Al Ruscio (June 2, 1924 – November 12, 2013) was an American character actor who appeared in numerous television shows and films.
Al Ruscio | |
|---|---|
 Ruscio as Tony Paoli Sr. in Any Which Way You Can | |
| Born | June 2, 1924 |
| Died | November 12, 2013 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1958–2011 |
| Spouse | Kate Williamson (1954–2013; his death) |
Early life
editRuscio was born in Salem, Massachusetts on June 2, 1924. He graduated from Salem High School, after graduating college he moved to New York City.[1] During World War II, Ruscio served in the United States Army Air Corps.
Career
editRuscio trained for two years at The Neighborhood Playhouse School for the Theater.[1] He played many roles in New York and in summer stock, including co-starring with Steve McQueen and Kim Stanley among others. His first work in live television came in New York City. He moved to Los Angeles in 1958.[1] His first role there was Tony in Al Capone with Rod Steiger (1958). He then appeared in many television shows including Gunsmoke (1958), 77 Sunset Strip (1959), Bonanza (1960–1961), and in Peter Gunn (1961).
He also acted in soap operas including Port Charles, Days of Our Lives and Santa Barbara[2] as R. J. Bentson. Ruscio made repeated guest appearances on The Lawless Years, The Untouchables, The Rockford Files, Lou Grant, Barney Miller, Hill Street Blues, and 7th Heaven. He also had recurring roles on Falcon Crest, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Life Goes On, and Manhattan, AZ. Although typically cast in guest spots, Ruscio has co-starred in three short-lived series: Shannon (1981–1982, starring Kevin Dobson), Steambath (1983), and Joe's Life (1993).[3]
In addition to television work, Ruscio had roles in several films including Any Which Way You Can (1980) with Clint Eastwood, Jagged Edge (1985) starring Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges, The Godfather Part III (1990), Guilty by Suspicion (1991) with Robert De Niro, Showgirls (1995) and The Phantom (1996).[3]
Later years and death
editIn the 1960s Ruscio left Los Angeles to create the drama department at the newly formed Midwestern College in Denison, Iowa. After five years there he moved to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where he was professor of acting at the University of Windsor. From there he was invited to serve as artistic director of the Academy of Dramatic Art at Oakland University, where his wife also taught acting. They moved back to Los Angeles in 1975 where they resumed their acting and teaching careers.[1] [4] [5]
Ruscio wrote a book, So Therefore …: A Practical Guide for Actors, which was published in 2012.[2]
Ruscio married Kate Williamson in 1954, and they had four children together: Elizabeth, Michael, Maria and Nina; all of whom except Maria are also involved in show business. The couple remained married until Ruscio's death in November 2013; Williamson died one month later, on December 6, 2013.
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1959 | Al Capone | Tony Genaro | |
| 1960 | The Music Box Kid | Thomas 'Five Points' Morrell | Uncredited |
| 1964 | Deadline for Murder | Walter Sorkin | |
| 1968 | Fever Heat | Al Demarco | |
| 1980 | The Hunter | Mr. Bernardo | Uncredited |
| 1980 | Any Which Way You Can | Tony Paoli Sr. ('Big Tony') | |
| 1983 | Deadly Force | Sam Goodwin | |
| 1985 | Jagged Edge | Carl Siegal | |
| 1987 | Medium Rare | Detective Hill | |
| 1989 | Blood Red | Antonio Segestra | |
| 1989 | Romero | Bishop Estrada | |
| 1989 | Cage | Costello | |
| 1990 | The Godfather: Part III | Leo Cuneo | |
| 1991 | Guilty by Suspicion | Ben Saltman | |
| 1991 | Future Kick | Kramer | |
| 1992 | I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore | Uncle Dominic | |
| 1994 | Dickwad | Mr. Leon | |
| 1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Phillip Morris | Alternative title: Il Silenzio dei Prosciutti |
| 1995 | Showgirls | Sam Karlman | |
| 1995 | Xtro 3: Watch the Skies | The General | |
| 1996 | The Phantom | Police Commissioner Farley | |
| 1998 | The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon | Barney's Father | |
| 2001 | Boss of Bosses | Carlo Gambino | |
| 2005 | Complete Guide to Guys | Senior Husband | |
| 2007 | The Gift: Life Unwrapped | Hank | Alternative title: The Gift: At Risk |
| 2008 | Winged Creatures | Angelo | Alternative title: Fragments |
| 2011 | Goy | Donald Ritter | (unfinished production), (final film role) |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Weinshank | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Mr. Lucky | Lieutenant | 1 episode |
