in Fat City.... that film also featured a number of other boxers including Luis Escobar I believe!.
Over the years Ive read conflicting accounts that Tony Zale played himself in the film 'Somebody up there likes me' which is a biopic of Rocky Graziano.... I have the film and have watched it a number of times but can't make my mind up as to whether Zale is really Zale!.... it looks like him....... does anyone know the answer to this puzzle so I can sleep at night?!?..... 8)

The Internet Movie Database lists actor Court Shepard as playing Tony Zale in Somebody Up There Likes Me.

IMDB.com lists the only film credit for Tony (born Anthony Zaleski) as The Golden Gloves Story (1950), in which he plays himself. That movie has no viewer reviews listed, so if someone seen it, I recommend you write a short review for the site.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 18 Dec 2003, 18:28

Fat City has to be my favourite boxing film... it's just a masterpeice... the novel on which it is lovingly based is also a classic.
Thanks for the info Viking!.... I'll sleep more happy tonight!...

8)

Richie Aprille rules · Post by **Richie Aprille rules** » 20 Dec 2003, 12:41

Vito Antuofermo appears in The Sopranos

Richie Aprille rules · Post by **Richie Aprille rules** » 20 Dec 2003, 12:43

And don't forget Marvin Hagler playing a Rambo-type character at 'Indio'

john garfield · Post by **john garfield** » 21 Dec 2003, 23:46

Eric the Viking wrote:
silkov wrote:Curtis Cokes had quite a big part in Fat City.... that film also featured a number of other boxers including Luis Escobar I believe!.
Over the years Ive read conflicting accounts that Tony Zale played himself in the film 'Somebody up there likes me' which is a biopic of Rocky Graziano.... I have the film and have watched it a number of times but can't make my mind up as to whether Zale is really Zale!.... it looks like him....... does anyone know the answer to this puzzle so I can sleep at night?!?..... 8)
The Internet Movie Database lists actor Court Shepard as playing Tony Zale in Somebody Up There Likes Me.

IMDB.com lists the only film credit for Tony (born Anthony Zaleski) as The Golden Gloves Story (1950), in which he plays himself. That movie has no viewer reviews listed, so if someone seen it, I recommend you write a short review for the site.

=====================================

Sheppard did resemble Zale a lot, was a stuntman and had a fight career of his own before he turned to pictures. The producers tried to use Zale because he always stayed in great shape. But he didn't know how to pull his punches for the camera and broke Paul Newman's ribs when they were rehearsing.

zurdo · Post by **zurdo** » 23 Dec 2003, 02:41

Richie Aprille rules wrote:Vito Antuofermo appears in The Sopranos

Vito also played a mafia henchman in the Godfather Part III the lesser of the three movies..

Richie Aprille rules · Post by **Richie Aprille rules** » 23 Dec 2003, 14:40

zurdo wrote:
Richie Aprille rules wrote:Vito Antuofermo appears in The Sopranos
Vito also played a mafia henchman in the Godfather Part III the lesser of the three movies..

True

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 30 Dec 2003, 02:43

there's an old thread about this floating arond in the archives which is very thorough, so i won't get into it much here.

just a comment on max baer....he played a fighter somewhat based on himself in the harder they fall. he and brother buddy duked it out in an abbot and costello film...africa screams. before they started slugging, one says to the other, "I'll hit you harder than louis ever did'....forget which one as louis kayoed both.

buddy baer appeared in a few episodes of murder she wrote..ones that lansbury herself wasn't in...just introduced the story.

crooked nose · Post by **crooked nose** » 30 Dec 2003, 06:03

Rocky Graziano did well on US TV in the '50s.

Does anyone recall that the film "Requiem for a Heavyweight" featured cameo appearances by two heavyweight champs - one past, one future? Curious if anyone can name 'em.

revporl · Post by **revporl** » 30 Dec 2003, 09:53

Ali was in a film called Freedom Road (and obviously "The Greatest"). Ken Norton did bit parts on TV before his car crash. I think I remember seeing him in an episode of the A team.

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 30 Dec 2003, 10:09

The Quiet Man airs today on the BBC

revporl · Post by **revporl** » 31 Dec 2003, 08:36

Joe Bugner has apparently been in several Australian spagetti westerns, an obscure genre if ever there was one!

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 01 Jan 2004, 11:26

Steve Collins was a doorman in Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels.

I remember Mark Breland being in a film which I think was about the first black man in the U.S. Marines, cant recall the name.

Tex Cobb was in Blind Fury and also played a part in an episode of The X-Files.

Mark Breland and Freddie Delardo had a mock fight in an episode of Miami Vice apparently.

Jack O'Halloran was in The Big Sleep and Superman 2.

Off the top of my head that all I can think of.

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 01 Jan 2004, 14:19

Max Schmeling played a major part in the German film, "Love in the ring", definitley not based on his second fight with Joe Louis. He appeared with Germany's leading actress, (who?).
Palais

robin · Post by **robin** » 01 Jan 2004, 17:11

The very beautiful Renate Muller, check out her tragic demise on google. Paul Samson-Korner also had a part in this movie.

Simonpure · Post by **Simonpure** » 02 Jan 2004, 07:32

Walter Cartier, a middleweight contender in the 1940`s and 50`s, became a regular cast member of the Television series "Sergeant Bilko" which starred comic Phil Silvers in the title roll.

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 02 Jan 2004, 07:38

Prinz Wilhelm von Homburg plays the villain in Ghostbusters II

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 02 Jan 2004, 12:35

Jack Palance fought as a pro under the name Jack Brazzo.

Dean Martin -under his name Dino Crochetti- claimed to have a 2-1 pro record.

John Lester Johnson -who fought Dempsey and other good heavyweights- was a working actor with many movie credits including flicks with Mae West and Tarzan epics.

Clay Hodges -who beat Foreman in the amateurs- and had a brief pro career, has worked in Hollywood, including playing Jess Willard in the Dempsey miniseries.

Bob Hope fought as Packy East, but as an amateur. Errol Flynn also had a few documented amateur matches.

Arthur Kennedy, Abe Simon and Buddy Baer appeared in numerous films. Primo Carnera played a giant who fought Steve Reeves in a Hercules movie.

Johnny Coulon made a brief appearance in "Medium Cool." Tony Danza had a dozen pro fights before he became a star in TV.

There are dozens of others......

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 02 Jan 2004, 18:58

robin wrote:The very beautiful Renate Muller, check out her tragic demise on google. Paul Samson-Korner also had a part in this movie.

Here are the IMDB filmography and mini-biography for Renate Müller:

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0618286
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0618286/bio

People in the prime of their lives don't just fall out of third-story windows, in my experience. Just goes to show you to what lengths the Nazis went to get people to do their bidding. "Oh, sure, she agreed to appear in our latest propaganda film, but her acting was sub-par. Time for Ms. Müller to have a little accident..."

Interesting that she starred in the original film version of Victor/Victoria.