- Vincent Barbi, in Cineguida 1956
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He was born to a mother named Concettina on January 11th 1912 in Naples, Italy.
In 1931, aged 19, he went to New York as an amateur lightweight boxer to represent Europe vs. America. Initially only going for 15 days, after 10 he decided to make New York his home, realising there was more money to be made there than in Naples. In 1935 he turned professional, appearing in 68 fights, of which he won 42. He fought world middleweight champion Fred Apostoli, but was defeated by a knockout.
He married a Dutch woman named Joan in 1937, with whom he had 2 children, Barbara and Richard.
Through contacts he made in boxing, including big band conductor Guy Lombardo, he became the manager of a nightclub and in 1940 retired from boxing. He worked as a private detective for hotels in New York and Miami and became the owner of a small stable of horses, but lost everything after betting on a horse that lost. Not so easily defeated, he became a boxing trainer for the Catholic Club of Young Americans and a wrestling manager.
Vincent's acting career began (year uncertain), after he encountered CBS director of programmes Bob Fryer, while working as a clerk in the American Federation of Labor offices. Changing his name to Vincent (or Vince), he became an actor in American television, specialising in playing gangsters and thugs, for which the New York Herald Tribune newspaper dubbed him the "Ice gangster", claiming he had killed 210 people on screen (this would suggest he actually appeared in far more than the 4 early 50's TV titles listed on IMDb).
In 1954, Vincent returned to his native Italy after an absence of 23 years. Over the next two or three years he appeared in small roles in quite a few feature films, including three starring Totò. It is probable that, had he stayed in Italy, he would have had a promising career as a character actor in Italian films, but by 1957 he was back living in the United States. He would only return to Italy to appear in a couple more Italian films in 1963-4.
It's a shame that there is little information available regarding his later years in Hollywood, since the people he worked with were a fascinating bunch. Initially at least he juggled work in mainstream films and television with usually larger roles in low-budget exploitation films. In the late 60's he began appearing in (and possibly financing) softcore sleaze films, though, being Hollywood product, these were very tame by the standards of Italian exploitation. In the 70's and 80's his career took in blaxploitation, several arthouse hits for John Cassavetes and numerous no-budget cult/trash films for infamous directors and producers such as Roger Corman, Jonathan Kaplan, Ted V. Mikels and Fred Olen Ray.
His last known film appearances were in 1994 when he was in his early 80's, 4 years before his death. Vincent died on September 27th 1998 in Los Angeles, California, aged 86.
I think it is highly likely that there could be undocumented appearances to be found, particularly from the late 40's/early 50's, and maybe also in some mid-50's Italian productions.
Most of the biographical details from Vincent's early life come from a 1954 interview which can be read on his Tototruffa profile
Filmography
- Ballata tragica .... Felipe's accomplice (credited)
- On the Waterfront …. Spectator at the tribunal (uncredited)
1955 - I pinguini ci guardano .... Joe (credited)
- Il bidone …. Party guest (uncredited)
- Il principe dalla maschera rossa …. Nicolo (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- La bella di Roma .... Corner man at the boxing match (uncredited)
- Siamo uomini o caporali …. Mr. Black's secretary (credited)
- Totò all'inferno …. Al Capone (credited)
1956 - The Baby and the Battleship …. Second Vespucci brother (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- Totò lascia o raddoppia? …. Nick's bodyguard (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- War and Peace …. Balaga (uncredited)
1957 - Captain David Grief (TV series) - s. 1, ep. 9: "The Devils of Fuatino" …. Frank (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- Interpol …. Plane passenger who distracts Sturgis (uncredited)
- Io, Caterina …. Giovanni Acuto (credited as "Vincenti Barbi")
1958 - Naked City (TV series) - s. 1 - ep. 13: "And a merry christmas to the force on patrol" .... Prisoner (uncredited)
- Never Love a Stranger …. Henchman (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- The Blob …. George (credited as "Vince Barbi")
1960 - Hong Kong (TV series) - s. 1, ep. 7: "Blind bargain" .... Mendoza (credited)
- Morals Squad …. Henchman (poster credit as "Vince Barbi" - role unconfirmed)
- Pay or Die! …. Fabraka (credited)
- The Untouchables (TV series) - s. 1, ep. 15: "Star Witness" .... Charlie macioli (credited?)
- The Untouchables (TV series) - s. 1, ep. 26: "The Underworld Bank" .... Big Augie Epstein (credited?)
- The Untouchables (TV series) - s. 2, ep. 3: "Nicky" .... Ike (credited?)
1961 - The Untouchables (TV series) - s. 3, ep. 3: "Tunnel of Horrors" …. Syndicate head (credited?)
