Jaspe, José

[PeplumParadise]

José Jaspe in La Venere dei pirati (1960)

José Jaspe Rivas was a Spanish character actor whose film career spanned from 1941 until his death 33 years later.

He was born on August 10th 1906 in A Coruña, Spain.

José began his acting career as a child in the theatre. In the 1930’s he met Spanish actress Mercedes Vecino, 10 years his junior, whom he married in Valladolid on 28th September 1939. He began his film career playing supporting roles in a succession of films where his wife was the star. After they separated, around 1945 (though never divorced, since that was illegal in Spain at the time), José established himself as a reliable supporting character actor in everything from historical dramas to slapstick comedies.

Around 1953 José relocated to Italy, living in Rome in the San Giovanni neighbourhood, where he found steady work in the booming film industry for the next decade. After he moved back to Spain, around 1964, he became a regular feature in the spaghetti western genre, and continued to work in productions shot all over Europe until his death.

He died following surgery for cancer, aged 67, in Becerril de la Sierra on June 5th 1974, where he is buried and has a square named in his honour.

I have been the moderator for José’s tribute page on Facebook[1] for some years now and through my work there I have become friends with his grandson, Giulio. I am very grateful to Giulio, and to his mother Mercedes, daughter of José and Mercedes Vecino, for their support and help in providing information for this biography.[2]

I hope this filmography is fairly complete, but since I have found undocumented appearances by José in both Spanish and Italian productions then I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that there may still be a few more roles to be discovered.

Filmography

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1942

1. El pobre rico.... role unknown (credit unknown)
2. La culpa del otro .... Patrón (credited)
3. Los ladrones somos gente honrada .... Pelirojo (credited)
   
   1943
4. Boda accidentada .... Mario (credited)
5. El abanderado .... Malasaña (credited)
6. Mi fantástica esposa .... Friend of Isidoro (credited as "Pepe Jaspe")
7. Un enredo de familia .... Domingo (credited)
   
   1944
8. El sobrino de don Buffalo Bill .... Puñales (poster credit)
9. Paraíso sin Eva .... role unknown (poster credit)
   
   1945
10. El fantasma y Doña Juanita .... Amaru (credited)
11. Su última noche .... Enrique (poster credit)
    
    1946
12. El otro Fu-Man-Chú .... role unknown (poster credit)
13. El pirata Bocanegra.... Captain Sosa (poster credit)
14. La pródiga .... Count of Zuera (credited)
15. María Fernanda, la Jerezana .... Ricardo Prado Rey (credited)
16. Un ladrón de guante blanco .... Star (poster credit)
    
    1947
17. Cuatro mujeres .... Nightclub owner (credited)
18. Don Quijote de la Mancha .... Leader of the chain gang (uncredited)
19. Dulcinea .... Chiquirnaque (poster credit)
20. Héroes del 95 .... Domingo (credited)
21. La dama del armiño .... Andres (credited)
22. La nao capitana .... Sailor (credited)
23. La Princesa de los Ursinos .... Truhán (credited)
24. Las inquietudes de Shanti Andía .... Chim (credited)
25. Reina santa .... Estavao (uncredited)
    
    1948
26. Brindis a Manolete .... Heavy in the bar (credited)
27. La calle sin sol .... Sailor (uncredited)
28. Las aguas bajan negras .... Pluton (credited)
29. Póker de ases .... Pardo Leiva (credited)
30. Pototo, Boliche y Compañía .... role unknown (poster credit)
    
    1949
31. 90 minutos .... The blackmailer (credited)
32. El sótano .... Enrique Bennett (credited)
33. Fuego .... Fire brigade chief (credited)
34. La duquesa de Benamejí .... Bandolero (credited)
35. Paz .... Official of the Eastern forces (credited)
    
    1950
36. Agustina de Aragón .... French captain (credited)
37. Black Jack .... José (credited)
    
    1951
38. Alba de América .... Sailor with Columbus (credited)
39. La leona de Castilla .... Juan Bravo (credited)
    
    1952
40. La llamada de África .... Majayu (credited)
    
    1953
41. Carmen proibita .... Tuerto (poster credit)
42. Condannatelo! .... Ferdinando (poster credit)
43. Frine, cortigiana d'Oriente .... Crosio (credited)
44. Musoduro .... Security guard (poster credit)
    
