Frank Campanella

Frank Campanella (March 12, 1919 – December 30, 2006) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous television series, as well as a few films and Broadway productions.

Early life and career

Campanella was born in New York City, the son of Philip and Mary O. Campanella, both born in
Sicily. The family lived in the Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan. He was the older brother of actor Joseph Campanella, and Philip Campanella (who became a union plumber) and spoke mostly Italian growing up; this proved useful during World War II, when he worked as a civilian translator for the U.S. government. Campanella graduated from Manhattan College in 1940, where he studied drama.

Campanella's first film role was as Mook, the Moon-Man in the 1949 science-fiction series ''Captain Video and His Video Rangers'' and went on to appear in more than 100 film and television episodes, usually playing the "tough guy". Campanella appeared as a bartender in Mel Brooks' '' The Producers'' (1967), starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, and his many film credits included roles in '' What's So Bad About Feeling Good?'' (1968); '' The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight'' (1971); '' The Stone Killer'' (1973); '' Capone'' (1975, as Big Jim Colosimo); '' Chesty Anderson, USN'' (1976); '' Heaven Can Wait'' (1978); '' The North Avenue Irregulars'' (1979); '' High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane'' (1980); '' Death Wish II'' (1982); '' Young Doctors in Love'' (1982); '' The Flamingo Kid'' (1984); ''Nothing in Common'' (1986); '' Overboard'' (1987); ''Beaches'' (1988); '' Blood Red'' (1989); ''Pretty Woman'' (1990) and '' Dick Tracy'' (1990). He helped Robert De Niro learn Sicilian for his role as young Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's '' The Godfather: Part II'' (1974).

Campanella's early television roles included three appearances as different police lieutenants on the syndicated crime drama, '' Decoy'', starring Beverly Garland as the first female police lead in a television series. In one of the ''Decoy'' episodes, he appeared with his brother Joseph. Over his career, he appeared, often in police roles, in such well-known series as '' Ironside''; ''Mannix''; '' The Rockford Files''; '' Quincy, M.E.''; '' Chico and the Man''; ''All in the Family''; '' Mission: Impossible''; '' Maude''; '' Rhoda''; and ''The Love Boat''. In 1969, Campanella appeared as Sheriff Quartermine on the TV Series '' The Virginian'' in the episode titled "Journey to Scathelock".

Campanella's Broadway credits include ''Guys and Dolls'' (1965), '' Nobody Loves an Albatross'' (1963), ''Nowhere to Go But Up'' (1962), ''The Deadly Game'' (1960), ''Sixth Finger in a Five Finger Glove'' (1956), '' Remains to Be Seen'' (1951), ''Stalag 17'' (1951), ''Volpone'' (1948), and ''Galileo'' (1947).

Death

Campanella died on December 30, 2006, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 87.

Selected filmography

* 1956 '' Somebody Up There Likes Me'' as Detective (uncredited)
* 1957 '' Four Boys and a Gun'' as (uncredited)
* 1958 '' Stage Struck'' as Victor
* 1961 '' Parrish'' as Foreman (uncredited)
* 1962 ''A View from the Bridge'' as Longshoreman
* 1965 '' Who Killed Teddy Bear?'' as Police Captain
* 1966 ''Blindfold'' as Police Officer (uncredited)
* 1966 ''Seconds'' as Man In Station
* 1967 '' The Producers'' as The Bartender
* 1968 '' What's So Bad About Feeling Good?'' as Captain Wallace
* 1969 '' Out of It'' as The Coach
* 1971 '' The Mephisto Waltz'' as Detective Investigating Bill's Death (uncredited)
* 1971 '' The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight'' as Water Buffalo
* 1973 '' The Stone Killer'' as Calabriese
* 1975 '' Capone'' as Vincenzo "Big Jim" Colosimo
* 1976 '' Chesty Anderson, USN'' as The Baron
* 1977 '' High Anxiety'' as The Bartender
* 1978 '' Heaven Can Wait'' as Conway
* 1979 '' The North Avenue Irregulars'' as Max Roca
* 1980 '' High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane'' as Dr. Losey
* 1982 '' Death Wish II'' as Judge Neil A. Lake
* 1982 '' Young Doctors in Love'' as The Flashback – Young Simon's Grandfather
* 1984 '' The Flamingo Kid'' as Colonel Cal Eastland
* 1986 '' Free Ride'' as Old Man Garbagio
* 1986 ''Nothing in Common'' as Remo
* 1987 '' Overboard'' as Captain Karl
* 1988 ''Beaches'' as Doorman
* 1989 '' Blood Red'' as Dr. Scola
* 1990 ''Pretty Woman'' as Pops
* 1990 '' Dick Tracy'' as Judge Harper
* 1991 '' Frankie and Johnny'' as Retired Customer
* 1994 '' Exit to Eden'' as Wheelchair Walker
* 1994 '' Love Affair'' as Elevator Operator
* 1999 '' The Other Sister'' as William, Guest At Wedding
* 2004 '' Raising Helen'' as Mourner
* 2006 '' Seven Days of Grace'' as Papa (final film role)

References

External links

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Obituary

{{DEFAULTSORT:Campanella, Frank
1919 births
2006 deaths
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
American people of Italian descent
Manhattan College alumni
Male actors from Manhattan