das Bolas, Xan

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 07/05/2023, 15:06

: 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

Torbellino .... Juan José (credited as "Fernando Tomás Ares")

1942
El hombre que se quiso matar .... Lodger (credited)
Goyescas .... Assistant (credited)
La rueda de la vida .... Juanito (credited)

1944
Ella, él y sus millones .... The Guide (credited)
La vida empieza a medianoche .... (credited, but not found)
Tuvo la culpa Adán .... Guard (credited)

1946
Mar abierto .... Peirán (credited)

1947
Héroes del 95 .... Fadeiro (uncredited)

1948
Botón de ancla .... Trinquette (credited)
El marqués de Salamanca .... Guard in the wax museum (uncredited)

1949
Sabela de Cambados .... Benito (credited)

1950
Yo no soy la Mata-Hari .... Don Cosme Fernández (credited)

1951
El gran Galeoto .... Coachman (credited)
La Niña de la Venta .... Dimas (credited)
La trinca del aire .... Pepiño (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
Niebla y sol .... Meigo (credited)

1952
Aeropuerto .... Nightwatchman (credited)

1953
El diablo toca la flauta .... President (credited)
La alegre caravana .... Sheriff (credited)
Nadie lo sabrá .... Postman (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
Vuelo 971 .... Plane passenger father (credited)

1954
Amor sobre ruedas .... Cristóbal (credited)
Malvaloca .... Barrabas (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
Tres huchas para Oriente .... Porter at the stadium (uncredited)

1955
El coyote .... Beggar (credited)
El guardián del paraíso .... Nightwatchman (credited)
Historias de la radio .... Sergeant of the civil guards (credited)
La cruz de mayo .... Felix (credited)
La reina mora .... Prisoner (credited)
Orgullo .... Gabriel (credited)
Para siempre .... Helpful airport employee (credited as "Xanda Bolas")
Un día perdido .... Dance master (credited)

1956
¡Aquí hay petróleo! .... Baldomero (credited)
Curra Veleta .... Nightwatchman (credited)
El fenómeno .... Park warden (credited)
El malvado Carabel .... Janitor (credited)
El rey de la carretera .... Pedro (credited)
Pasión en el mar .... El Sabio (credited)
Saeta rubia .... Taxi driver (credited)
Tarde de toros .... Infirmary porter (credited)
Un fantasma llamado amor …. role unknown (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")

1957
El hombre que viajaba despacito .... Card player (credited as "Xandas Bolas")
Faustina .... Lipio (credited)
Fulano y Mengano .... Hearse driver (credited)
Las muchachas de azul .... Felipe (credited)
Susana y yo .... Janitor (credited)
The Pride and the Passion .... Revolutionary (uncredited)
Un marido de ida y vuelta .... Diaz (credited)

1958
Ana dice sí .... Don Cristino (credited)
Aquellos tiempos del cuplé .... Shopkeeper (credited)
Caravana de esclavos .... Hassan (credited)
El hombre del paraguas blanco .... Bailiff (credited)
El puente de la paz .... Long Fingers (credited)
Farmacia de guardia .... Nightwatchman (credited)
Héroes del aire .... Percebe (credited)
Historias de Madrid .... Ciriaco (credited)
La venganza .... Galician harvester (credited)
La vida por delante .... Van co-driver (credited)
Les bijoutiers du clair de lune .... Guard who shoots Ursula (uncredited)

1959
¿Dónde vas, Alfonso XII? .... Shouting man from Madrid (uncredited)
Diez fusiles esperan .... Cañete (credited)
Échame la culpa .... Court clerk (credited)
El gafe .... Balbino's nephew (credited)
El redentor .... Man taunting Jesus (uncredited)
En las ruinas de Babilonia .... Abdullah (credited)
La vida alrededor .... Demetrio Suárez 'El Asunción' (credited as "Xan dax Bolas")
Las dos y media y… veneno .... Owner of the hen (credited)
Se vende un tranvía (short film) .... Religious shop employee (credited)
Sonatas .... Sentinel (credited)

1960
Ama Rosa .... Coachman (credited)
Crimen para recién casados .... Train conductor (credited)
El hombre que perdió el tren .... Station manager (credited)
El indulto .... Busker (credited)
La rivolta degli schiavi .... Christian (uncredited)
The Boy Who Stole a Million.... Knife grinder (credited)
Un paso al frente .... Roman (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")

