Enzo Fiermonte (17 July 1908 – 22 March 1993), sometimes credited as William Bird, was an Italian actor and boxer.

Early life

Vincenzo "Enzo" Fiermonte was born on 17 July 1908 in

Casamassima Casamassima ( Barese: ) is a town and '' comune'' of 19,786 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, southern Italy. Is also called "The Blue Town". The town is located inland from the Italian coastline, thrives and is built on a ...

, a rural village near

Bari Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Ital ...

, in southern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

to Donato and Lucrezia Fiermonte.

Career

From 1925 to 1934, he was a professional boxer, with a lifetime record of 47 wins (11 by knockout), 17 losses (10 by knockout), and 2 draws. On June 22, 1943, he announced his permanent retirement from boxing. In 1937, he entered his

Maserati Maserati S.p.A. () is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. Established on 1 December 1914, in Bologna, Italy, the company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. The company has been owned by Stellantis since 2021. ...

in the

Vanderbilt Cup The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing. History An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1904 and first held on October 8 on a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, ...

auto race in Westbury, New York, but was not allowed to participate because he had no formal auto racing experience.

Acting career

Lo sparvero del Nilo Pampanini-Fiermonte

In 1940, he starred as a boxer in

Dino De Laurentiis Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis (; 8 August 1919 – 10 November 2010) was an Italian-American film producer. Along with Carlo Ponti, he was one of the producers who brought Italian cinema to the international scene at the end of World War II. He ...

' first film, '' L'ultimo Combattimento'' (The Last Fight), directed by

Pietro Ballerini Girolamo and Pietro Ballerini were Italian Catholic theologians and canonists of the 18th century, brothers, who published joint works. They were the sons of a surgeon of Verona. Girolamo Ballerini Girolamo was born at Verona 29 January 1701, ...

. Between the 1940s and the 1980s, he had acting roles in at least 116 films.

Personal life

Fiermonte was married to Tosca Manetti. In June 1933, Fiermonte's wife announced that he was seeking a divorce so he could wed Madeleine Talmage Force (1893–1940), the former wife of

John Jacob Astor IV John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family. He died in the sink ...

, who died aboard the RMS ''Titanic''. Fiermonte married Madeleine on 27 November 1933 in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, shortly after her divorce from her second husband, William Dick, on 21 July 1933. In 1935, they bought the former Dixie Plantation, a 600-acre estate in

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...

overlooking the

Stono River The Stono River or Creek is a tidal channel in southeast South Carolina, located southwest of Charleston. The channel runs southwest to northeast between the mainland and Wadmalaw Island and Johns Island, from north Edisto River between Johns ...

. They were divorced on 11 June 1938. He was only four years older than his stepson, John Jacob Astor VI, during the marriage. In 1944, he allegedly got engaged in Italy to Princess , but they never married. Fiermonte died in March 1993 in Mentana, Italy.

Selected filmography

* ''L'ultimo combattimento'' (1941) - Bruno Dal Monte * '' Beatrice Cenci'' (1941) - Olimpio Calvetti * ''Il chiromante'' (1941) - Paolo * ''Il mercante di schiave'' (1942) - Alì * '' The Adventures of Fra Diavolo'' (1942) - Michele Pezza / Fra' Diavolo * ''Spie fra le eliche'' (1943) - L'ispettore Enzo Massa * '' The Champion'' (1943) - Massimo * '' The Last Wagon'' (1943) - Roberto Pinelli, l'autista * ''Finalmente sì'' (1944) - Il conte Alberto * ''Nessuno torna indietro'' (1945) - Mario Ponte * '' L'abito nero da sposa'' (1945) - Giuliano de Medici * '' Non canto più'' (1945) - Il tenore Guido Revi * ''

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

'' (1946) * ''Uno tra la folla'' (1946) - Marco * ''L'atleta di cristallo'' (1946) - Franco Adami - pugile * '' Buried Alive'' (1949) - Bruno * '' Buffalo Bill a Roma'' (1949) - Buffalo Bill * ''

Son of d'Artagnan ''The Gay Swordsman'' ( it, Il figlio di d'Artagnan) is a 1950 Italian historical adventure film directed by Riccardo Freda and starring Carlo Ninchi, Gianna Maria Canale and Franca Marzi. Synopsis The son of d'Artagnan, the hero of ''The Three M ...

