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On this day, February 23, 1934, film and TV actor Race Gentry was born.
He looks like Ricky Nelson in "Rio Bravo," especially in that second photograph.
Film & TV actor Race Gentry was #BornOnThisDay Feb. 23, 1934. Films include The Lawless Breed (1952), Black Horse Canyon (1954) & Thunder in Carolina (1960). Reportedly "just disappeared" from the Hollywood scene in 1966. Passed in 2015 (age 81) cause of death unknown. #RIP #Hunk
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Race Gentry Biography
Overview
Born February 23, 1934 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Died October 10, 2015 · Pauma Valley, California, USA
Birth name John Papiro
Nickname John Gentry
Mini Bio
Handsome second lead actor, briefly under contract to Universal-International in the mid-1950s. He was born John Papiro of Italian ancestry on 23 February 1934 to Guido and Frances M. Papiro in Los Angeles, California. Following a stint in the army, Papiro adopted the stage moniker Race Gentry (purportedly because he liked fast cars) and embarked on a brief acting career on screen. He made his debut as the younger version of gunslinger John Wesley Hardin (the older played by Rock Hudson) in the heavily romanticized western The Lawless Breed (1952). In another tepid horse opera, Black Horse Canyon (1954), he joined forces with fellow rancher Joel McCrea , competing with a neighbouring rival over the possession of a wild black stallion. Gentry also popped up in a couple of war pictures before devoting his energy to acting on the small screen. His motion picture swansong was Thunder in Carolina (1960), as a cocky young stock car racer mentored by veteran driver Rory Calhoun. For this effort, he changed his name again -- to John Gentry (not to be confused with the British racing engineer of that name). After a few more guest roles on TV, Gentry departed the scene in 1966 to be heard from no more.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: I.S.Mowis
Family
Spouses
Mary Morlas (November 24, 1962 - November 1969) (divorced, 1 child)
Pernell J. Mirka (1 child)
Overview
Born February 23, 1934 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Died October 10, 2015 · Pauma Valley, California, USA
Birth name John Papiro
Nickname John Gentry
Mini Bio
Handsome second lead actor, briefly under contract to Universal-International in the mid-1950s. He was born John Papiro of Italian ancestry on 23 February 1934 to Guido and Frances M. Papiro in Los Angeles, California. Following a stint in the army, Papiro adopted the stage moniker Race Gentry (purportedly because he liked fast cars) and embarked on a brief acting career on screen. He made his debut as the younger version of gunslinger John Wesley Hardin (the older played by Rock Hudson) in the heavily romanticized western The Lawless Breed (1952). In another tepid horse opera, Black Horse Canyon (1954), he joined forces with fellow rancher Joel McCrea , competing with a neighbouring rival over the possession of a wild black stallion. Gentry also popped up in a couple of war pictures before devoting his energy to acting on the small screen. His motion picture swansong was Thunder in Carolina (1960), as a cocky young stock car racer mentored by veteran driver Rory Calhoun. For this effort, he changed his name again -- to John Gentry (not to be confused with the British racing engineer of that name). After a few more guest roles on TV, Gentry departed the scene in 1966 to be heard from no more.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: I.S.Mowis
Family
Spouses
Mary Morlas (November 24, 1962 - November 1969) (divorced, 1 child)
Pernell J. Mirka (1 child)
Fri Feb 24, 2023: On February 23, 1934, film and TV actor Race Gentry was born.