das Bolas, Xan

[PeplumParadise]

Xan das Bolas in El pobre García (1961)

Xan das Bolas was a small-part character actor, active in Spanish and European films and television from 1940 until 1977.

He was born Tomás Ares Pena on October 30th 1908 in La Coruña, Spain, to parents Tomás Ares Alonso and Ángela Pena Valiño. He was married to artist Lina Chiverto (dates unknown) and had three children.

He began his career as a comedy and variety actor in the theatre in the 1930's. His film career kicked off following the end of the civil war in 1940 and shortly after this he adopted his unusual pseudonym from a Galician expression. He quickly became one of the most prolific small-part actors in Spanish cinema, usually appearing in comical light relief roles with a strong Galician accent. He appeared in over 250 films and TV series over the next 37 years.

Xan died in Madrid on October 13th 1977, aged 68. He is buried in the cemetery of La Almudena.

His biographical details come from, and are corroborated by, a combination of various online sources.

Filmography

---

1941

1. Torbellino .... Juan José (credited as "Fernando Tomás Ares")
   
   1942
2. El hombre que se quiso matar .... Lodger (credited)
3. Goyescas .... Assistant (credited)
4. La rueda de la vida .... Juanito (credited)
   
   1944
5. Ella, él y sus millones .... The Guide (credited)
6. La vida empieza a medianoche .... (credited, but not found)
7. Tuvo la culpa Adán .... Guard (credited)
   
   1946
8. Mar abierto .... Peirán (credited)
   
   1947
9. Héroes del 95 .... Fadeiro (uncredited)
   
   1948
10. Botón de ancla .... Trinquette (credited)
11. El marqués de Salamanca .... Guard in the wax museum (uncredited)
    
    1949
12. Sabela de Cambados .... Benito (credited)
    
    1950
13. Yo no soy la Mata-Hari .... Don Cosme Fernández (credited)
    
    1951
14. El gran Galeoto .... Coachman (credited)
15. La Niña de la Venta .... Dimas (credited)
16. La trinca del aire .... Pepiño (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
17. Niebla y sol .... Meigo (credited)
    
    1952
18. Aeropuerto .... Nightwatchman (credited)
    
    1953
19. El diablo toca la flauta .... President (credited)
20. La alegre caravana .... Sheriff (credited)
21. Nadie lo sabrá .... Postman (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
22. Vuelo 971 .... Plane passenger father (credited)
    
    1954
23. Amor sobre ruedas .... Cristóbal (credited)
24. Malvaloca .... Barrabas (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
25. Tres huchas para Oriente .... Porter at the stadium (uncredited)
    
    1955
26. El coyote .... Beggar (credited)
27. El guardián del paraíso .... Nightwatchman (credited)
28. Historias de la radio .... Sergeant of the civil guards (credited)
29. La cruz de mayo .... Felix (credited)
30. La reina mora .... Prisoner (credited)
31. Orgullo .... Gabriel (credited)
32. Para siempre .... Helpful airport employee (credited as "Xanda Bolas")
33. Un día perdido .... Dance master (credited)
    
    1956
34. ¡Aquí hay petróleo! .... Baldomero (credited)
35. Curra Veleta .... Nightwatchman (credited)
36. El fenómeno .... Park warden (credited)
37. El malvado Carabel .... Janitor (credited)
38. El rey de la carretera .... Pedro (credited)
39. Pasión en el mar .... El Sabio (credited)
40. Saeta rubia .... Taxi driver (credited)
41. Tarde de toros .... Infirmary porter (credited)
42. Un fantasma llamado amor …. role unknown (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
    
    1957
43. El hombre que viajaba despacito .... Card player (credited as "Xandas Bolas")
44. Faustina .... Lipio (credited)
45. Fulano y Mengano .... Hearse driver (credited)
46. Las muchachas de azul .... Felipe (credited)
47. Susana y yo .... Janitor (credited)
48. The Pride and the Passion .... Revolutionary (uncredited)
49. Un marido de ida y vuelta .... Diaz (credited)
    
    1958
50. Ana dice sí .... Don Cristino (credited)
51. Aquellos tiempos del cuplé .... Shopkeeper (credited)
52. Caravana de esclavos .... Hassan (credited)
53. El hombre del paraguas blanco .... Bailiff (credited)
54. El puente de la paz .... Long Fingers (credited)
55. Farmacia de guardia .... Nightwatchman (credited)
56. Héroes del aire .... Percebe (credited)
57. Historias de Madrid .... Ciriaco (credited)
58. La venganza .... Galician harvester (credited)
59. La vida por delante .... Van co-driver (credited)
60. Les bijoutiers du clair de lune .... Guard who shoots Ursula (uncredited)
    
