Erminio Spalla
Erminio Spalla was an Italian professional heavyweight boxer, film actor and singer.
Spalla studied fine arts in Brera, when in 1910 he saw film footage of the world boxing championships and decided to become a professional boxer.
He was the first Italian to win a European boxing title, which he did in 1923. He lost it in 1926 to Paulino Uzcudun and retired from boxing the next year, though he briefly returned to the ring in 1934 and won all three of his final bouts. He returned to art after retiring from the ring.
In October 1937 he debuted as an opera singer in Nel Trovatore in Turin. In the same year he also worked in sculpture and painting.
In 1939 he acted in his first film, Io, suo padre by Mario Bonnard. This was followed by over fifty films and television series, including the war film Giarabub. His last film was I fratelli Karamazov by Sandro Bolchi.
His elder brother Giuseppe was also a boxer.
Selected filmography
Il match dei 100.000 dollari I, His Father - Romolo TonelliThe Silent Partner - Il colonelloIl signore della taverna Il ponte dei sospiri - ScalabrinoLa compagnia della teppa - L'oste Bartolomeo BorghiThe Hero of Venice - FrancoCaptain Tempest - El KadurThe Lion of Damascus - El KadurArriviamo noi! - Il terzo gestorio del "castello delle streghe"Giarabub - Il meccanico "Mago Bakù" BrambillaI due Foscari - OlivieroIl fanciullo del West - Il fattore dei CareyKnights of the Desert The Champion - Mario MartiniHarlem - Franckie Battaglia, l'allenatoreRomulus and the Sabines - Giovanni, il carrettiereSenza famiglia - VitaliOgni giorno è domenica - StefanoThe Devil's Gondola - Marco, il gondoliereThe Tyrant of Padua - Un evasoSangue a Ca' Foscari The Opium Den The Adventures of Pinocchio - MangiafuocoCab Number 13 - Le marinFabíola The Pirates of Capri Flying Squadron Santo disonore - OresteDeported - Benjamino BardaBluebeard's Six Wives - L'AutistaMiracle in Milan - GaetanoO Comprador de Fazendas A Flea on the Scales A Família Lero-Lero Lights Out Chéri-Bibi - Il rossoThe Red Cloak Io piaccio - Man who abducts Roberto Maldi Torna piccina mia! - ZorasVendicata! Wives and Obscurities - OsteA Estrada Poor, But Handsome - Amico del padre di GiovannaAddio sogni di gloria Song of Naples - DockerSolo Dio mi fermerà Il Conte di Matera - Amico di GoliaAngel in a Taxi - Un saltimbancoThe Naked Maja - Rojas The Defeated Victor - Coach The Pirate and the Slave Girl - MalikAgosto, donne mie non vi conosco Il Mattatore - Un detenuto Siege of Syracuse - Taverniere Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete - Padre Addottivo di AriannaThe Prisoner of the Iron Mask The Fury of Achilles - NestorTaur, il re della forza bruta - Re di ShrupukThe Sailor from Gibraltar - Eolo