    1954
45. Divisione folgore .... Mario Salvi (credited)
46. La grande speranza .... Fernandez (credited)
47. Ultima illusione.... Film producer (poster credit)
    
    1955
48. I quattro del getto tonante .... Marshall Alberti (credited)
    
    1956
49. Saranno uomini .... role unknown (poster credit)
    
    1957
50. Classe di ferro .... The captain (credited)
51. Operazione notte .... Drunken Spanish nightclub customer (credited)
    
    1958
52. El Alamein .... Soldier (uncredited - re-used footage)
53. Gli italiani sono matti .... role unknown (poster credit)
54. La sfida .... Don Fernando Ajello (credited)
55. Gambe d'oro .... Spy (credited)
    
    1959
56. I cavalieri del diavolo .... Jermaine (credited)
57. Il cavaliere senza terra .... role unknown (poster credit)
58. La congiura dei Borgia .... Faconetto (poster credit)
59. La notte del grande assalto .... Tacca (credited)
60. Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare) .... Sergeant (credited)
61. Noi siamo due evasi .... Prison officer (credited)
62. Poveri milionari .... Department store floor manager (credited)
    
    1960
63. Apocalisse sul fiume giallo .... Slansky (credited)
64. I teddy boys della canzone .... Sergeant (credited)
65. La Venere dei pirati .... Captain Mirko (credited)
66. Mobby Jackson .... Sancho (credited)
67. Schiave bianche .... role unknown (poster credit)
    
    1961
68. Capitani di ventura .... Leonardo della Cagnotta (credited)
69. Gordon il pirata nero .... Captain Tortuga (credited)
70. Il conquistatore di Corinto .... Traitor (credited)
71. Scano Boa .... Patriarch of fishing community (credited)
72. Spade senza bandiera .... Priest (credited)
    
    1962
73. L'arciere delle mille e una notte .... Sabrath (uncredited)
    
    1963
74. Il segno del Coyote .... Lugones brother (credited)
75. Le verdi bandiere di Allah .... Calebas (credited)
    
    1964
76. Anthar l'invincibile .... Akrim (credited)
77. Cyrano e d'Artagnan .... Assistant to Laubardemont (credited)
78. I due violenti .... Mortimer (credited)
79. Il trionfo dei dieci gladiatori .... Messenger (uncredited)
80. Il tulipano nero (La tulipe noire) .... Brignon (credited)
81. Scappamento aperto (Échappement libre) .... Libanos (uncredited)
82. The Fall of the Roman Empire .... Barbarian (uncredited)
83. Totò contro il pirata nero .... Pirate (uncredited - re-used footage)
    
    1965
84. Corpo a corpo (L'arme à gauche) .... José (credited)
85. Doctor Zhivago .... Man who fires the first shot (uncredited)
86. I 4 inesorabili .... Baxter (credited)
87. I grandi condottieri .... Zebah (credited as "Jose Jaspes")
88. Solo contro tutti .... Old Mike (credited)
    
    1966
89. El rojo .... José Garibaldi (credited)
90. Layton... bambole e karaté .... Secret service agent (credited as "Jose Jaspes")
91. Savage Pampas .... Private Luis (credited)
92. Un colpo da mille miliardi .... The Turk (credited)
    
    1967
93. La casa de las mil muñecas .... Ahmed (credited)
94. Le avventure e gli amori di Miguel Cervantes .... Turkish official (credited)
    
    1968
95. Killer, adios .... Bob Elliott (credited)
96. Krakatoa: East of Java .... Ship crew member (credited)
97. Ringo, il cavaliere solitario .... Zachary Hutchinson (credited)
98. Una pistola per cento bare .... David (credited)
99. Uno dopo l'altro .... Pablo (credit unknown)
100. Uno straniero a Paso Bravo .... Paquito (credited)
     
     1969
101. I vigliacchi non pregano .... Phil (credited)
102. Playgirl 70 .... Don Bruno (credited)
103. Tempo di Charleston - Chicago 1929 .... Truck driver (credited)
104. Zorro il dominatore .... The governor (credited)
     