    1959
61. ¿Dónde vas, Alfonso XII? .... Shouting man from Madrid (uncredited)
62. Diez fusiles esperan .... Cañete (credited)
63. Échame la culpa .... Court clerk (credited)
64. El gafe .... Balbino's nephew (credited)
65. El redentor .... Man taunting Jesus (uncredited)
66. En las ruinas de Babilonia .... Abdullah (credited)
67. La vida alrededor .... Demetrio Suárez 'El Asunción' (credited as "Xan dax Bolas")
68. Las dos y media y… veneno .... Owner of the hen (credited)
69. Se vende un tranvía (short film) .... Religious shop employee (credited)
70. Sonatas .... Sentinel (credited)
    
    1960
71. Ama Rosa .... Coachman (credited)
72. Crimen para recién casados .... Train conductor (credited)
73. El hombre que perdió el tren .... Station manager (credited)
74. El indulto .... Busker (credited)
75. La rivolta degli schiavi .... Christian (uncredited)
76. The Boy Who Stole a Million.... Knife grinder (credited)
77. Un paso al frente .... Roman (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
    
    1961
78. Aquí están las vicetiples .... Kiosk owner (credited)
79. El pobre García .... Felipe (credited)
80. Fantasmas en la casa .... Pascasio (credited)
81. Fray Escoba .... Sick man helped by Brother Martin (credited)
82. Il conquistatore di Maracaibo.... Ben Yussuf (uncredited)
83. La rivolta dei mercenari .... Katia's companion (credited)
84. Madame Sans Gêne.... One of Napoleon's officers (uncredited)
85. Pecado de amor .... Nightwatchman (credited)
86. Placido .... Rivas (credited)
87. Tierra brutal.... Pedro (credited)
    
    1962
88. Due contro tutti .... Wagon loader (credited as "Xan Dos Bolas")
89. Dulcinea .... Man on the road (credited)
90. El hijo del capitán Blood .... Matt (credited)
91. I sette gladiatori .... Xeno's servant (credited)
92. L'ombra di Zorro.... Bank employee (credited)
93. La venganza de Don Mendo .... Ali (credited)
94. La venganza del Zorro .... Soldier (uncredited)
95. Lawrence of Arabia .... Arab leader at the summit (uncredited)
96. Les quatre vérités .... Civil guard (credited)
97. Los que no fuimos a la guerra .... Owner of Bar Fandiño (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
98. Martes y trece .... Guest with the bottle (credited)
99. Torrejón City .... Falcon's Eye (credited)
100. Vamos a contar mentiras .... Sexton (credited)
     
     1963
101. Chica para todo .... (credited, but not found)
102. Duello nel Texas .... Barber (credited)
103. El llanero .... Ranger's lieutenant (credited)
104. El precio de un asesino .... Priest (credited)
105. El valle de las espadas .... Soldier (credited)
106. El verdugo .... Site watchman (credited)
107. Gli imbroglioni .... Tabanelli's lawyer (credited)
108. Il segno di Zorro .... (credited, but not found)
109. La casta Susana .... Waiter (uncredited)
110. La máscara de Scaramouche .... Gino (credited)
111. La revoltosa .... Card player (credited)
112. La verbena de la Paloma .... Francisco (credited)
113. Mathias Sandorf .... Carpena (credited)
114. Millonario por un día .... Thief (credited)
115. Pacto de silencio .... Train conductor (credited)
116. Plaza de oriente .... Waiter (credited)
117. The Ceremony .... Arab peasant (credited)
118. Tres hombres buenos .... Postman (credited)
119. Un demonio con ángel .... Don Federico (credited)
120. Una chica casi formal .... Bar owner (credited)
     
     1964
121. Bienvenido, padre Murray .... Lopez (credit unknown)
122. Como dos gotas de agua .... Martinez (credited)
123. Desafío en Río Bravo .... Laborer (credited)
124. Échappement libre .... Guard of the cars on the ship (credited)
125. El camino .... Germán's father (credited)
126. El espontáneo .... One of "Los situados" (credited)
127. El extraño viaje .... Cosme (credited)
128. El pecador y la bruja .... Porter (credited as "Xandas Bolas")
129. El Señor de La Salle .... Farmer (credited)
130. Gli eroi del West .... Doctor (credit unknown)
131. I promessi sposi .... Rebel (uncredited)
132. La chica del gato .... Venancio (credited)
133. La muerte silba un blues .... Policeman (credited)
134. Los dinamiteros .... Marble maker (credited)
135. Los Palomos .... Taxi driver (credited)
136. Relevo para un pistolero .... Hotel receptionist (credited)
     
