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Character Actor Vincent Schiavelli Dies

ROME - Character actor Vincent Schiavelli, who appeared in scores of movies, including "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Ghost," died Monday at his home in Sicily. He was 57.

He died of lung cancer, said Salvatore Glorioso, mayor of Polizzi Generosa, the Sicilian village where Schiavelli resided.

Schiavelli, whose gloomy, droopy-eyed look made him perfect to play creepy or eccentric characters, made appearances in some 150 film and television productions, according to the Internet Movie Database.

Among the movies: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Amadeus," "Batman Returns," and "The People vs. Larry Flint." He was selected in 1997 by Vanity Fair as one of America's best character actors.

Schiavelli, who was born and raised in New York, studied acting at New York University's School of the Arts.

He also wrote three cookbooks and many food articles for magazines and newspapers, possibly inheriting his love for cooking from his grandfather, who had been a cook for an Italian baron before moving to the United States, according to IMDB.

"He was a great friend, a great chef and a great talker," Glorioso, who has known Schiavelli for almost four years, said in a telephone interview.

"With a smooth, witty conversation, he would make everything look more colorful. I've lost a brother," he said.

Schiavelli also had worked in Italy, including in 2001 when he directed a theater piece in Sicily based on nine fables.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday in Polizzi Generosa, Glorioso said

Forum Troll

No matter where you go, there you are.

B5Erik

Bummer. He was truly a character actor.

I loved that they gave him a role in the James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies. I thought he was really good in the part.

The Bus

And for people who might not know who he is:

dick_grayson

oh man! it's so true!

rexinnih

RIP Vincent.

Goldberg74

I recognize from his older roles.

TND "No, no this is more like a hobby... but I am very gifted." and "My art is in great demand, Mr. Bond. I go all over the world. I am especially good at the celebrity overdose. "

littlefuzzy

devilshalo

Wasn't he married to the receptionist from Moonlighting? Allyce Beasley?

Al_Tahoe

He was great as Latka and Simka's priest in a few of the Taxi episodes.

Vincent

Al_Tahoe

Yup. Allyce Beasley was also in an episode of Taxi... one of the best and most famous episodes in the entire series:

Jazzbutcher

"Have a heart, people. I just switched to decaf!"

RIP Mr. Vargas

Giantrobo

Awwe man.

I'll say it again...It's funny how sometimes character actor losses hit me harder than "Leading actor/actress" losses. Probably because it suddenly dawns on me how many times over the years the person has added a bit of joy to my life with their work.

Mondo Kane

Just saw this on the news. One of those guys you thought could just always stay around forever.

RIP.

astrochimp

Thats the exact line i thought of when i saw his picture

Geofferson

Sad news.

atlantamoi

I'll agree with you.

lotsofdvds

harpo787

"GET OFF MY TRAIN!"

Now if I ever get on the trains again, I'll always think he's there...
RIP Vincent

PS: I thought he died a few years ago....can't remember where I thought I heard/read about it...but when more movies came out (and checking IMDB) it appeared he was still alive.

The Infidel

OldBoy

was this post serious?
and that sucks about Vincent. I guess we have the "three". Richard Pryor, John Spencer, and now Vincent. R.I.P. to all!

The Infidel

I've found it amazing how often this line gets messed up. Most of the sites I looked up had it wrong, too.

"Look, I'm a little slow today. I just switched to Sanka. So, have a heart."

The Bus

It wasn't serious. He's famously mistaken for Steven Wright (and vice versa).

Shannon Nutt

They were married for a few years and had a child together, but have been divorced since the late 80s - which is, I assume, why Allyce wasn't mentioned in the obit.

Cameron

Rip