Posted on 12/26/2005 10:19:09 AM PST by Central Scrutiniser
Character Actor Vincent Schiavelli Dies
ROME - Vincent Schiavelli, the droopy-eyed character actor who appeared in scores of movies, including "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Ghost," died Monday at his home in Sicily. He was 57.
He died of lung cancer, said Salvatore Glorioso, mayor of Polizzi Generosa, the Sicilian village where Schiavelli resided.
Schiavelli, whose gloomy look made him perfect to play creepy or eccentric characters, made appearances in some 150 film and television productions, according to the Internet Movie Database.
Among the movies: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Amadeus," "Batman Returns," and "The People vs. Larry Flynt." He was selected in 1997 by Vanity Fair as one of America's best character actors.
Schiavelli, who was born and raised in New York, studied acting at New York University's School of the Arts.
He also wrote three cookbooks and many food articles for magazines and newspapers, possibly inheriting his love for cooking from his grandfather, who had been a cook for an Italian baron before moving to the United States, according to IMDB.
"He was a great friend, a great chef and a great talker," Glorioso, who has known Schiavelli for almost four years, said in a telephone interview.
"With a smooth, witty conversation, he would make everything look more colorful. I've lost a brother," he said.
Schiavelli also had worked in Italy, including in 2001 when he directed a theater piece in Sicily based on nine fables.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday in Polizzi Generosa, Glorioso said.
Vince was amazing in Buckaroo Banzai, seen here with John Lithgow and Christopher Lloyd.
He was married to the actress from Moonlighting that played Agnes DiPesto. A great character actor!
When life hands you lemons...
He Died again? already posted
Laugh while-a you can, monkey-boy...tomorrow I'm-a goin-a home with my overthruster!!!
Great movie, Lithgow looked like he was having so much fun.
Who can forget One flew over the Cuckoo's nest where he starred with unknowns like Danny Divito and Christopher Lloyd. Also the morgue scene in Fast Times where he confronts Spicolli: "Are you in my class?" "I am today dude!!"
And on the subway in "Ghost".
He did great in Ghost where he was nice for a while, and then went whacked. Going to miss him.
Let's not forget his role as "Mr. Vargas", the biology teacher in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
GET OFF MY TRAIN!
Indeed.
"When are we going to Planet Ten?"
"Real soon!!"
I saw him walking along Madison Ave about 15 years ago. He looked as he did on-screen. Haven't seen him in much in awhile. Too bad. Still young.
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