Frank Ray Perilli (August 30, 1925 – March 8, 2018) was an American screenwriter with more than 15 screen credits, and a playwright of four stage plays. He began his career as a standup comic in the mob-controlled nightclubs of Chicago’s North Side, and made appearances on major television shows of the day such as ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...

''. His acting career included more than a dozen feature films, some of which he wrote and/or produced. He was also a comedy writer for

Don Rickles Donald Jay Rickles (May 8, 1926 – April 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He became known primarily for his insult comedy. His film roles include ''Run Silent, Run Deep'' (1958) with Clark Gable, Carl Reiner's '' Enter La ...

, Shecky Greene, and Lenny Bruce, among others, and at times a manager for Greene and Bruce. His biography, ''The Candy Butcher'' by William Karl Thomas, was released in 2016 by Media Maestro-Book Division. He is known for such films as ''

She Came to the Valley ''She Came to the Valley'' is a western-genre film, shot in 1977 and released in 1979. Directed by Albert Band, it stars Ronee Blakley, Scott Glenn, Freddy Fender, and Dean Stockwell. It is based on a novel by Cleo Dawson. Background The film is ...

'', '' End of the World'', ''

Laserblast ''Laserblast'' is a 1978 American science fiction film about an unhappy teenage loner who discovers an alien laser cannon and goes on a murderous rampage, seeking revenge against those who he feels have wronged him. The extremely low-budget film ...

'', '' Mansion of the Doomed'' and ''

Alligator An alligator is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus ''Alligator'' of the family Alligatoridae. The two Extant taxon, extant species are the American alligator (''A. mississippiensis'') and the Chinese alligator (''A. sinensis'' ...

''.

Actor

He had a role in as a jail officer in the 1993 film '' The Fugitive''. In 1995, he played the role of BJ in ''

Steal Big Steal Little ''Steal Big Steal Little'' is a 1995 American comedy film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Andy García in dual roles. It also features Alan Arkin and Joe Pantoliano. Plot Mild-mannered, unassuming Ruben Martinez has a slick, unscrupulous ...

Writer

Along with Franne Schacht, he wrote the story for ''

'' which starred

Kim Milford Richard Kim Milford (February 7, 1951 – June 16, 1988), known professionally as Kim Milford, was an American actor, singer-songwriter, and composer. He was known for his stage acting in musicals such as '' The Rocky Horror Show'' and ''Jes ...

Cheryl Smith Cheryl Lynn "Rainbeaux" Smith (June 6, 1955 – October 25, 2002) was an American actress and musician who appeared in a number of mainstream features, exploitation and horror films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She made her feature debut ...

Gianni Russo Gianni Vito Russo is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Carlo Rizzi in the 1972 film ''The Godfather''. Life and career Russo was born in Manhattan in 1943 and raised in Little Italy and Staten Island. After reprisi ...

, and

Roddy McDowall Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 4 October 1998) was a British actor, photographer and film director. He began his acting career as a child in England, and then in the United States, in '' How Green Was My Valley'' ( ...

. He has also worked with

Michael Pataki Michael Pataki (January 16, 1938 – April 15, 2010) was an American actor. Early life Pataki was born in Youngstown, Ohio. His parents were Hungarians. He was the youngest of three children - one older brother and one older sister. He atten ...

on more than one occasion.

Work with Albert Band

Perilli has worked with director

Albert Band Albert Band (May 7, 1924 – June 14, 2002) was a French-American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band and the grandfather of Alex Band, Taryn Ba ...

on more than one occasion. With Louis A. Garfinkle, he wrote the story for the 1973 film ''

Little Cigars ''Little Cigars'' is a film released in 1973 by American International Pictures and was directed by Chris Christenberry. The film was also released in the United States as ''The Little Cigars Mob''. Plot A gang of dwarves team up with a gang ...

'' which

Chris Christenberry Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, Christine, and Christos. Chris is also used as a name in its own right, however it is not as common. People with the given name *Chris Abani (born 1966), Nige ...

directed and Albert Band produced. It starred

Angel Tompkins Angel Tompkins is an American actress. She appeared in several films and television shows, and is a Golden Globe nominee. Career Angel Tompkins was a model in the Chicago area before being discovered by Woody Allen, who sent her to Universal Pic ...

as a beautiful lady who teamed up with a group of midgets. More work with Band came in 1977, with ''

Dracula's Dog ''Dracula's Dog'' (U.K. title: ''Zoltan... Hound of Dracula''; original working title: ''Hounds of Dracula'') is a 1977 American horror film starring Michael Pataki and José Ferrer. It revolves around a dog who is turned into a vampire by a memb ...

''. They also worked together on the western ''She Came to the Valley''. In 1993, it was ''

Joey Takes a Cab Joey may refer to: People *Joey (name) Animals * Joey (marsupial), an infant marsupial * Joey, a Blue-fronted Amazon parrot who was one of the Blue Peter pets Film and television * ''Joey'' (1977 film), an American film directed by Horace ...

''.

Filmography

References

External links

* *
''The Candy Butcher'', a biography of Frank Ray Perilli
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perilli, Frank Ray American male film actors American film producers American film directors American screenwriters 1925 births 2018 deaths