     1965
137. All'ombra di una colt .... Vet (credited as "Xan de Bolas")
138. Amador .... (credited, but not found)
139. Dos chicas locas, locas… .... Train station guard (credited)
140. La carga de la policía montada .... Man shot by Indians (credited)
141. Los cuatreros .... Pedro (credited)
142. Mi canción es para ti .... Racehorse owner (credited)
143. Whisky y vodka .... Hotel receptionist (credited)
     
     1966
144. 7 pistole per i MacGregor .... Barman (uncredited)
145. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum .... Roman citizen cheated by Pseudolus (uncredited)
146. El aventurero de Guaynas .... Manuel (credited)
147. Fray Torero .... Local (credited)
148. La mujer perdida .... Man talking to priest (credited)
149. Lost Command .... Man with the white flag (uncredited)
150. Proceso a una estrella .... Witnes (credited)
     
     1967
151. ¿Es usted el asesino? (TV series) Ep. 3 .... Caricortao (credited)
152. 40 grados a la sombra .... Porter at Evaristo's building (credited)
153. Clint el solitario .... Simpson (credited)
154. Club de solteros .... Lucas (credited)
155. Due croci a Danger Pass .... Barman (credited)
156. La niña del patio .... Don Calixto (credited)
157. Operación cabaretera .... Guard (credited)
158. Run Like a Thief .... Gonzalez (credited)
159. Vestida de novia .... Galician barman (credited)
     
     1968
160. ¡Cómo está el servicio! .... Nightwatchman (credited)
161. Anche nel west c'era una volta Dio .... Hoagie (uncredited)
162. Cuidado con las señoras .... Barman (credited)
163. Los que tocan el piano .... Rufino Celeiro (credited)
164. Operación Mata Hari .... Cabaret hall manager (credited)
165. Uno a uno, sin piedad .... Ben (credited)
166. Villa Rides .... Telegraph operator (uncredited)
     
     1969
167. Amor a todo gas .... Cristobal (credited)
168. Educando a una idiota .... Waiter (credited)
169. Garringo .... Potter (credited)
170. Juicio de faldas .... Paco (credited)
171. La morte sull'alta collina .... Barman (uncredited)
172. No somos ni Romeo ni Julieta .... Night plainclothes patrolman (credited)
173. Objetivo: bi-ki-ni .... Waiter (credited)
174. Pasto de fieras .... Uncle Quico (credited)
     
     1970
175. Arriva Sabata! .... Telegraph operator (credited)
176. Con ella llegó el amor .... Lodger in the pension (credited)
177. Don Erre que erre .... Civil guard (credited)
178. El alma se serena .... Station manager (credited)
179. El mesón del gitano .... Ezequiel (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
180. Una señora llamada Andrés .... Cleaner (credited)
     
     1971
181. Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 7 episodes .... Camilo (credited)
182. El apartamento de la tentación .... Forest guard (credited)
183. La folie des grandeurs .... Barbarian chief (uncredited)
184. La montaña rebelde .... Hermit (credited)
185. La via del rhum .... Mobster (uncredited)
186. Murders in the Rue Morgue .... Orsini's assistant (credited)
187. Simón, contamos contigo .... (credited, but not found)
188. Una chica casi decente .... Police lieutenant (credited)
     
     1972
189. Condenados a vivir .... Buddy (credited as "Tomas Ares")
190. Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 18 episodes .... Camilo (credited)
191. Los paladines (TV series) Ep. 10 .... role unknown (credited in 2 episodes)
     
     1973
192. Celos, amor y Mercado Común .... Friend of Felipe (credited)
193. Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 18 episodes .... Camilo (credited in 21 episodes)
194. Pugni, pirati e karatè .... Slave merchant (uncredited)
     
     1974
195. Cinco almohadas para una noche .... Receptionist of the Fuencaliente Spa (credited)
196. Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 4 episodes .... Camilo (credited)
197. Cuando los niños vienen de Marsella .... José's father (credited)
198. Cuentos y leyendas (TV series) Ep.: "La promesa" .... Fadrique (credited)
199. Cuentos y leyendas (TV series) Ep.: "Un error judicial" .... Man questioned by police (credited)
200. Dormir y ligar todo es empezar .... Doorman (credited)
201. El picaro (TV series) Ep.1: "Lucas desea un traje y un amo y encuentra las dos cosas" .... The Salesman (credited)
202. La boda o la vida .... Don Cesar (credited)
203. Una pareja… distinta .... Truhan (credited)
     
     1975
204. Cipolla Colt .... Sam (credited)
205. Cuentos y leyendas (TV series) Ep.: "El crimen del indio" .... Tribunal secretary (credited)
206. El mejor regalo .... Wedding guest (credited)
207. El quinto jinete (TV series) Ep.: "El aullido" .... Riaño (credited)
208. El quinto jinete (TV series) Ep.: "Los dados" .... Muleteer (credited)
     
