Tony Galento
Biography
Born in Orange, New Jersey, Tony Galento fought professionally as an American heavyweight boxer from the late 1920s into the early 1940s. He compiled 79 wins, 26 losses, and 6 draws, and he faced prominent heavyweights such as Al Ettore, Arturo Godoy, Lou Nova, and Max and Buddy Baer. His best-known moment came in June 1939, when he challenged Joe Louis for the world heavyweight title and knocked the champion down in the third round before Louis stopped him in the fourth. Galento also fought Nova in a notoriously bloody 1939 bout, winning by technical knockout in the fourteenth round, and in 1940 he lost to Max Baer when he failed to answer the bell for the eighth round. He was described as a slow and undisciplined fighter, but he had strength, durability, and a hard punch, and he became one of boxing's most colorful figures.
69years old at death
- Born Orange
- Died Livingston
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Also credited as Domenico Antonio Galento and Dominick Anthony Galento
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 4 years1954 to 1958
Every film, newest first
- 1958Wind Across the EvergladesIMDb rating 6.5
- 1956The Best Things in Life Are FreeIMDb rating 6.0
- 1954On the WaterfrontIMDb rating 8.1
Genres
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First role
At sixteen, Tony Galento took up boxing at the Orange YMCA. His friend Jimmy Frain, who would later train him, gave him the encouragement to start.
A change of course
Galento became a professional wrestler in 1948 after his boxing career ended. He faced Primo Carnera, wrestled an octopus in a Seattle fish tank, boxed a kangaroo in Atlantic City, and fought a 550 lb bear in a Newark cage.
Beyond film
Galento took the role of 'Big Jule' in a 1955 tent production of Guys and Dolls near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The part is most associated with nightclub comedian B. S. Pully.
Getting ready for a role
According to Mee, Galento had an unusual approach to exercise: he would smoke a fat cigar in a car while his sparring partners plodded alongside to get themselves in shape.
Own stunts
Galento showed the Canadian heavyweight George Chuvalo how to throw a short right hand after a headbutt, so it appeared the punch did the damage.
Tony Galento movies on Netflix
Worked with
Tony Galento shares two films with Pat Henning, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Pat Henning's page
Christopher Plummer's page
Ernest Borgnine's page
Marlon Brando's page
Martin Balsam's page
Rod Steiger's page
All films by Elia Kazan
All films by Nicholas Ray
Michael CurtizDirector, 1 film, 1956
All films by Michael Curtiz
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.