Richard Romanus, who built his character acting career with a tough guy persona in film and television, has died at 80 at a hospital in Volos, Greece. No cause was given by his son, Robert.
Romanus had a string of memorable roles during his long career. He was Harry Canyon, the cab driver from Heavy Metal, and Richard Lapenna, the husband of Dr. Melfi, in “The Sopranos.” He was loanshark Michael Longo in Mean Streets.
His TV résumé includes Mission: Impossible, Starsky and Hutch, Hawaii Five-0, The Rockford Files, Kojak, Strike Force, and more across the ’70s.
In films, Romanus appeared in Sitting Ducks (1980), Protocol (1984), The Couch Trip (1988), Oscar (1991), Point of No Return (1993), Cops and Robbersons (1994), Nailed (2001) and The Young Black Stallion (2003).
In his later years, Romanus and his wife moved to the Greek town of Skiathos, and he wrote about the experience in Act III: A Small Island in the Aegean,...
Romanus had a string of memorable roles during his long career. He was Harry Canyon, the cab driver from Heavy Metal, and Richard Lapenna, the husband of Dr. Melfi, in “The Sopranos.” He was loanshark Michael Longo in Mean Streets.
His TV résumé includes Mission: Impossible, Starsky and Hutch, Hawaii Five-0, The Rockford Files, Kojak, Strike Force, and more across the ’70s.
In films, Romanus appeared in Sitting Ducks (1980), Protocol (1984), The Couch Trip (1988), Oscar (1991), Point of No Return (1993), Cops and Robbersons (1994), Nailed (2001) and The Young Black Stallion (2003).
In his later years, Romanus and his wife moved to the Greek town of Skiathos, and he wrote about the experience in Act III: A Small Island in the Aegean,...
- 12/30/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Richard Romanus, the tough-guy character actor best known for his turn as Michael Longo, the Little Italy loan shark who gets into it with Robert De Niro’s Johnny Civello in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets, has died. He was 80.
Romanus died Dec. 23 in a private hospital in Volos, Greece, his son, Robert Romanus, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Romanus handled prominent voice roles for Ralph Bakshi in 1977’s Wizards (as the elf warrior Weehawk) and 1982’s Hey Good Lookin’ (as the leader of a 1950s greaser gang), and in between, he played the cab driver Harry Canyon in another animated film, Heavy Metal (1981).
He also appeared on four episodes of The Sopranos as Richard Lapenna, the on-again, off-again husband of Lorraine Bracco’s Jennifer Melfi, from 1999-2002.
In Mean Streets (1973), Romanus’ character is famously disrespected by Johnny when he leans on him for his money.
“You know, Michael, you make me laugh,...
Romanus died Dec. 23 in a private hospital in Volos, Greece, his son, Robert Romanus, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Romanus handled prominent voice roles for Ralph Bakshi in 1977’s Wizards (as the elf warrior Weehawk) and 1982’s Hey Good Lookin’ (as the leader of a 1950s greaser gang), and in between, he played the cab driver Harry Canyon in another animated film, Heavy Metal (1981).
He also appeared on four episodes of The Sopranos as Richard Lapenna, the on-again, off-again husband of Lorraine Bracco’s Jennifer Melfi, from 1999-2002.
In Mean Streets (1973), Romanus’ character is famously disrespected by Johnny when he leans on him for his money.
“You know, Michael, you make me laugh,...
- 12/30/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ronald L. Schwary, Oscar-winning producer of Robert Redford’s 1980 drama “Ordinary People,” died on July 2 at age 76, his family announced.
He was forced into retirement in 2015 due to a rare neurological autonomic disorder that he had been struggling with. His death was due to complications of his disorder. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his sons.
Schwary’s extensive career as a producer took off in 1978 after serving as an associate producer on the film adaptation of the Neil Simon play “California Suite,” starring Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor and many others. That same year, he also served as associate producer and production manager for the Sydney Pollack-directed film “The Electric Horseman,” starring Fonda and Robert Redford.
Also Read: Bettina Gilois, 'McFarland USA' and 'Bessie' Screenwriter, Dies at 58
The following year, Redford hired Schwary as the sole producer for his directorial debut, “Ordinary People.” That film...
He was forced into retirement in 2015 due to a rare neurological autonomic disorder that he had been struggling with. His death was due to complications of his disorder. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his sons.
Schwary’s extensive career as a producer took off in 1978 after serving as an associate producer on the film adaptation of the Neil Simon play “California Suite,” starring Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor and many others. That same year, he also served as associate producer and production manager for the Sydney Pollack-directed film “The Electric Horseman,” starring Fonda and Robert Redford.
