ULYSSES Day: Umberto Silvestri

If there's an PEPLUM actor that should have had a bigger career it's Umberto Silvestri. Umberto was a championship wrestler (last photo) and began his career in movies playing big guys who, well, wrestle. Because his film career started in the early 1940s and peaked in the early 1950s, he missed out on most of the PEPLUM explosion of the late 1950s and 1960s. The highlight of his career was wrestling with Kirk Douglas in ULYSSES, as seen in the top two images.

Umberto's first role was in THE IRON CROWN and he was also seen in FABIOLA and THEODORA - SLAVE EMPRESS.

Umberto in THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. IMO, this his is best role. He gave great support to the film and the wrestling scene is excellent. He was also in top form. Director Pietro Francisci really knew how to use him.

Umberto in SPARTACO (Sins of Rome) with Gianna Maria Canale

One of Umberto's last roles in COLOSSUS OF THE ARENA co-starring Mark Forest and Dan Vadis. Umberto started to look old, too old for these kind of films.