Carlos Padilla

Carlos Ruiz Padilla Sr. came from a family of politicians and actors. He lost his first bout on points against Frenchman Lucien Laplace in the welterweight division in boxing at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

For about 20 years, he appeared in a large number of movies, occasionally in cameo roles. Five years after the Olympics, Padilla made his first film as a director called Susi ng kalangitan (Key to Heaven). In 1951, he directed his last film, La roca Trinidad. Padilla starred in his last film, Sa hirap at ginhawa (In hardship and comfort) together with his younger brother José and his sister-in-law Arsenia Francisco. Another brother was Roy Padilla, Sr., also an actor and director, who later became Governor of the Province of Camarines Norte.

Carlos Padilla was the father of Carlos “Sonny” Dolorico Padilla Jr., a boxing referee and judge, who came to fame refereeing the “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975; grandfather of popular Filipina singer and actress Zsa Zsa Padilla; and great-grandfather of Karylle, a Filipina singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, TV host, and model.