Bruce Kirby (born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu; April 28, 1925 – January 24, 2021) was an American character actor.[1]

Bruce Kirby
Publicity Photo of Bruce Kirby
Born
Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu

(1925-04-28)April 28, 1925
DiedJanuary 24, 2021(2021-01-24) (aged 95)
OccupationActor
Years active1950–2009
Spouses
  • Lucille Garibaldi
    (m. 1948; div. 1973)
  • Rosalyn Heischuber
    (m. 1976)
Children2, including Bruno Kirby

Career edit

Bruce Kirby started his television career in the 1950s with appearances in Goodyear Television Playhouse. During the 1960s, he appeared in I Dream of Jeannie, The Nurses, The Defenders, Car 54, Where Are You? (in nine episodes), Hogan's Heroes (in three episodes), and The Patty Duke Show among others. He played in Bonanza (in three episodes), Ironside (in three episodes), Barney Miller (in three episodes), The Rockford Files (in three episodes), The Marcus-Nelson Murders, Kojak (in six episodes), M*A*S*H and Alice during the 1970s. In the 1980s, he appeared in Remington Steele, Hunter (in five episodes), Night Court, Matlock, Hill Street Blues, Lou Grant and Punky Brewster. His 1990s television credits include The Golden Girls, L.A. Law, In the Heat of the Night, Murphy Brown, Murder, She Wrote (in two episodes) and Chicago Hope. During 1999 to 2000, he appeared in eight episodes of the soap opera Days of Our Lives. During the 2000s, he appeared in The Sopranos, The Agency, Scrubs and The West Wing.

Kirby appeared a total of nine times in the long-running series Columbo, most notably in the role as the Sergeant George Kramer in six episodes.[2] In 1981–1982, he appeared as San Francisco police officer Schmidt in the crime drama Shannon. He played the part of District Attorney Bruce Rogoff in thirteen episodes of L.A. Law from 1986 until 1991. He also played minor roles in some films, including the film classics Catch-22 (1970) and Stand by Me (1986). He also appeared in the 1971 movie called How to Frame a Figg with Don Knotts and the 1972 comedy Another Nice Mess with Rich Little. A notable later appearance was as Pop Ryan, father of Officer John Ryan (played by Matt Dillon) in the 2005 film Crash. Kirby was also active as an actor on New York's Broadway, appearing in Diamond Orchid (1965) and Death of a Salesman (1984).[3]

Personal life edit

Kirby had two sons, including Bruno Kirby (1949–2006) who was also an actor. Bruno appeared in one Columbo episode with his father, as Cadet Morgan (credited as B. Kirby, Jr.) in "By Dawn's Early Light".

Kirby died in Los Angeles on January 24, 2021, at the age of 95.[4]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Catch-22 Doctor
1971 How to Frame a Figg Dale Groat
1971 J. W. Coop Diesel Tanker Driver
1972 Another Nice Mess Adolph
1976 The Commitment Simon Benson
1979 Fyre Father
1979 The Muppet Movie The Gate Guard
1985 Sweet Dreams Arthur Godfrey
1986 Stand by Me Mr. Quidacioluo
1986 Armed and Dangerous Police Captain
1987 Happy New Year Taxi Driver
1987 Throw Momma from the Train Detective DeBenedetto
1988 The In Crowd Morris
1988 Lady in White Cabbie
1989 The Big Picture Businessman
1990 Bad Jim Customer
1992 Another Time, Another Place Cotton Traynor
1993 Mr. Wonderful Dante
1994 Rave Review Milton Mandler
1997 Cadillac Augustine
1998 Interlocked: Thrilled to Death Walter
2000 Vinnie and Angela's Beauty Salon and Funeral Parlor Big Tony
2004 Crash Pop Ryan
2008 2:22 Norman Penn

