'GODFATHER' ACTOR KILLED BY TOUR BUS (Richard Bright, played Al Neri)

nypost ^ | February 19, 2006 | TATIANA DELIGIANNAKIS and PERRY CHIARAMONTE

[lunarbicep]

A debonair 68-year-old actor — whose half-century career included a memorable role in all three "Godfather" movies — was last night dragged to his death in a horrific tour-bus accident on the Upper West Side, police sources said.

Richard Bright, whose piercing blue eyes and dark hair saw him often cast as a cop or criminal, crumpled to the ground as he was hit by the rear wheel of an Academy bus at about 6:30 p.m. as it turned left on Columbus Avenue at 86th Street, according to witnesses.

The driver was unaware of the accident until he reached the Port Authority terminal and was questioned by police. There was no indication of a crime and no charges were filed, police sources said.

Bright, whose winter coat and dentures were left behind on the street, was pronounced dead at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital.

"His face was beat up. His leg was mangled," said Teri Robinson, 47, who saw the accident from the back of a taxi. "It was very startling."

Movie fans would best know Bright from his performance as Al Neri, the bodyguard to Al Pacino's Michael Corleone character in "The Godfather" trilogy.

He played a key part in one of the most haunting scenes in "The Godfather II," when he shot Corleone's older brother Fredo (John Cazale) during a fishing trip.

[Al Neri]

This is certainly sad news. Bright was one of my favorite actors and I've always enjoyed his work. His Al Neri was my favorite GF character

RIP

[dfwgator]

In the Godfather book, as in the movie, it was Al Neri who 'dispatched' Barzini on the steps of an office building at Rockefeller Center .....

Now that was a heckuva shot.

[dfwgator]

ACTOR KILLED BY TOUR BUS Has the tour bus been arrested yet?

Only evil SUVs can be arrested, don'cha know.

[cmsgop]

He Freaked me out in Once Upon a Time in America, BTW FReepers this is one of the most Underrated Gangster Movies of all time,See it!

[hispanarepublicana]

I wonder if they were right by an orange-stand.....everytime you see oranges on The Godfather, someone buys the farm.

[Al Neri]

Sergio Leone did an awesome job with that movie. Its a classic

[TravisBickle]

According the The Internet Movie Database, The Godfather is the #1 film of all time. The Godfather, Part 2 is ranked third.

They are the only films to have the original and it's sequel win an Oscar for Best Picture.

A brief look at the Quotes from that movie shows how deeply we embraced the language from that film. Who hasn't heard someone say, "Make him an offer he can't refuse."?

[Borges]

It's the only Gangster film that can be called Proustian.

[Borges]

You should appreciate this acrostic then:

The
Hollywood
Establishment's

Glorification
Of
Downright
Fascists
As
Tragic
Heroes
Exceeds
Reason

[cmsgop]

Yes Indeed, It's funny because alot of my friends have not seen it,

[cmsgop]

Yes

[Al Neri]

You're right. I can't think of any others...gangster flicks that is

[raybbr]

You should appreciate this acrostic then:

LOL Thanks. I agree with it, too.