'' (1950) - Visconte di Langlass * ''

Hawk of the Nile ''Hawk of the Nile'' ( it, Lo sparviero del Nilo) is a 1950 Italian adventure film directed by Giacomo Gentilomo and starring Enzo Fiermonte and Silvana Pampanini. Plot In the first half of the nineteenth century the young Leila left Paris, wher ...

'' (1950) - Sceicco Rachid * '' The Two Sisters'' (1950) - Barone Enrico * '' Quo Vadis'' (1951) - Mounted Captain (uncredited) * ''

O.K. Nerone ''O.K. Nerone'' is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati. Cast * Gino Cervi: Imperator Nero * Silvana Pampanini: Imperatrice Poppea * Walter Chiari: Fiorello Capone * Jackie Frost: Licia * Carlo Campanini: Jimmy Gargiulo * P ...

'' (1951) - Gladiator * ''The Small Miracle'' (1951) - Sergeant of Swiss Guards * '' The Mistress of Treves'' (1952) - Il barone Drago * '' When in Rome'' (1952) - Harbor Policeman (uncredited) * ''

Il Tenente Giorgio ''Il Tenente Giorgio'' is a 1952 Italian historical melodrama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. Cast *Massimo Girotti as Lt. G. Biserta *Milly Vitale as Countess Elisa * Paul Muller as Count Stefano di Monserrato *Gualtiero Tumiati as ...

'' (1952) - Antonio Esposito (uncredited) * ''

The Shameless Sex ''The Shameless Sex'' ( it, Wanda la peccatrice, also known as ''Wanda the Sinner'') is a 1952 Italian melodrama film directed by Duilio Coletti. Plot Stefano, a naval officer for some time not operating on ships following a removal and therefo ...

'' (1952) * ''

Milady and the Musketeers ''Milady and the Musketeers'' (Italian: ''Il boia di Lilla'', also known as ''Vengeance of the Musketeers'' and ''La vita avventurosa di Milady'') is 1952 French-Italian historical adventure film directed by Vittorio Cottafavi and starring Rossano ...

'' (1952) * ''I Piombi di Venezia'' (1953) * '' Era lei che lo voleva'' (1953) - Fiermonte * ''Lasciateci in pace'' (1953) * ''I misteri della giungla nera'' (1954) - Sergeant Claridge * ''Black Devils of Kali'' (1954) - Sgt. Claridge * '' Cose da pazzi'' (1954) - Paolo * '' The Last Race'' (1954) - Filippo * ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

'' (1954) - Tybalt * ''

Angela Angela may refer to: Places * Angela, Montana * Angela Lake, in Volusia County, Florida * Lake Angela, in Lyon Township, Oakland County, Michigan * Lake Angela, the reservoir impounded by the source dam of the South Yuba River Fiction * An ...

'' (1954) - Sgt. Collins * ''

Loves of Three Queens ''Loves of Three Queens'' ( it, L'amante di Paride), also known as ''The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships'', is a 1954 Italian anthology film. It was directed by Marc Allégret and Edgar G. Ulmer and stars Hedy Lamarr. Plot A woman going to a ...

'' (1954) - (Segment: The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships) (uncredited) * ''I cavalieri della regina'' (1954) - Prince of Condé * ''

Barrier of the Law ''Barrier of the Law'' (Italian: ''La barriera della legge'') is a 1954 Italian thriller film directed by Piero Costa and starring Rossano Brazzi, Lea Padovani and Maria Frau. It was shot at the Fert Studios in Turin.Chiti & Poppi p.57 The film' ...

'' (1954) * ''Sultana Safiyè'' (1955) * ''Altair'' (1956) * ''

The Knight of the Black Sword ''The Knight of the Black Sword'' (Italian: ''Il cavaliere dalla spada '') is a 1956 Italian historical film, historical adventure film directed by and Luigi Capuano and starring Marina Berti, Steve Barclay (actor), Steve Barclay and Otello Toso. ...

'' (1956) - Mario * ''The King's Musketeers'' (1957) - Brissac * ''La spada imbattibile'' (1957) - Brissac * ''

The Goddess of Love ''The Goddess of Love'' ( it, La Venere di Cheronea, french: Aphrodite, déesse de l'amour), also known as ''Aphrodite, Goddess of Love'', is a 1957 Italian-French epic adventure film directed by Fernando Cerchio and Viktor Tourjansky, and st ...