1961
Aquí están las vicetiples .... Kiosk owner (credited)
El pobre García .... Felipe (credited)
Ella y los veteranos .... Shooting booth owner (credited)
Fantasmas en la casa .... Pascasio (credited)
Fray Escoba .... Sick man helped by Brother Martin (credited)
Il conquistatore di Maracaibo.... Ben Yussuf (uncredited)
La rivolta dei mercenari .... Katia's companion (credited)
Madame Sans Gêne.... One of Napoleon's officers (uncredited)
Pecado de amor .... Nightwatchman (credited)
Placido .... Rivas (credited)
Tierra brutal.... Pedro (credited)

1962
Due contro tutti .... Wagon loader (credited as "Xan Dos Bolas")
Dulcinea .... Man on the road (credited)
El hijo del capitán Blood .... Matt (credited)
I sette gladiatori .... Xeno's servant (credited)
L'ombra di Zorro.... Bank employee (credited)
La venganza de Don Mendo .... Ali (credited)
La venganza del Zorro .... Soldier (uncredited)
Lawrence of Arabia .... Arab leader at the summit (uncredited)
Les quatre vérités .... Civil guard (credited)
Los que no fuimos a la guerra .... Owner of Bar Fandiño (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
Martes y trece .... Guest with the bottle (credited)
Torrejón City .... Falcon's Eye (credited)
Vamos a contar mentiras .... Sexton (credited)

1963
Bochorno .... Waiter (credited)
Chica para todo .... (credited, but not found)
Duello nel Texas .... Barber (credited)
El llanero .... Ranger's lieutenant (credited)
El precio de un asesino .... Priest (credited)
El valle de las espadas .... Soldier (credited)
El verdugo .... Site watchman (credited)
Gli imbroglioni .... Tabanelli's lawyer (credited)
Il segno di Zorro .... (credited, but not found)
La casta Susana .... Waiter (uncredited)
La máscara de Scaramouche .... Gino (credited)
La revoltosa .... Card player (credited)
La verbena de la Paloma .... Francisco (credited)
Mathias Sandorf .... Carpena (credited)
Millonario por un día .... Thief (credited)
Pacto de silencio .... Train conductor (credited)
Plaza de oriente .... Waiter (credited)
The Ceremony .... Arab peasant (credited)
Tres hombres buenos .... Postman (credited)
Un demonio con ángel .... Don Federico (credited)
Una chica casi formal .... Bar owner (credited)

1964
Bienvenido, padre Murray .... Lopez (credit unknown)
Como dos gotas de agua .... Martinez (credited)
Desafío en Río Bravo .... Laborer (credited)
Échappement libre .... Guard of the cars on the ship (credited)
El camino .... Germán's father (credited)
El espontáneo .... One of "Los situados" (credited)
El extraño viaje .... Cosme (credited)
El pecador y la bruja .... Porter (credited as "Xandas Bolas")
El Señor de La Salle .... Farmer (credited)
Gli eroi del West .... Doctor (credit unknown)
I promessi sposi .... Rebel (uncredited)
La chica del gato .... Venancio (credited)
La muerte silba un blues .... Border guard (credited)
Los dinamiteros .... Marble maker (credited)
Los Palomos .... Taxi driver (credited)
Relevo para un pistolero .... Hotel receptionist (credited)

1965
All'ombra di una colt .... Vet (credited as "Xan de Bolas")
Amador .... (credited, but not found)
Dos chicas locas, locas… .... Train station guard (credited)
La carga de la policía montada .... Man shot by Indians (credited)
Los cuatreros .... Pedro (credited)
Mi canción es para ti .... Racehorse owner (credited)
Whisky y vodka .... Hotel receptionist (credited)

1966
7 pistole per i MacGregor .... Barman (uncredited)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum .... Roman citizen cheated by Pseudolus (uncredited)
Agente Logan - missione Ypotron .... Hotel receptionist (credited)
El aventurero de Guaynas .... Manuel (credited)
Fray Torero .... Local (credited)
La mujer perdida .... Man talking to Father Javier (credited)
Lost Command .... Man with the white flag (uncredited)
Proceso a una estrella .... Witnes (credited)

1967
¿Es usted el asesino? (TV series) Ep. 3 .... Caricortao (credited)
40 grados a la sombra .... Porter at Evaristo's building (credited)
Clint el solitario .... Simpson (credited)
Club de solteros .... Lucas (credited)
Due croci a Danger Pass .... Barman (credited)
La niña del patio .... Don Calixto (credited)
Operación cabaretera .... Guard (credited)
Run Like a Thief .... Gonzalez (credited)
Vestida de novia .... Galician barman (credited)