| 1960 | Lock-Up | Willy Carson | 1 episode |
| Sea Hunt | Unknown | Season 3, Episode 21 | |
| Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater | Pietro Poli | 1 episode | |
| M Squad | Freddie Canelli | 1 episode | |
| Wrangler | Wes Martin | 1 episode | |
| 1961 | Thriller | Allah El-Kazim | 1 episode |
| The Islanders | Rami | 1 episode | |
| Peter Gunn | Inspector Georges | 1 episode | |
| 1962 | 87th Precinct | Joe Brooks | 1 episode |
| Going My Way | Jimmy Cipollaro | 1 episode | |
| Follow the Sun | Gus | 1 episode | |
| 1963 | Ripcord | Carlo Minelli | 1 episode |
| Have Gun – Will Travel | Machado | 1 episode | |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Dr. Taylor | Season 1 Episode 22: "Diagnosis: Danger" | |
| 1964 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Julio | 1 episode |
| The Great Adventure | Nez Coupe | 1 episode | |
| Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Dimitri | 1 episode | |
| 1975 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Chester Goddard | 1 episode |
| Marcus Welby, M.D. | Judge Angelotti | 1 episode | |
| Police Woman | Scotto | 1 episode | |
| 1976 | One Day at a Time | Mr. Romano | 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Rockford Files | Vic Cassell | 1 episode |
| Barney Miller | Mr. Seldes | Episode: Atomic Bomb | |
| Starsky and Hutch | Roper | 1 episode | |
| 1978 | The Incredible Hulk | Mr. Sariego | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Salvage 1 | Agamemnon | 1 episode |
| Fantasy Island | Anton | 1 episode | |
| 1980 | A Rumor of War | Uncle Al | miniseries |
| 1981 | Hart to Hart | Mr. Six | 1 episode |
| Taxi | Dr. Webster | 1 episode | |
| 1982 | The Fall Guy | Harvey | 1 episode |
| Police Squad! | Dutch | 1 episode | |
| T.J. Hooker | Gino Minelli | 1 episode | |
| 1983 | Bring 'Em Back Alive | Miklos | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Steambath | Davinci | 6 episodes |
| 1984 | Highway to Heaven | Petros | Episode: Help Wanted: Angel |
| 1985 | The A-Team | Gino Gianni | 1 episode |
| Stir Crazy | Mike Forbes | 1 episode | |
| Who's the Boss? | Joseph | 1 episode | |
| 1986 | Riptide | Monty Paradise | 1 episode |
| Hardcastle and McCormick | Charlie Masaryk | 1 episode | |
| Sledge Hammer! | Don Phillip Souza | 1 episode | |
| Simon & Simon | Nicky Walters | 1 episode | |
| The Wizard | Pransk | 1 episode | |
| 1987 | Starman | Matteo Gionetti | 1 episode |
| MacGyver | Paul Webber | 1 episode | |
| Brothers | Uncle Charlie | 1 episode | |
| 1989 | Amen | Willie Garlotti | 1 episode |
| Santa Barbara | R.J. Bentson | ||
| Hard Time on Planet Earth | Carlo Caretti | 1 episode | |
| War and Remembrance | Marshal Josef Stalin | Miniseries | |
| 1990 | The Fanelli Boys | Archbishop Mosconi | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Henry Silver | 1 episode |
| Ferris Bueller | Tony | 1 episode | |
| Dead Silence | Reducci | TV film | |
| Brooklyn Bridge | Johnny | 1 episode | |
| The Wonder Years | Mr. Harris | 1 episode | |
| 1992 | Tequila and Bonetti | Stefano | 1 episode |
| Mad About You | Uncle Jules | 1 episode | |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Santo Angelini | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Seinfeld | Restaurant Manager | 1 episode |
| Diagnosis: Murder | John Strega | 1 episode | |
| 1995 | Pig Sty | Father Poma | 1 episode |
| 1996 | ER | Mr. Dellanova | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Brotherly Love | Harry 'Old Man' Gibbs | 1 episode |
| Malcolm & Eddie | Johnny Beaumont | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | Tracey Takes On... | Otto Cornowitz | 1 episode |
| NYPD Blue | Artie Rosen | 1 episode | |
| 1999 | The X-Files | Elder #4 | 2 episodes |
| The Norm Show | Father O'Haberly | 1 episode | |
| 2002 | First Monday | Uncle Willie | 2 episodes |
| The Guardian | Albert 'Sparky' Walters | 1 episode | |
| 2007 | 'Til Death | Len | 1 episode |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Lentz, Harris M. III (2014). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2013. McFarland. ISBN 9780786476657. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ a b Barnes, Mike (November 14, 2013). "Character Actor Al Ruscio Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Al Ruscio Biography (1924–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
edit- Al Ruscio at IMDb
- Al Ruscio at AllMovie
- Al Ruscio at the Internet Broadway Database
- Al Ruscio at Find a Grave