Tony Altomare: From Ring Enforcer To WWE Legend Behind The Scenes
Explore the remarkable life of Tony Altomare, a former wrestler and tag team partner of Captain Lou Albano, who later became a trusted figure backstage in WWE. A true wrestling veteran with lasting impact.
Jul 26, 202538.4K Shares651.2K Views
Biography
Anthony C. Altomare was born on July 24, 1928, in Stamford, Connecticut, the oldest of four children. He grew up with brothers Peter and Robert, and sister Madeline. At age 18, he joined the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and served for two years. During his service, his mother passed away, and he became a caretaker for his youngest brother. After leaving the Army, Altomare worked as a lifeguard at West Beach. He rose to become Stamford’s chief lifeguard for 25 years, taught free swimming lessons and saved many lives.
After a local film shoot in 1964, he was recruited into professional wrestling due to his strong physique. He debuted in 1960 and built a successful tag team with Lou Albano known as "The Sicilians," portraying an Italian gangster duo. On June 30, 1961, they won the Midwest Tag Team Championship during a major event at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. Their portrayal was so realistic that it drew attention from real mob figures, who asked them to tone down their act. On July 10, 1967, they captured the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship by defeating Spiros Arion and Arnold Skaaland, holding the titles for two weeks.
After Albano transitioned to managing in 1970, Altomare continued as a singles wrestler until retiring before 1979. He then served as a road agent, referee, and locker-room presence. In 1979, Vince McMahon Sr. assigned him to guide a new wrestler, Hulk Hogan, teaching him the basics of the wrestling business and mentorship—Hogan later called this assignment one of the best gifts he ever received. In 1980, Altomare joined Hogan, Albano, and Sika in a special six-man tag match, reuniting once more with his longtime partner after a decade.
As the WWF expanded, Altomare took a low-level executive role overseeing merchandise at events. He opened a wrestling school in Orange, Connecticut, called "The Factory" in 1984 and trained future stars like Ted Arcidi, Paul Roma, and others. He also worked with the Guardian Angels movement through Curtis Sliwa. Altomare died of heart failure on February 18, 2003, in Stamford at age 74, and was buried in Darien, Connecticut.
Tony Altomareis remembered as an influential presence in wrestling history: a respected tag partner, trainer, and mentor who helped shape early stars and bridged the gap between the golden era and modern WWF.
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