He was equally prominent as a character actor on film and television, and as a personality in the sports world.
[3] The elder Mercurio was a member of the Milwaukee mob, and according to his son, was verbally and emotionally abusive.
Mercurio began boxing while in the Marine Corps, and turned professional after leaving the service.
Staying close to boxing, he judged 149 professional bouts[6] and, starting in 1970 and until 1986, refereed 89 fights, including some world championship contests, such as the 1985 one between Barry Michaels and Lester Ellis, which was a major sporting event in Australia.
His appearance on the programme led him to be what the Sydney Morning Herald described as “one of the most recognised and loved faces in Australian television."
[1] Mercurio appeared in several Australian TV series, including Cash and Company (1975), its follow-up Tandarra (1976) and the miniseries Power Without Glory (1976).