'' (1957) * ''Amarti è il mio destino'' (1957) - Juan * ''Il cocco di mamma'' (1958) - Michele, Vasco's father * ''Il cielo brucia'' (1958) * ''

The Naked Maja ''The Naked Maja'' is a 1958 Italian-American co-production made by S.G.C., Titanus, and United Artists. This historical film recounting of the romance between the painter Francisco Goya and the Duchess of Alba was directed by Henry Koster, an ...

'' (1958) - Navarra (uncredited) * ''

Herod the Great Herod I (; ; grc-gre, ; c. 72 – 4 or 1 BCE), also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman Jewish client king of Judea, referred to as the Herodian kingdom. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his renova ...

'' (1959) * ''

Head of a Tyrant ''Head of a Tyrant'' or ''Judith and Holofernes'' (Italian:''Giuditta e Oloferne'') is a 1959 Italian-French historical film directed by Fernando Cerchio and starring Massimo Girotti, Isabelle Corey and Renato Baldini.Parish p.53 It is part of th ...

'' (1959) * '' Poveri milionari'' (1959) - Vittorio, Alice's Chauffeur (uncredited) * '' Ben-Hur'' (1959) - Galley Officer (uncredited) * ''

Hannibal Hannibal (; xpu, 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋, ''Ḥannibaʿl''; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Pu ...

'' (1959) - Announcer in Senate * '' The Cossacks'' (1960) - Shamil's Confident * ''

Conspiracy of Hearts ''Conspiracy of Hearts'' is a 1960 British Second World War film, directed by Ralph Thomas, about nuns in Italy smuggling Jewish children out of an internment camp near their convent to save them from The Holocaust. It stars Lilli Palmer, Sylvia ...

'' (1960) - Italian Soldier #2 * '' Rocco and His Brothers'' (1960) - Boxer * ''Pirates of the Coast'' (1960) - Mascella * '' The Pharaohs' Woman'' (1960) * '' The Bacchantes'' (1961) - Policrates (uncredited) * ''

Revolt of the Mercenaries ''Revolt of the Mercenaries'' (Italian: ''La rivolta dei mercenari'') is a 1961 Italian-Spanish historical adventure film directed by Piero Costa and starring Virginia Mayo, Conrado San Martín and Susana Canales.Kinnard & Crnkovich p.139 Th ...

'' (1961) - Cizzania * '' Damon and Pythias'' (1962) * '' The Slave'' (1962) - Gulbar - slave wrestling Randus * '' Eva'' (1962) - Enzo * ''

Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah () were two legendary biblical cities destroyed by God for their wickedness. Their story parallels the Genesis flood narrative in its theme of God's anger provoked by man's sin (see Genesis 19:1–28). They are mentioned frequ ...

'' (1962) - Eber * '' The Avenger'' (1962) - Acate * '' Catherine of Russia'' (1963) - general Munic * '' Sandokan the Great'' (1963) - Sergente Mitchell * ''

Temple of the White Elephant ''Temple of the White Elephant'', also known as ''Sandok, il Maciste della Giungla'', is a 1964 film directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring Sean Flynn. Plot In British colonial India, Lt. Dick Ramsay is charged with secretly rescuing the kidnapp ...

'' (1964) - Sgt. Major (uncredited) * ''

Messalina vs. the Son of Hercules ''Messalina vs. the Son of Hercules'' ( it, L'ultimo gladiatore, lit=The Last Gladiator) is a 1964 ''peplum'' film directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring Richard Harrison and Lisa Gastoni.Michele Giordano. ''Giganti buoni''. Gremese Editore, 19 ...

'' (1964) * ''

The Lion of Thebes ''The Lion of Thebes'' ( it, Il leone di Tebe, french: Hélène, reine de Troie) is a ''peplum'' film written and directed by Giorgio Ferroni. Plot When the Greek army conquers Troy, Helen is exiled from her city. Her loyal guard Arion and H ...

'' (1964) - Ufficiale di Tutmès * ''

The Triumph of Hercules ''The Triumph of Hercules'', the 1964 film, was one of many Italian sword and sandal epics during the 1960s craze. Originally titled ''Il Trionfo di Ercole'', the film was directed by Alberto De Martino. Hercules was portrayed by Dan Vadis. The fi ...