     1970
105. La muerte busca a un hombre (Ancora dollari per i McGregor) .... Sheriff of Jonesville (credited)
106. La salamandra del deserto .... Hirah (uncredited)
107. Pierna creciente, falda menguante .... Patriarch (credited)
108. Una nuvola di polvere... un grido di morte... arriva Sartana .... General Monk (credited)
     
     1971
109. Boulevard du Rhum .... Mobster (credited)
110. Sole rosso .... Train driver (uncredited)
111. ¡Viva la muerte... tua! .... The old man (credited)
     
     1972
112. I senza Dio .... Curpancho (credited as "Jose Rivas Jaspe")
113. Marianela .... Sr. Centeno (credited)
114. Pánico en el Transiberiano .... Konev (credited)
115. Treasure Island .... Tommy (credited)
     
     1973
116. A Man Called Noon .... Henneker (credited)
117. La isla misteriosa (TV mini-series) Ep. 5: "Le drapeau noir" .... Pirate (credited in the feature film version only)
118. Tutti per uno botte per tutti .... Whistling man (uncredited)
     
     1974
119. El talón de Aquiles .... Rene (credited)
120. Graf Luckner (TV series) S. 3, ep. 2: "Die Strandräuber" …. Kaliris (credited)
121. La loba y la Paloma .... Acebo (credited)
122. La noche de la furia .... Sheriff (credited as "Joseph Jaspe")
123. Pasqualino Cammarata... capitano di fregata .... Motor cycle salesman (credited)
     
     1975
124. Im Auftrag von Madame (TV series) S. 3, ep. 11: "Der Scheinwerfer" .... Bank director (credited)

Titles to check

• El sobre lacrado (1941) I believe this was José's film debut, however the film is impossible to find and he does not appear in any of the available publicity. Jose is listed in the cast on the Enciclopedia del Cine Español website (which I will refer to as EdCE for other titles)
• Pánico en el transatlántico (1942) This one is a "short", listed on IMDb
• El rey de las finanzas (1944) Listed on EdCE, he should play the role of "Canadiense" (The Canadian). This was his final film with Mercedes Vecino.
• Tierra sedienta (1945) Listed on EdCE, role uncertain
• Viento de siglos (1945) Listed on EdCE, role uncertain
• Luis Candelas, el ladrón de Madrid (1947) Listed on EdCE, role uncertain
• La próxima vez que vivamos (1948) Listed on EdCE, role uncertain
• La manigua sin dios (1949) Listed on EdCE, role uncertain
• Mamma perdonami! (1953) Listed on EdCE, as Enrico
• Sergeant Berry (1975) TV series, season 2, episode 8: ... und wieder ein Zufall Listed on IMDb, as Smilinsky

No way José!

There always has to be one! Films where José is credited somewhere online, but is not found.

• Saul e David (1964) IMDb with no role given.
• Thompson 1880 (1966) Listed on various spaghetti western websites
• Comanche blanco (1968) IMDb with no role given.

Notes and sources

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1. José Jaspe tribute page on Facebook. 2. José's profile on the Enciclopedia del Cine Español website.

[PeplumParadise]

Los ladrones somos gente honrada (1942) credited, as Pelirojo

[PeplumParadise]

La culpa del otro (1942) credited, as Patrón

[PeplumParadise]

El pobre rico (1942) role uncertain. I haven't found the film, but José can be seen on the left in this image (found on the Alarmy website)

[PeplumParadise]

Boda accidentada (1943) credited, as Mario. He is seen here in several images with his wife, Mercedes Vecino.

[PeplumParadise]

Un enredo de familia (1943) credited, as Domingo. This was one of several "racial" roles played by José which would today be considered politically inappropriate.

[PeplumParadise]

El abanderado (1943) credited, as Malasaña

[PeplumParadise]

Mi fantástica esposa (1943) credited as Pepe Jaspe, as Friend of Isidoro (he must have a character name, but I didn't manage to catch it). This was his first film without Mercedes Vecino.

[PeplumParadise]

Paraíso sin Eva (1944) credited on posters, on one simply as "Jaspe", role uncertain

[PeplumParadise]

El sobrino de don Buffalo Bill (1944) credited and pictured on publicity, as Puñales (role to be confirmed).