Clifford Joseph Emmich (December 13, 1936 – November 28, 2022) was an American film, stage and television actor. He appeared in over 90 films and television programs, and is perhaps best known for playing the character of Chicago in the 1973 film Payday.

Cliff Emmich
Born
Clifford Joseph Emmich

(1936-12-13)December 13, 1936
DiedNovember 28, 2022(2022-11-28) (aged 85)
Occupation(s)Film, stage and television actor

Life and career

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Clifford Joseph Emmich was born on December 13, 1936, in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1][2] Emmich joined the U.S. Air Force as a photo technician during the Korean War, after graduating from John Muir High School in 1955.[3]

He began his career on stage, as he was a student at the Pasadena Playhouse.[4] While mainly appearing on stage, Emmich performed in summer stock theaters, such as the Pink Garter Theatre, as he had played Molly's Father on the play I Ain't Down Yet in Jackson, Wyoming.[5] He had toured on 153 cities at 23 states with the American Repertory Players.[5]

Emmich began his film and television career in 1969, when he played an uncredited role in the film Gaily, Gaily. As he later appeared in numerous television programs including The Odd Couple, Ironside, Trapper John, M.D., 227, Murder, She Wrote, Happy Days, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, CHiPs, Starsky and Hutch, Little House on the Prairie, Fantasy Island, Who's the Boss?, Charlie's Angels, Columbo, Night Court, Walker, Texas Ranger, Knots Landing, Police Woman and Baywatch.[2] He also appeared in films such as, Payday (1973),[6] Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975), Aloha Bobby and Rose (1975), Bad Georgia Road (1977), Stingray (1978), Barracuda (1978), Halloween II (1981), Hellhole (1985), Return to Horror High (1987), Mouse Hunt (1997) and Inspector Gadget (1999).[2]

In 1978, when Emmich guest-starred on Little House on the Prairie, he stated that "there was nothing even funny about being fat".[7] He spent most of his life on a healthy diet, which he later abandoned.[7]

Emmich died of lung cancer on November 28, 2022, shortly before his 86th birthday, at his home in the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1969 Gaily, Gaily Uncredited
1972 Top of the Heap Hard-Hat Uncredited
1972 Hot Summer Week Truckdriver
1973 Payday Chicago
1973 Invasion of the Bee Girls Coroner
1974 Our Time Hotel Clerk
1974 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot The Fat Man
1975 Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins Cliff Wilson - Used Car Dealer
1975 Aloha, Bobby and Rose Bird Brain
1976 Jackson County Jail Mr. Bigelow
1977 Bad Georgia Road Earl DePue
1977 Telefon Highway Patrolman #2
1978 Stingray Roscoe
1978 Barracuda Deputy Lester
1981 All the Marbles Obese Promoter
1981 Halloween II Mr. Garrett
1985 Hellhole Dr. Blume
1987 Return to Horror High Dillon
1993 Best of the Best II Texan
1995 Digital Man Sheriff
1997 Mouse Hunt Mayor McKrinle
1998 Bug Buster Uncle Buck
1999 Follow Your Heart Mechanic
1999 Inspector Gadget Out of Control Bus Driver
1999 Treehouse Hostage Detective Nelson
2005 Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Doorman
2013 Holiday Road Trip Rocky Final film role

References

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  1. ^ a b Barnes, Mike. "Cliff Emmich, Actor in 'Payday' and 'Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,' Dies at 85". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Cliff Emmich". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  3. ^ ‘Little House on the Prairie’ star Cliff Emmich passes away at 85 The Print. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "City Methodist, Church Offers, Classic Plays". The Checotah News. Checotah, Oklahoma. December 27, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b "Pink Garter Opens 10th Season Saturday". The Jackson Hole Guide. Jackson, Wyoming. June 13, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "'Payday' in a Star's Jangling World". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. November 18, 1973. p. 109. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ a b "Overweight Man Fills Role". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. October 1, 1978. p. 132. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
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