1962 - Confessions of an Opium Eater …. Captain of the slave ship (uncredited)
- Convicts 4 …. Prisoner in art class (uncredited)
1963 - Il successo …. Party guest (uncredited)
- L'attico .... Waiter in the fantasy sequence (uncredited)
1964 - Panic Button …. Mario (credited)
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV series) - s. 4, ep. 8: "The Alan Brady show goes to jail" .... Convict (credited)
1965 - Combat (TV series) - s. 3, ep. 31: "Odyssey" …. German guard No.1 (credited as "Vince Barbi")
1966 - Batman: The Movie …. Man eating sandwich on the pier (uncredited - uncertain identification)
- Murderers' Row …. Henchman (uncredited)
- Swamp Country …. Mario the bootlegger (credited? - role unconfirmed)
- What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? …. Italian soldier (uncredited)
1967 - Batman (TV series) - s. 2, ep. 37: "The Zodiac Crimes" …. Delivery man (credited)
- The St. Valentine's Day Massacre …. Man who calls the cops (uncredited)
1968 - Lady Godiva Rides …. Captain Briggs (credited)
- Mission Impossible (TV series) - s. 2, eps. 2, 3: "The Contender Parts 1 & 2" …. Dice gambler (uncredited)
- Office Love-In …. Bartender (credited)
- The Astro-Zombies …. Tiros (credited)
- The Shakiest Gun in the West …. Cowboy in the saloon (uncredited)
1969 - Infrasexum …. Kidnapper (credited)
- The Love God? …. Protester (uncredited)
1970 - Bunny and Clod …. role? (poster credit as "Vince Barbi")
1971 - Lisa's Folly .... role? (poster credit as "Vince Barbi")
- Machismo: 40 Graves for 40 Gun …. Harris gang member (credited - not identified)
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song …. Cop hunting Sweetback (credited)
- The Corpse Grinders …. Monk (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- The Exotic Dreams of Casanova …. Turk (uncredited)
- Up Your Alley …. Sicilian gang member (credited as "Vince Barbi")
1973 - Blood Orgy of the She-Devils …. Indian chief (credited)
- Did Baby Shoot Her Sugardaddy? …. Mike (credited)
- The Student Teachers …. Rocco (credited)
1974 - A Woman Under the Influence …. Gino (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- Black Belt Jones …. Big Tuna (credited)
- Paesano: a voice in the night .... role? (credited?)
1975 - Capone …. Solly (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- Dolemite …. Mayor's thug (credited as "Vince Barbi")
1977 - Can I Do It... 'Til I Need Glasses? .... Mafioso boss at the barber shop (credited)
1976 - Sherlock Holmes in New York (TV movie) …. Workman No.1 (credited as "Vince Barbi")
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie …. Vince (credited as "Vince Barbi")
1980 - Raging Bull …. Nightclub emcee (uncredited)
1982 - The Aftermath …. Victim (credited)
1989 - Hardcase and Fist .... role? (credited?)
- Terminal Force .... Vito (credited)
1990 - Mob Boss .... Don Rigatoni (credited as "Vince Barbi")
1993 - Mind Twister .... Murder witness (credited)
- Suture .... Arthur Towers (credited)
1994 - Confessions of a Hitman .... Big Mike (credited)
- Birch Street Gym (Short feature, 1991 - credited) as Trainer
- Armstrong Circle Theatre (1952 TV series) s.2, ep.38: "Fairy Tale". IMDb
- Man Against Crime (1952 TV series) s.4, ep.4: "Joy Ride". IMDb as Pig
- Kraft Theatre (1953 TV series) s.6, ep.46: "In Albert's Room". IMDb
- Martin Kane, Private Eye (1953 TV series) Unknown episode, mentioned in interview, as Gangster
- Man Against Crime (1954 TV series) s.5, ep.19: "Target with Two T's". IMDb as Thug
- Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1954 TV series) ep.38: "The Stone Men of Venus". IMDb
- Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion (1956 TV series) s.2, ep.12: "Guns for Sale". IMDb as Dan Kelly
- The Jack Benny Program (1959 TV series) s.9, ep.15: "Ed Sullivan/Genevieve Show". IMDb
- Captain David Grief (1959 TV series) s.2, ep.9: "The Gun Runners". IMDb as Nate Evans
- Johnny Staccato (1959 TV series) s.1, ep.15: "The Unwise Men". IMDb as Buzz
- Bourbon Street Beat (1960 TV series) s.1, ep.30: "Last Exit". IMDb as Gunner Punelli
- Simon Lash: The Black Book (1959 TV movie) IMDb as Lou
- The Roaring 20's (1960 TV series) s.1, ep.8: "White Carnation". IMDb as Georgie
- The Danny Thomas Show (1961 TV series) s.8, ep.26: "Danny and the Hoodlums". IMDb as Hoodlum
- The Roaring 20's (1961 TV series) s.1, ep.17: "Lucky Charm". IMDb as Ape Samuels
- Surfside 6 (1961 TV series) s.2, ep.11: "A Matter of Seconds". IMDb as Hood
- Black Gold (1962) IMDb as Klein
- Run for Your Life (1965 TV series) s.1, ep.8: "The Savage Season". IMDb as 2nd thug
- Nail (1973 short feature) IMDb as Vince
- Mannix (1974 TV series) s.7, ep.21: "Mask for a Charade". IMDb as Bartender
- Kitty Can't Help It (1975) IMDb as Zonda's partner
- Fugitive Lovers (1975) IMDb as The Grinder
- Assignment: Survive (1988) IMDb as Don Vito
Titles where Vincent is credited as appearing somewhere online, but cannot be found. There always has to be one!
- Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone (1955) IMDb as Membro della giuria comunale. I've carefully examined all the actors playing jurors in this scene and Vincent is not amongst them.
- Never Steal Anything Small (1959) IMDb as Vince. It seems like the sort of film where you would expect to find him, but I didn't.
- Which Way to the Front? (1970) IMDb as SS Guard. I've been through this film thoroughly and could not find Vincent in this role or any other.