Frank Ray Perilli(August 30, 1925 – March 8, 2018[1]) 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 asThe Ed Sullivan Show.His acting career included more than a dozen feature films, some of which he wrote and/or produced. He was also a comedy writer forDon Rickles,Shecky Greene, and Lenny Bruce, among others, and at times a manager for Greene and Bruce. His biography,The Candy Butcherby William Karl Thomas, was released in 2016 by Media Maestro-Book Division.[2]
Frank Ray Perilli | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 30, 1925 Chicago, Illinois,United States |
| Died | March 8, 2018(aged 92) Los Angeles,California,United States |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, film producer, actor, screenwriter |
| Spouse | Julia Mastrantonio (1927–2010, 1 son Marco) |
He is known for such films asShe Came to the Valley,End of the World,Laserblast,Mansion of the DoomedandAlligator.
Actor
editHe had a role in as a jail officer in the 1993 filmThe Fugitive.[3][4]In 1995, he played the role of BJ inSteal Big Steal Little.[5]
Writer
editAlong with Franne Schacht, he wrote the story forLaserblastwhich starredKim Milford,Cheryl Smith,Gianni Russo,andRoddy McDowall.[6]He has also worked withMichael Patakion more than one occasion.[7]
Work with Albert Band
editPerilli has worked with directorAlbert Bandon more than one occasion. WithLouis A. Garfinkle,he wrote the story for the 1973 filmLittle CigarswhichChris Christenberrydirected and Albert Band produced. It starredAngel Tompkinsas a beautiful lady who teamed up with a group of midgets.[8]More work with Band came in 1977, withDracula's Dog.[9]They also worked together on the westernShe Came to the Valley.[10]In 1993, it wasJoey Takes a Cab.[11]
Filmography
edit| Title | Role | Director | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinderella | Italian Ambassador | Michael Pataki | 1977 | |
| End of the World | Awards Party Guest | John Hayes | 1977 | |
| Fairy Tales | Baron | Harry Hurwitz | 1978 | |
| She Came to the Valley | Emilio | Albert Band | 1979 | |
| Three of Hearts | Patient | Yurek Bogayevicz | 1993 | |
| The Fugitive | Jail Officer | Andrew Davis | 1993 | |
| Steal Big Steal Little | E.J. | Andrew Davis | 1995 | |
| Wedding Crashers | Old Italian Man | David Dobkin | 2005 | Credited as Frankie Ray Perelli |
| Title | Director | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Doberman Gang | Byron Chudnow | 1972 | Original story and screenplay |
| Little Cigars | Chris Christenberry | 1973 | Co-written withLouis A. Garfinkle |
| Last Foxtrot in Burbank | Charles Band | 1973 | Co-written with Bill Haggard, Sam Vaughn and Louis A. Garfinkle |
| Mansion of the Doomed | Michael Pataki | 1976 | |
| Cinderella | Michael Pataki | 1977 | |
| End of the World | John Hayes | 1977 | |
| Dracula's Dog | Albert Band | 1977 | Screenplay |
| Laserblast | Michael Rae | 1978 | Co-written with Franne Schacht |
| Land of No Return | Kent Bateman | 1978 | |
| Fairy Tales | Harry Hurwitz | 1978 | Co-written with Franne Schacht |
| She Came to the Valley | Albert Band | 1979 | Screenplay co-written with Albert Band |
| Alligator | Lewis Teague | 1980 | Co-written with John Sayles, also John Sayles (screenplay) |
| Joey Takes a Cab | Albert Band | 1991 | |
| The Best of Sex and Violence(documentary) | Ken Dixon | 1981 | |
| Steal Big Steal Little | Andrew Davis | 1995 | Story |
| Title | Director | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dracula's Dog | Albert Band | 1977 | Co-producer Albert Band, executive producer Philip Collins |
| She Came to the Valley | Albert Band | 1979 | Co-producer Albert Band, executive producer Robert S. Bremson, associate producers T.L. Duncan, W.T. Ellis |
References
edit- ^Frank Perilli obituary Forest Lawn, Hollywood, California
- ^The Candy Butcher (2016)
- ^CineclickFicha do Filme, O Fugitivo
- ^Rotten TomatoesFrank Ray Perilli
- ^"Steal Big, Steal Little (1995), Acting Credits".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2016. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-05.
- ^The Tuskegee NewsThursday July 1, 1980Page 2
- ^Films de FranceFrank Ray PerilliArchived2016-03-02 at theWayback Machine
- ^The Afro-AmericanMarch 17, 1973Page 11What's Happening by Ida Peters,NEW PIX
- ^For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Filmsby Rick MeyersPage 160
- ^Second EditionWestern Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature FilmsBy Michael R. PittsPage 308 3813,She Came to the Valley
- ^"Joey Takes a Cab".Hollywood.1991.