Richard Edward Foronjy (August 3, 1937 – May 19, 2024) was an American film and television actor.[1][2]
Richard Foronjy | |
|---|---|
 Publicity photo of Richard Foronjy | |
| Born | August 3, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 19, 2024 (aged 86) |
| Occupation(s) | Film and television actor |
| Years active | 1973–2003 |
Early life edit
Foronjy was born in Brooklyn, New York,[3] on August 3, 1937.[4]Prior to becoming an actor, Foronjy had an extensive criminal record, including armed robbery. He also worked as a butcher.[5]
Career edit
Foronjy saw his first small role as Corsaro in Serpico.[3]
He was perhaps best known for playing the mobster Tony Darvo in the 1988 film Midnight Run and the mobster Peter Amadesso in the 1993 film Carlito's Way.[6] He also played one of key parts, Detective Joe Marinaro, in Sidney Lumet's Prince of the City.[3]
In Repo Man, starring Harry Dean Stanton, Foronjy played Arnold Plettschner, the rent-a-cop who memorably said, "You’re fuckin’ right I’m Plettschner! Arnold Plettschner! Three times decorated in two world wars! I was killing people while you were still swimming around in your father’s balls! You little scumbag! I worked five years in a slaughterhouse, and ten years as a prison guard in Attica!"[3]
He wrote and published a memoir called From the Mob to the Movies on October 8, 2020. In retirement, Foronjy lived in the Hudson Valley of New York.
Death edit
Foronjy died on May 19, 2024, at the age of 86.[3]
Partial filmography edit
- Serpico (1973) – Corsaro
- The Gambler (1974) – Donny
- Fun with Dick and Jane (1977) – Landscape Man
- The One Man Jury (1978) – Al
- The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) – Mike
- The Jerk (1979) – Con Man
- Prince of the City (1981) – Detective Joe Marinaro
- True Confessions (1981) – Ambulance Driver
- Gangster Wars (1981) – Umberto Joe The Boss' Bodyguard (uncredited)
- Repo Man (1984) – Plettschner
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984) – Officer Whitey aka Fartface
- City Heat (1984) – Poker Player
- Odd Jobs (1986) – Mannu
- The Check Is in the Mail... (1986) – Tony
- The Morning After (1986) – Sergeant Greenbaum
- The Galucci Brothers (1987) – Galucci Brother
- Midnight Run (1988) – Tony Darvo[7]
- Ghostbusters II (1989) – Con Ed Supervisor
- Oscar (1991) – Knucky
- The Public Eye (1992) – Frank Farinelli
- Fatal Instinct (1993) – Cy Tarr
- DaVinci's War (1993) – Hamlet
- Carlito's Way (1993) – Pete Amadesso
- Man of the House (1995) – Murray
- Recoil (1998) – Vincent Sloan
- Hoods (1998) – Tony
- Evasive Action (1998) – Vince
References edit
- ^ "Foronjy". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. February 4, 1987. p. 89. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Scott, Vernon (January 19, 1987). "Ex-con becomes successful Hollywood character actor". The Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. p. 16. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Richard Foronjy, Character Actor in 'Midnight Run' and 'Serpico,' Dies at 86". Variety. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Richard Foronjy". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1987/01/20/Scotts-WorldNEWLNFrom-felony-to-fame/1749538117200/
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 18, 2021). "Robert De Niro Remembers His 'Midnight Run' Co-Star Charles Grodin: "As Good A Person As He Was An Actor"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael (July 20, 1998). "Movie Review: Murderous Fun in the 'Midnight Run'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018 – via Wayback Machine.
