John Papiro, born on February 23, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, to Guido and Frances M. Papiro, was an Italian-American actor who briefly pursued a career in Hollywood during the mid-1950s.
With Italian ancestry, Papiro's early life was marked by a strong connection to his heritage. As he grew older, his passion for acting led him to adopt the stage name Race Gentry, reportedly inspired by his love for fast cars.
Papiro's film debut occurred in 1952, where he played the younger version of John Wesley Hardin in the western film, The Lawless Breed. The film, starring Rock Hudson, showcased Papiro's early talent and set the stage for his future endeavors.
Throughout the 1950s, Papiro continued to appear in various films, including the western Black Horse Canyon (1954),where he co-starred alongside Joel McCrea. The film's storyline revolved around the competition between two ranchers over a wild black stallion.
Papiro's roles in war pictures, such as those in the 1950s, further showcased his acting abilities. However, he eventually transitioned to television, where he landed several guest roles.
Papiro's final film appearance was in Thunder in Carolina (1960),where he played a cocky young stock car racer mentored by veteran driver Rory Calhoun. For this film, Papiro changed his name to John Gentry, distinguishing himself from the British racing engineer of the same name.
After a few more television appearances, Papiro vanished from the acting scene in 1966, leaving behind a brief but notable career in Hollywood.
