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 as The 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 for Don Rickles, 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.[2]

Frank Ray Perilli
BornAugust 30, 1925
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedMarch 8, 2018(2018-03-08) (aged 92)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation(s)Film director, film producer, actor, screenwriter
SpouseJulia Mastrantonio (1927–2010, 1 son Marco)

He is known for such films as She Came to the Valley, End of the World, Laserblast, Mansion of the Doomed and Alligator.

Actor

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He had a role in as a jail officer in the 1993 film The Fugitive.[3][4] In 1995, he played the role of BJ in Steal Big Steal Little.[5]

Writer

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Along with Franne Schacht, he wrote the story for Laserblast which starred Kim Milford, Cheryl Smith, Gianni Russo, and Roddy McDowall.[6] He has also worked with Michael Pataki on more than one occasion.[7]

Work with Albert Band

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Perilli has worked with director Albert Band on more than one occasion. With Louis A. Garfinkle, he wrote the story for the 1973 film Little Cigars which Chris Christenberry directed and Albert Band produced. It starred Angel Tompkins as a beautiful lady who teamed up with a group of midgets.[8] More work with Band came in 1977, with Dracula's Dog.[9] They also worked together on the western She Came to the Valley.[10] In 1993, it was Joey Takes a Cab.[11]

Filmography

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Actor
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
Writer
Title Director Year Notes #
The Doberman Gang Byron Chudnow 1972 Original story and screenplay
Little Cigars Chris Christenberry 1973 Co-written with Louis 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
Producer
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

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  1. ^ Frank Perilli obituary Forest Lawn, Hollywood, California
  2. ^ The Candy Butcher (2016)
  3. ^ Cineclick Ficha do Filme, O Fugitivo
  4. ^ Rotten Tomatoes Frank Ray Perilli
  5. ^ "Steal Big, Steal Little (1995), Acting Credits". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
  6. ^ The Tuskegee News Thursday July 1, 1980 Page 2
  7. ^ Films de France Frank Ray Perilli Archived 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ The Afro-American March 17, 1973 Page 11 What's Happening by Ida Peters, NEW PIX
  9. ^ For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Films by Rick Meyers Page 160
  10. ^ Second Edition Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films By Michael R. Pitts Page 308 3813, She Came to the Valley
  11. ^ "Joey Takes a Cab". Hollywood.com. 1991.
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