Also Read: Bettina Gilois, 'McFarland USA' and 'Bessie' Screenwriter, Dies at 58
The following year, Redford hired Schwary as the sole producer for his directorial debut, “Ordinary People.” That film...
- 7/11/2020
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
This news would have been wonderful twenty years ago; Dan Aykroyd announced on his official Facebook page yesterday that he and fellow Saturday Night Live icon Chevy Chase are currently collaborating on what he calls a “new script concept” for a comedy. Here’s his announcement in full:
Chevy (Chase) and I are about to start work on a script concept for a comedy movie. Cannot say too much about the concept, but the joy of working with him again is one that I am extremely excited about. Chevy is one of my favourite people, and one of the great anarchistic and physically committed comedians in the business.
As you can see there isn’t much to go on here, and they aren’t even at the screenwriting phase yet as they’re just working on a “concept.” This will be Akyroyd and Chase’s fourth collaboration together and third...
Chevy (Chase) and I are about to start work on a script concept for a comedy movie. Cannot say too much about the concept, but the joy of working with him again is one that I am extremely excited about. Chevy is one of my favourite people, and one of the great anarchistic and physically committed comedians in the business.
As you can see there isn’t much to go on here, and they aren’t even at the screenwriting phase yet as they’re just working on a “concept.” This will be Akyroyd and Chase’s fourth collaboration together and third...
- 3/20/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
All About Steve opens this weekend across the country. The title is a play on words of the classic 1950 film, All About Eve. In the movie's honor, I've assembled a timeline of movies that showcase lead characters names in the titles in both odd and clever pun-driven ways. Some of these may have been obvious to you, other puns might be so bad that you'll only realize them now. (500) Days of Summer (2009) Get Smart (2008) Invincible (2006) The Family Stone (2005) King's Ransom (2005) Raising Helen (2004) Deliver Us From Eva (2003) Ginger Snaps (2000) Me, Myself & Irene (2000) Wild Wild West (1999) Zero Effect (1998) Good Will Hunting (1997) Gross Pointe Blank (1997) Barb Wire (1996) Major Payne (1995) Cops and Robbersons (1994) Poison Ivy (1992) The War of the Roses (1989) For Pete's Sake...
- 9/3/2009
- by Danny Groner
- Huffington Post
Legendary Producer Tanen Dies
Former president of Universal Pictures Ned Tanen has died. He was 77.
The Hollywood producer passed away on Monday from natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Tanen took the helm of two of Hollywood's biggest studios and presided over a string of huge box office hits.
In his time at Universal, from 1976 to 1982, Tanen oversaw two record box office years for the studio, with the release of Oscar winners On Golden Pond and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
He left Universal at the height of E.T.'s success, but quickly took on producing roles on a trio of Brat Pack films: The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and St. Elmo's Fire.
He took on the head role at Paramount in 1984 and continued his stellar box office record, with hits including Top Gun and Ghost being produced by the studio under his watch.
After leaving the studio, he finished his career with producing credits on Guarding Tess, Cops and Robbersons and Mary Reilly.
Tanen started his career as a talent agent and worked with entertainers such as Neil Diamond, Elton John, Bill Cosby and Olivia Newton-John.
He moved into movies, and was propelled up the ladder after spotting the potential of huge successes Jaws and Animal House.
He is survived by his partner, Donna Dubrow, two daughters and three grandchildren.
The Hollywood producer passed away on Monday from natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Tanen took the helm of two of Hollywood's biggest studios and presided over a string of huge box office hits.
In his time at Universal, from 1976 to 1982, Tanen oversaw two record box office years for the studio, with the release of Oscar winners On Golden Pond and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
He left Universal at the height of E.T.'s success, but quickly took on producing roles on a trio of Brat Pack films: The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and St. Elmo's Fire.
He took on the head role at Paramount in 1984 and continued his stellar box office record, with hits including Top Gun and Ghost being produced by the studio under his watch.
After leaving the studio, he finished his career with producing credits on Guarding Tess, Cops and Robbersons and Mary Reilly.
Tanen started his career as a talent agent and worked with entertainers such as Neil Diamond, Elton John, Bill Cosby and Olivia Newton-John.
He moved into movies, and was propelled up the ladder after spotting the potential of huge successes Jaws and Animal House.
He is survived by his partner, Donna Dubrow, two daughters and three grandchildren.
- 1/6/2009
- WENN
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