Joe Bonomo (strongman)

Joe Bonomo
Born Joseph Bonomo
(1901-12-25)December 25, 1901
Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died March 28, 1978(1978-03-28) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Stunt performer, strongman

Joseph "Joe" Bonomo (December 25, 1901 March 28, 1978) was a famous American weight lifter, strongman, film stunt performer and actor.

Biography

Bonomo was born to Esther and Albert Bonomo, Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Izmir.[1] As a child Bonomo built himself into a strongman winning the "Mr Modern Apollo" contest of 1921 where the prizes included a ten-week movie contract.[2]

He began as a stunt double soon doubling for Lon Chaney in The Hunchback of Notre Dame then playing a variety of roles. He lost the role of Tarzan in Tarzan the Mighty when he injured himself before shooting,.[3]

When sound came, Bonomo's strong Brooklyn accent precluded him from most film roles but he reportedly retained his fame in magazine adverts offering bodybuilding by mail order.

References

Notes

  1. The Taranto-Capouya-Crespin Family History: A Microcosm of Sephardic History, sephardichorizons.org; accessed July 28, 2015.
  2. Baxter, John. Stunt: The Story of the Great Movie Stunt Men, p. 82, Doubleday, 1974.
  3. Schneider, Jerry L. Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Silver Screen Vol. I The Silent Years

External links

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