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1955 Goodyear Television Playhouse Aide Episode: "Visit to a Small Planet"
1956–1957 The Phil Silvers Show Ice Cream Parlor Assistant / Gregory Chickering 2 episodes
1961–1963 Car 54, Where Are You? Officer Kissel 9 episodes
1961–1965 The Defenders Taxi Driver / Detective #2 / Italian Record 3 episodes
1965 The Doctors and the Nurses Jack Episode: "Sixteen Hours to Chicago"
1965 The Patty Duke Show Mr. Haley / Theatre Manager 2 episodes
1968 I Dream of Jeannie Passenger Episode: "Jeannie and the Top Secret Secret"
1968 The Mothers-in-Law Bill Trumbull 3 episodes
1968–1971 Bonanza Mr. Loomis / Simms / Chad
1969 Judd, for the Defense Arthur Kelly Episode: "The Poisoned Tree"
1969 Night Gallery Artist Episode: "Pilot"
1969 Adam-12 Mike Fendel Episode: "Log 123: Courtroom"
1969 Mission: Impossible TV Newsman Episode: "The Amnesiac"
1969, 1971 The Courtship of Eddie's Father Officer Gifford / Harry 2 episodes
1969–1970 Hogan's Heroes Otto Baum / Gestapo Man / Franz 3 episodes
1970 The Other Man Dr. Brookner Television film
1970–1971 Ironside Nick Kirby / Ben / Buyer 3 episodes
1970–1971 Room 222 Lester Considine / Frank Muzak / Arnold Stopps
1971 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Bert Episode: "Hi!"
1971 Longstreet Truck Driver Episode: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist"
1971 Thief Beffy Television film
1971 Monty Nash Mr. Miller Episode: "Where Have All the Children Gone?"
1971 The Doris Day Show Vito Carlotti Episode: "Happiness Is Not Being Fired"
1971, 1974 Marcus Welby, M.D. Fred Bowers / Lou Rienzi 2 episodes
1972 Me and the Chimp Cop # 1 Episode: "My Pet, the Thief"
1972 Banacek Collier Episode: "Project Phoenix"
1972 The Mod Squad Col. Broidy Episode: "Taps, Play It Louder"
1972, 1973 McCloud Desk Clerk / PR Man 2 episodes
1972–1973 Medical Center Henderson / Policeman / Patrolman Hildon 3 episodes
1973 The Marcus-Nelson Murders Sgt. Dan McCartney Television film
1973 The New Perry Mason Hank Caroll Episode: "The Case of the Wistful Widower"
1973 The Bob Newhart Show Dr. Klein Episode: "Fit, Fat and Forty One"
1973–1976 Kojak Sgt. Al Vine 6 episodes
1973–1995 Columbo Various 9 episodes
1974 Chopper One Pete Episode: "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"
1974 Man on the Outside Scully Television film
1974–1978 The Rockford Files Sid Loft / Aaron Friedler / Carl Lemay 3 episodes
1975 Chico and the Man Officer Kirby Episode: "Out of Sight"
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Carl Severn Episode: "Ten Dollar Murder"
1975 M*A*S*H Sergeant Kimble Episode: "Hey, Doc"
1975 Harry O FAA Chief Episode: "Mayday"
1975 America, You're On Charles Ralston Television film
1975 Conspiracy of Terror Sgt. Brisbane
1976 Delvecchio Moretti 2 episodes
1976–1977 Holmes & Yoyo Capt. Harry Sedford 13 episodes
1977 McNamara's Band Gaffney Television film
1978 Operation Petticoat Admiral Bob Lawson Episode: "The Best of Enemies"
1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Lt. Floyd 2 episodes
1978–1979 Barney Miller Frank Rossman / Franklin Claymore / Lt. Rossmore 3 episodes
1979 Alice Mr. Lloyd Episode: "Tommy's First Love"
1979 Turnabout Al Brennan 5 episodes
1979 ABC Afterschool Special Tom Denis Episode: "Which Mother Is Mine?"