1968
¡Cómo está el servicio! .... Nightwatchman (credited)
Anche nel west c'era una volta Dio .... Hoagie (uncredited)
Cuidado con las señoras .... Barman (credited)
Los que tocan el piano .... Rufino Celeiro (credited)
Operación Mata-Hari .... Cabaret hall manager (credited)
Uno a uno, sin piedad .... Ben (credited)
Villa Rides .... Telegraph operator (uncredited)

1969
Amor a todo gas .... Cristobal (credited)
Educando a una idiota .... Waiter (credited)
El niño y el potro .... Rogelio (credited)
Garringo .... Potter (credited)
Juicio de faldas .... Paco (credited)
La morte sull'alta collina .... Barman (uncredited)
No somos ni Romeo ni Julieta .... Night plainclothes patrolman (credited)
Objetivo: bi-ki-ni .... Waiter (credited)
Pasto de fieras .... Uncle Quico (credited)

1970
Arriva Sabata! .... Telegraph operator (credited)
Con ella llegó el amor .... Lodger in the pension (credited)
Don Erre que erre .... Civil guard (credited)
El alma se serena .... Station manager (credited)
El mesón del gitano .... Ezequiel (credited as "Xan d'as Bolas")
Los jóvenes amantes .... Pepito (credited)
Una señora llamada Andrés .... Cleaner (credited)

1971
Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 7 episodes .... Camilo (credited)
El apartamento de la tentación .... Forest guard (credited)
La folie des grandeurs .... Barbarian chief (uncredited)
La montaña rebelde .... Hermit (credited)
La via del rhum .... Mobster (uncredited)
Murders in the Rue Morgue .... Orsini's assistant (credited)
Simón, contamos contigo .... (credited, but not found)
Una chica casi decente .... Police lieutenant (credited)

1972
Condenados a vivir .... Buddy (credited as "Tomas Ares")
Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 18 episodes .... Camilo (credited)
Los paladines (TV series) Ep. 10 .... role unknown (credited in 2 episodes)

1973
Celos, amor y Mercado Común .... Friend of Felipe (credited)
Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 18 episodes .... Camilo (credited in 21 episodes)
Pugni, pirati e karatè .... Slave merchant (uncredited)

1974
Cinco almohadas para una noche .... Receptionist of the Fuencaliente Spa (credited)
Crónicas de un pueblo (TV series) 4 episodes .... Camilo (credited)
Cuando los niños vienen de Marsella .... José's father (credited)
Cuentos y leyendas (TV series) Ep.: "La promesa" .... Fadrique (credited)
Cuentos y leyendas (TV series) Ep.: "Un error judicial" .... Man questioned by police (credited)
Dormir y ligar todo es empezar .... Doorman (credited)
El picaro (TV series) Ep.1: "Lucas desea un traje y un amo y encuentra las dos cosas" .... The Salesman (credited)
La boda o la vida .... Don Cesar (credited)
Una pareja… distinta .... Truhan (credited)

1975
Cipolla Colt .... Sam (credited)
Cuentos y leyendas (TV series) Ep.: "El crimen del indio" .... Tribunal secretary (credited)
El mejor regalo .... Wedding guest (credited)
El quinto jinete (TV series) Ep.: "El aullido" .... Riaño (credited)
El quinto jinete (TV series) Ep.: "Los dados" .... Muleteer (credited)

1976
A la legión le gustan las mujeres .... Cafe owner (credited)
El segundo poder .... (credited as playing "Brother Lope", but not found)
La Carmen .... José's father (credited)
Los hijos de... .... Road sweeper (credited)
Madrid, Costa Fleming .... Marcelo (credit unknown)
Volvoreta .... Ramon (credited)
Vuelve, querida Nati .... Concierge (credited)

1977
Curro Jiménez (TV series) Ep.7: "La Dolorosa" .... role unknown (credited)
El chiste .... Forest guard / Cattle breeder / Indian chief (credited as "Xandas Bolas")
Me siento extraña .... Tavern customer (credited)
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
Patricia mía (1961) IMDb
Escala en Hi-Fi (1963) IMDb
José María (1963) IMDb as Colonel
Cotolay (1965) IMDb as Monk
Eroe vagabondo (1966) IMDb
Hermenegildo Pérez, para servirle (1966 TV series) IMDb, 2 episodes
Einfach Lamprecht (1982) Ep.: "Wie Herr Lamprecht sich magischer Mittel bedient". Peliplat.com. Xan's appearance here, 5 years after his death, would seem highly unlikely.

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.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 07/05/2023, 15:07

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

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 08/05/2023, 10:38

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

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 08/05/2023, 10:41

Goyescas (1942) credited, as Assistant

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 08/05/2023, 10:43

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

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 08/05/2023, 10:45

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

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 08/05/2023, 10:51

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.