José Padilla

José Padilla competed in boxing in the lightweight division in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. Both times, he was eliminated by the eventual gold medallist by decision: in 1932 in the first round against South African Laurie Stevens, and in 1936 in the quarter-final against Hungarian Imre Harangi.

Like his elder brother Carlos, José was not only a boxer but also an actor. Both were sons of the governor of the Bulacan Province. Another brother was Roy Padilla Sr., also an actor and director, who later became Governor of the Province of Camarines Norte. José Padilla appeared in his first silent horror movie in 1931 and later married the famous actress Arsenia Francisco. When the Philippines were occupied by the Japanese in World War II, he had already made some 30 movies.

Padilla continued his career after the war with some of his most successful movies in the 1950s and had his last appearance in 1974. He had 168 credits in the International Movie Database and won several prestigious awards in the Philippines. José Padilla was married five times, had several affairs and around 20 children.