1979 Marie Edgar Merton Unsold pilot
1980 Vegas Joe Culley 2 episodes
1981 The Other Victim Mead Television film
1981 The Greatest American Hero Shorty Robinson Episode: "The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fast Ball"
1981–1982 Shannon Det. George Schmidt 9 episodes
1981, 1982 Lou Grant Captain Shackley / Gus Murray 2 episodes
1982 Code Red Bert Simmons Episode: "Trial by Fire"
1982 Tucker's Witch Harmony Episode: "The Corpse Who Knew Too Much"
1982 Remington Steele Michael Dominick Episode: "Steele Trap"
1983 Hill Street Blues Jack Donleavy Episode: "Moon Over Uranus"
1983 Lovers and Other Strangers Priest Television film
1983 Branagan and Mapes Barney Sutter
1984 Three's a Crowd Sgt. Collins Episode: "A Matter of Money"
1985 Stir Crazy Lou Flanders Episode: "The Magnificent Repossesion"
1985, 1987 Night Court Sgt. Braverman / Herb Gilpin 2 episodes
1986–1991 L.A. Law D.A. Bruce Rogoff 13 episodes
1987 Down and Out in Beverly Hills Maury Rodman 2 episodes
1987–1988 Hunter Chief Edward Stanmore 5 episodes
1987, 1988 Punky Brewster Mr. Frank 2 episodes
1988 Frank Nitti: The Enforcer Anton Cermak Television film
1989 Anything but Love Leo Miller 4 episodes
1989 Have Faith Sgt. Rizzo Episode: "The Confession"
1989 Matlock Abe Forester Episode: "The Ex"
1989 It's Garry Shandling's Show Eddy King Episode: "Dinner at Eddy King's House"
1990 Ann Jillian Marsh Pearson Episode: "It's a Mall World After All"
1990 In the Heat of the Night Dep. Chief Harlan Cassidy 2 episodes
1990 The Fanelli Boys Uncle Dom Episode: "The Two Doms"
1990 Hull High Wansley Episode #1.6
1990, 1996 Murder, She Wrote Jeremy Woods / Andy Butler 2 episodes
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion Det. Lt. Brennan Television film
1991 The Golden Girls Bill Episode: "From Here to the Pharmacy"
1991–1992 Reasonable Doubts Don Morris 2 episodes
1993 The Odd Couple: Together Again Zelnick Television film
1994 Blue Skies Sid Episode: "Cat's in the Bag"
1994 Madman of the People Benny DeLorenzo Episode: "What a Big Mouth You Have, Grammy"
1995 Bless This House Bill Episode: "A Woman's Work Is Never Done"
1995 The Single Guy Uncle Mike Episode: "Gift"
1995 One West Waikiki Earl Reynolds Episode: "Past Due"
1995–2000 Days of Our Lives Marco / Mr. Panetta / Doctor 12 episodes
1996 Murphy Brown Judge Episode: "Old Flames"
1996 Caroline in the City Manny Episode: "Caroline and the Comic"
1996 A Different Kind of Christmas Santa Claus Television film; uncredited
1997 The Sentinel Herman Franklin Episode: "His Brother's Keeper"
1997, 1998 Tracey Takes On... Dean 2 episodes
1998 Players Frank Macek Episode: "Con-strained"
1998 Chicago Hope Garner Hoversten Episode: "One Hundred and One Damnations"
2000 Blood Money Uncle Joe Television film
2001 The West Wing Barney Lang Episode: "The Women of Qumar"
2004 The Sopranos Dr. Russ Fegoli Episode: "Marco Polo"
2007 Numbers Numb3rs Episode: "Burn Rate"
2007 Scrubs Mr. Bilbray Episode: "My Cold Shower"

References edit

  1. ^ Bruce Kirby at Allmovie
  2. ^ Bruce Kirby at the Columbo Site
  3. ^ IBDB
  4. ^ Barnes, Mike (January 26, 2021). "Bruce Kirby, Veteran Character Actor and 'Columbo' Cop, Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

External links edit