'' (1964) - Reto * '' The Two Gladiators'' (1964) - Gen. Ottavio Cratico * '' The Secret Invasion'' (1964) - Gen. Quadri * '' Triumph of the Ten Gladiators'' (1964) - Rizio * ''

Spartacus and the Ten Gladiators ''Spartacus and the Ten Gladiators'' ( it, Gli invincibili dieci gladiatori, link=no) is a 1964 international co-production sword-and-sandal film directed by Nick Nostro and co-written by Nostro, Alfonso Balcázar and Sergio Sollima. Plot Rocca an ...

'' (1964) - Gladiator Rizio * ''

Kidnapped to Mystery Island ''Kidnapped to Mystery Island'' (Italian: ''I misteri della giungla nera'', German: ''Das Geheimnis der Lederschlinge'' and The Snake Hunter Strangler) is a 1964 Italian-German adventure film directed by Luigi Capuano and starring Guy Madison, Ing ...

'' (1964) * ''

I due toreri ''I due toreri'' ( es, Dos toreros de aúpa) is a 1965 Italian-Spanish comedy film directed by Giorgio Simonelli starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Plot In Sicily Franco and Ciccio are empowered by a local mafia man to guard for a wide ...

'' (1964) - Capitano Nave * '' I predoni del Sahara'' (1965) - James Stanton * ''

Wild, Wild Planet ''Wild, Wild Planet'' ( it, I Criminali della Galassia, , lit=Criminals of the Galaxy) is a 1966 Italian science fiction film directed by Anthony Dawson and written by Renato Moretti and Ivan Reiner. Tony Russel stars as Commander Mike Halstead. ...

'' (1966) - General Fowler * '' War of the Planets'' (1966) - Gen. Halstead * ''War Between the Planets'' (1966) - Gen. Norton * ''

After the Fox ''After the Fox'' ( it, Caccia alla volpe) is a 1966 heist comedy film directed by Vittorio De Sica and starring Peter Sellers, Victor Mature and Britt Ekland. The English-language screenplay was written by Neil Simon and De Sica's longtime c ...

'' (1966) - Raymond * ''The Ugly Ones'' (1966) - Novak * ''

Grand Prix Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to: Arts and entertainment ...

'' (1966) - Guido * ''Snow Devils'' (1967) - General Norton * ''

Halleluja for Django ''La più grande rapina del West'' (released as ''Halleluja for Django'' in the US and as ''The Greatest Kidnapping in the West'' in Great Britain) is a 1967 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Maurizio Lucidi. It was referred as a film ...

'' (1967) - Sheriff Martin Cooney * ''

Fantabulous Inc. ''Fantabulous Inc.'' ( it, La Donna, il sesso e il superuomo) is a 1968 Italian-French superhero crime film directed by Sergio Spina and starring Richard Harrison. Cast * Richard Harrison as Richard * Judi West as Deborah * Adolfo Celi as ...

'' (1967) - General Van Pelt * '' A Long Ride from Hell'' (1968) - Baldy Morris * '' Beyond the Law'' (1968) - Sheriff John Ferguson * '' A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die'' (1968) - Dr. Chase * ''

A Black Veil for Lisa ''A Black Veil for Lisa'' ( it, La morte non ha sesso, lit. "Death has no sex") is a 1968 thriller film directed by Massimo Dallamano. Plot When a narcotics detective finds out that his beautiful wife (who is an ex-criminal) is cheating on him ...

'' (1968) - Siegert * '' The Magnificent Tony Carrera'' (1968) - Arnaldo * ''

Candy Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, i ...

'' (1968) - Al Pappone * ''

I quattro del pater noster ''In the Name of the Father'' ( it, I quattro del pater noster) is a 1969 Italian western comedy film directed by Ruggero Deodato and starring the popular Italian comedian Paolo Villaggio, Oreste Lionello, Lino Toffolo and Enrico Montesano ...

'' (1969) * '' Camille 2000'' (1969) - Gambler * '' The Forgotten Pistolero'' (1969) - Friar (uncredited) * '' Boot Hill'' (1969) - Sharp * ''

Chuck Moll ''The Unholy Four'' (Italian: ''Ciakmull (L'uomo della vendetta)'', lit. "Ciakmull (The vengeful man)"), also known as ''Chuck Moll'', is a 1970 Italian Spaghetti Western. The film represents the directorial debut of Enzo Barboni, who was, until ...

