December 26, 2005

You've Got Personality

by Mike Chary

Noted character actor, Vincent Schiavelli has died. He was in just about every movie ever made from the best like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" to the worst, like, oh, "Ghost" for example. Notable for our purposes, however, is that he played Zatara in "Batman: The Animated Series," and the organ grinder in "Batman Returns," though I was paying too much attention to Michelle Pfeiffer to notice him.

Posted by Mike Chary at December 26, 2005 10:07 PM | TrackBack

Comments
#1 ::: Dan Coyle ::: December 26, 2005 11:16 PM ::: link

A shame, but he lived a full life and career. Being remebered as a "Hey it's that guy!" Guy is pretty cool, I think.

#2 ::: Jason Fliegel ::: December 27, 2005 11:15 AM ::: link

What a great actor. I always think of him from Cuckoo's nest, but he had so many roles over the years. For example, he played Jenny Calendar's uncle on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the holographic weapons dealer in that first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, just to give a few more of his many, many credits that might be familiar.

He was also married to Allyce "Miss DiPesto" Beasley for a few years. And, coolest of all, he wrote his own IMDb biography.

#3 ::: Jonathan Miller ::: December 27, 2005 2:38 PM ::: link

I first remember noticing him on Taxi as Latka's spiritual advisor. And who can forget him as John Smallberries in Buckaroo Banzai?

"Hey, it's that guy!" will definitely be missed... :-(

#4 ::: Jim Caldwell ::: December 27, 2005 4:28 PM ::: link

Actually, he was John O'Connor. :)

I first saw him on WKRP as a phony contestant winner (for the 5000 dollar music quiz -even I got most of it!). One look and I knew that was a face I wouldn't soon forget.

#5 ::: Mike Chary ::: December 27, 2005 4:54 PM ::: link

Of course, maybe Richard Libertini will now get even more work!

#6 ::: Jonathan Miller ::: December 27, 2005 7:23 PM ::: link

You're right, Jim, sorry.

Man, he was everywhere on TV for a few years, wasn't he?

#7 ::: Dan Coyle ::: December 28, 2005 11:53 AM ::: link

I remember Schiavelli as Latka's advisor. The wedding episode was hilarious.

#8 ::: Max ::: January 2, 2006 7:34 PM ::: link

I remember a Danny DeVito interview circa "Batman Returns" where he talked about how depressing it was being in the heavy Penguin makeup, because he couldn't take it off when he wasn't on-camera and it freaked people out, especially when they were trying to eat. So during the lunch break every day, he hung out in a trailer with Schiavelli, who cooked amazing Italian meals every day, using a hot plate.