     1976
209. A la legión le gustan las mujeres .... Cafe owner (credited)
210. El segundo poder .... (credited as playing "Brother Lope", but not found)
211. La Carmen .... José's father (credited)
212. Madrid, Costa Fleming .... Marcelo (credit unknown)
213. Volvoreta .... Ramon (credited)
214. Vuelve, querida Nati .... Concierge (credited)
     
     1977
215. Curro Jiménez (TV series) Ep.7: "La Dolorosa" .... role unknown (credited)
216. El chiste .... Forest guard / Cattle breeder / Indian chief (credited as "Xandas Bolas")
217. Me siento extraña .... Tavern customer (credited)
218. Mi hija Hildegart .... A Republican (credited)

Titles to check

• Salomé (1940) IMDb (credited as Tomás Ares)
• ¡Polizón a bordo! (1941) IMDb as Bailiff
• Éramos siete a la mesa (1942) IMDb
• Madrid de mis sueños (1942) IMDb
• Unos pasos de mujer (1942) IMDb
• El pozo de los enamorados (1945) IMDb
• Un hombre de negocios (1945) IMDb as Museum concierge
• El doncel de la reina (1946) IMDb
• El pirata Bocanegra (1946) IMDb as Cayetano
• 2 cuentos para 2 (1947) IMDb, scenes reportedly deleted
• Pototo, Boliche y Compañía (1948) IMDb
• Tiempos felices (1950) EdCE
• Duda (1951) IMDb as Sereno
• Historia de dos aldeas (1951) IMDb
• Ha desaparecido un pasajero (1953) IMDb
• Sobresaliente (1953) IMDb
• Buenas noticias (1954) IMDb as Sheriff
• La ciudad de los sueños (1954) IMDb
• Tres eran tres (1954) IMDb in segment "Una de indios"
• Noche de tormenta (1955) IMDb
• Dos novias para un torero (1956) IMDb
• La mestiza (1956) IMDb
• Piedras vivas (1956) IMDb
• El anónimo (1957) IMDb
• Familia provisional (1958) IMDb
• Le tre eccetera del colonnello (1960) IMDb
• Ella y los veteranos (1961) IMDb as Shooting booth owner
• Patricia mía (1961) IMDb
• Bochorno (1963) IMDb
• Escala en Hi-Fi (1963) IMDb
• José María (1963) IMDb as Colonel
• Cotolay (1965) IMDb as Monk
• Agente Logan - missione Ypotron (1966) IMDb as Hotel porter
• Eroe vagabondo (1966) IMDb
• Hermenegildo Pérez, para servirle (1966 TV series) IMDb, 2 episodes
• El niño y el potro (1969) IMDb as Rogelio
• Los hijos de... (1976) IMDb as Street sweeper

No das Bolas!

Titles where Xan is listed as appearing somewhere online, but cannot be found. There always has to be one!

• Apartado de correos 1001 (1950) EdCE. Not found after multiple searches.
• Pequeñeces (1950) EdCE. Not found after multiple searches.
• Jeromín (1953) EdCE. Not found after multiple searches.
• Fedra (1956) IMDb with no role. Not found after multiple searches.
• I motorizzati (1962) IMDb with no role. Not found. Xan is one of a number of Spanish actors listed on IMDb, none of whom appear (the film was shot entirely in Italy).
• La gran familia (1962) IMDb with no role. Not found after multiple searches.
• Gunfighters of Casa Grande (1964) IMDb as Vasco. Not found by myself or Carlos
• I maniaci (1964) IMDb with no role. Not found. Once again Xan is one of a number of Spanish actors listed on IMDb, none of whom appear (the film was shot entirely in Italy).
• Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez (1976 TV series) S.2, Ep.1: "Las mil y una noches". IMDb as Sinbad the sailor. Not found after multiple searches, I would guess that IMDb has listed the wrong episode.

[PeplumParadise]

Torbellino (1941) credited as "Fernando Tomás Ares", as Juan José

[PeplumParadise]

El hombre que se quiso matar (1942) credited, as Lodger

[PeplumParadise]

Goyescas (1942) credited, as Assistant

[PeplumParadise]

La rueda de la vida (1942) credited, as Juanito

[PeplumParadise]

Ella, él y sus millones (1944) credited, as The Guide

[PeplumParadise]

La vida empieza a medianoche (1944) credited, but not found after multiple searches.

IMDb says he should play a stage hand, but there is only one scene set backstage at the theatre and Xan is nowhere to be seen.

[PeplumParadise]

Tuvo la culpa Adán (1944) credited, as Guard

[PeplumParadise]

Mar abierto (1946) credited, as Peirán

[PeplumParadise]

Héroes del 95 (1947) as Fadeiro