'' (1970) - Sheriff * ''L'asino d'oro: processo per fatti strani contro Lucius Apuleius cittadino romano'' (1970) - Proconsul * ''Strogoff'' (1970) - Colonel with general Dubelt * ''

Defeat of the Mafia ''Defeat of the Mafia'' ( it, Scacco alla mafia) is an Italian noir- crime film directed by Warren Kiefer and starring Victor Spinetti and Maria Pia Conte. It was shot in the late 1968 but released only in November 1970. It was initially plann ...

'' (1970) - Count Torreguardia * ''

The Tigers of Mompracem ''The Tigers of Mompracem'' (original title: ''Le Tigri di Mompracem'') is an exotic adventure novel written by Italian author Emilio Salgari, published in 1900. It features his most famous character, Sandokan. It was adapted into a 1970 film '' ...

'' (1970) - Sergeant * '' La califfa'' (1970) - L'operaio sindacalista * ''Les Aveux les plus doux'' (1971) * ''

Vengeance Is a Dish Served Cold ''Vengeance Is a Dish Served Cold'' ( it, La vendetta è un piatto che si serve freddo), also known as ''Death's Dealer'', is a 1971 Italian Western film directed by Pasquale Squitieri and starring Klaus Kinski. Plot Jeremias was 12 years old ...

'' (1971) - George Bridger * ''

Scipio the African ''Scipio the African'' ( it, Scipione detto anche l'Africano "Scipio, also called the African") is a 1971 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Magni. Plot Years after the Second Punic War, Scipio Africanus finds himself generally unliked, de ...

'' (1971) - senatore Quinto * '' Trinity Is Still My Name'' (1971) - Perla's Father * ''

My Dear Killer ''My Dear Killer'' ( it, Mio caro assassino) is a 1972 Italian-Spanish giallo film directed by Tonino Valerii and starring George Hilton, Marilù Tolo, Patty Shepard, Helga Line, Salvo Randone and William Berger. Some critics considered it "one ...

'' (1972) - Jib crane owner * ''Lo chiamavano Verità'' (1972) * ''

Man of the East Man of the East ( it, E poi lo chiamarono il magnifico) is a 1972 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Enzo Barboni starring Terence Hill. The film is set in the Wild West during the time of the railway construction. A recurring theme is th ...

'' (1972) - Frank Olsen * '' The Mechanic'' (1972) - The Mark * ''

Those Dirty Dogs ''Those Dirty Dogs'' ( it, Campa carogna... la taglia cresce, es, Los cuatro de Fort Apache, also known as ''Charge!'') is a 1973 Italian-Spanish Spaghetti Western film written and directed by Giuseppe Rosati and starring Gianni Garko and Steph ...

'' (1973) - Doctor Adams * ''Dagli archivi della polizia criminale'' (1973) - Inspector Vernon * '' Anche gli angeli tirano di destro'' (1974) - Joe Bendaggio (uncredited) * '' The Beast'' (1974) - Matteo Zaghi * '' Mannaja'' (1977) - Government Agent * ''

A Spiral of Mist ''A Spiral of Mist'' ( it, Una spirale di nebbia, french: Caresses bourgeoises, also known as ''Une spirale de brume'') is a 1977 Italian- French thriller- drama film directed by Eriprando Visconti. It is based on the novel with the same name writt ...

'' (1977) - Mr. Marinoni * ''

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

'' (1977) - Father of northern soldier * ''

Il prefetto di ferro ''Il prefetto di ferro'' (internationally released as ''I Am the Law'' and ''The Iron Prefect'') is a 1977 Italian drama film directed by Pasquale Squitieri. The film tells the story of Cesare Mori, an Italian prefect that before and during the ...

'' (1977) * ''6000 km di paura'' (1978) * ''

The Iron Commissioner '' Il commissario di ferro'' ( is a 1978 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Stelvio Massi. Plot Commissioner Mauro Mariani is known for his severity towards criminals and for his habit of acting on his own, which cost him the transition f ...

'' (1978) - Engineer * '' Life Is Beautiful'' (1979) - Zhozo (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fiermonte, Enzo 1908 births 1993 deaths Italian male film actors Male Spaghetti Western actors 20th-century Italian male actors